Castle Pédesclaux - Pauillac 2012

Wine Advocate

89 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/2015

One of the notorious under-performers for most of my 37-year career, Pédesclaux has turned things around dramatically under the administration of Jacky and Françoise Lorenzetti. The terroir is brilliantly sandwiched between Pontet-Canet and Mouton-Rothschild. The 2012 has a dense bluish/purple color and creamy vanillin notes along with some blueberry and black raspberry fruit. The wine is medium-bodied, pure, ripe and certainly a dramatic improvement over decades of rather poor wines. This will hit its prime in another 5-6 years and last up to 20 years.

Jamessuckling.com

90 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/15/2015

A Bordeaux displaying some aromas and flavors of blackberries with earthy and salty notes. Licorice, too. Full body, firm tannins, balanced acidity and a clean finish. Shows the improvement of quality here. Better in 2017.

Wine Spectator

90 / 100

byJames Molesworththe2/10/2015

This has a brambly feel, with a cassis bush note running throughout. The core of succulent plum, blackberry and raspberry fruit is bright and defined. Shows lots of racy grip through the finish, complemented by buried minerality. An excellent effort and a real surprise; this has blossomed following the élevage. Best from 2018 through 2025. 10,416 cases made. –JM

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

86-89 / 100

byIan D'Agatathe6/30/2013

(63% cabernet sauvignon, 32% merlot and 5% petit verdot; 70% new oak): Saturated ruby. Expressive, oaky aromas of red berries, minerals, licorice and flowers. In a rather lush, sweet but nicely balanced style, showing open-knit flavors of floral red berries, cocoa and underbrush. Finishes with broad, dusty tannins and a general sense of refinement. An extremely successful Pedesclaux, which I liked considerably more than the 2011, and there are a number of reasons for the solid performance. A laser optical sorting system has been in use since 2009, and it earned its keep in this difficult vintage. The team did a 10-to-15-day cold soak at 3 degrees C, then fermented in stainless steel tanks, achieving extraction through delestages and pigeages. Total time on the skins was about eight weeks. This estate was purchased in late 2009 by real estate mogul Jacky Lorenzetti, and Emmanuel Cruse of d'Issan fame has taken over the general management of both Lorenzetti properties (the sister estate is Lilian Ladouys in Saint-Estephe) following Jacky's acquisition of 50% of Cruse's Issan. Vincent Bache-Gabrielsen is now the technical director for all of the Lorenzetti properties.

Le Point

14 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/16/2013

Fruits noirs, bouche concentrée, vive, tannique, puissante, serrée, finale sur la prise de bois, bons fruits noirs mais assez extrait, finale tannique. O= 2016 G= 10 ans.

Asian Palate

80 / 100

byJeannie Cho Lee MWthe5/15/2013

Savoury flavours with plush tannins with notes of tomato leaf and bell pepper. Full bodied, extracted, with firm tannins and fairly short, dry finish.

Wine Advocate

88-90 / 100

byNeal Martinthe5/2/2013

The Pedesclaux clearly has plenty of rounded blackberry and blueberry fruit on the nose, the new oak lending a vanillary sheen. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins. It is nicely balanced with a feminine, marine-tinged finish that lingers nicely in the mouth. This is a vastly improved Pedesclaux compared to recent vintages. Tasted April 2013.

Wine Spectator

87-90 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/30/2013

Features spice, blueberry and vanilla aromas, with a modest core of plum and anise. Shows good ripeness but lacks density, relying on the spicy toast. —J.M.

Wine Advocate

89-92 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/26/2013

The wine exhibits Pauillac’s classic note of creme de cassis intermixed with vanillin, espresso and white chocolate. Medium to full-bodied and rich, with 13% natural alcohol, this 10,000-case cuvee should drink well for 15-20 years. Perhaps the key here was that the Cabernet Sauvignon was picked relatively late, between October 10 and 14. That appears to have given the wine an extra level of intensity and richness.

Given the fact that this property, purchased in 2009 by real estate entrepreneur Jacky Lorenzetti, for decades has been a candidate for the most disappointing classified growth of Pauillac, the 2012 Pedesclaux is a revelation. Certainly the finest Pedesclaux I have ever tasted, it was made from stunningly low yields of 22 hectoliters per hectare, and the final blend was 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Finally, the 2012 reveals the potential of this vineyard which sits on the high Pauillac plateau adjacent to Pontet Canet and Mouton Rothschild.

The Wine Cellar Insider

89-91 / 100

byJeff Levethe4/26/2013

63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc which reached 13.2% alcohol. The wine opens with cassis, stone and lead pencil notes. Medium/full-bodied with fresh, crunchy cassis flavors, the wine shows a bit of dust in the tannins. 89-91 Pts

Jean-Marc QUARIN

14,8 / 20

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/25/2013

Couleur sombre de bonne intensité. Nez fruité, crémeux et assez fin. Bouche juteuse et savoureuse, très fruitée, parfumée de corps normal. Persistance savoureuse et un brin vive.

My Bettane + Desseauve

16 / 20

the4/25/2013

Couleur intense, nez très typé de moka et de havane, caractère affirmé, tannin franc, complexe, excellent style et superbe rapport qualité-prix probable.

Jancis Robinson

15,5 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/24/2013

Drink 2019-2027
Exchanged land with Lafite so 2012 is heavier on Cabernet than before – 63% Cabernet. Very firm and a little green. Tight and introvert. But the oak is well managed. Very embryonic.

Decanter.com

16,25 / 20

bySteven Spurrierthe4/22/2013

Superb colour, fine fragrant nose with smoky/graphite/cassis Pauillac fruit, quite supple with good length, good medium-term 16.25/20pts ( 87/100pts)
Drink: 2016 - 2026