2012 Haut Condissas
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Tasting notes
The 2012 Haut-Condissas has an attractive bouquet with perfumed black cherry, cassis and light orange zest scents that impart palpable zip and vivacity – more so than the 2011. The palate is medium-bodied with firm and quite rigid tannin at the moment. This is a backward Haut-Condissas, tightly wound and a little hard at the moment. Yet I like the acidity here and the insistent grip on the finish. Give this another two or three years and it may well deserve a higher score. Tasted at the Haut-Condissas vertical at the property.
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Robert Parker
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
The 2012 Haut Condissas offers lovely exuberance within the context of the year. Bright red-fleshed fruit, mint and spices meld together in a soft, textured wine built on pure expression of fruit. Drink this forward, supple Médoc over the next few years. The round, creamy finish is quite appealing. The blend is 60% Merlot, 20% Petit Verdot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc.
This top cuvée from proprietor Jean Guyon tends to be a consistent over-achiever in many vintages. The 2012 has a saturated purple color and is deep, rich and full, with some notes of graphite, crème de cassis and blueberry. It is a serious, medium to full-bodied wine that competes with the best of the classified growths in the northern Mèdoc. Drink this sleeper of the vintage over the next decade.
The 2012 Haut Condissas exhibits a deep ruby/purple hue along with plenty of black raspberry, black currant and licorice notes intermixed with a hint of vanillin, but no vegetal qualities whatsoever. Fleshy, rich, medium to full-bodied and impressively endowed, it should drink well for a decade. The luxury cuvee from Jean Guyon that represents what he considers to be his finest wine is a beauty.