Château LA POINTE 2012<br />General Information<br />Château La Pointe<br />Vintage: 2012<br />Production: 66 000 bottles<br />Merlot 85% - Cabernet Franc 15%<br />Alcohol content: 13.5°<br />Appellation: Pomerol. Area: Right Bank. Region: Bordeaux.<br />Vineyard and soil type: 23 hectares on small gravel and pebblesoils of the Isle's river terraces, clayey-gravel and sandy soilsover clay or gravel sub-soils.<br />Vinification and ageing: traditional Bordeaux methods.<br />Distribution: through the wine merchants of the Place deBordeaux.<br />Owner: SCE Château La Pointe.<br />General Manager: Eric Monneret. Vine and Wine Consultant: Hubert de Boüard de Laforest.<br />Member of the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux.<br />Weather conditions: a great year for Merlot, a great year for Pomerol.<br />This vintage was characterised by a cool and humid spring andearly summer followed by a warm, dry and very sunny secondhalf of the summer with significantly low rainfall<br />(120 mm belowthe thirty year average). This sequence of events was ideal forthe vine's development. As in 2010, flowering took place relatively early (late May). Colour<br />change occurred in early August and got off to a slowstart although the considerable difference between day andnight temperatures ensured good concentration<br />andpreservation of the aromas in the grape skins. The grapes ripened in good conditions, in particular the Merlots, ofremarkably high quality in 2012.<br />The harvests began in early October and took place in greatconditions as we picked slowly and serenely in the brightsunshine, finishing on the 14th October. Botrytis did<br />not affect the vines and we were able to pick each plot at its optimumripeness. The concentration in anthocyanins was outstanding,the grapes displayed complex and<br />intense fruity aromas (a littlemore than in 2011) with soft tannins and crunchy pips.<br />Tasting commentDeep, opaque and intense colour. The first visual impression ofthe wine is very dense overall.The palate reveals a smooth, velvety texture with<br />remarkablepersistence, a taut structure and good freshness on the finish.The oak is extremely well integrated and harmonious, evolvingtowards notes of black fruits and<br />violet.This vintage is characterised by its round, unctuous mid-palateand, on the finish, by those indulgent aromatic fruity notes ofthe style favoured at La Pointe. This well-<br />balanced vintage isalmost ready to be enjoyed although it can also be left to evolvein the cellar for another 15 years.<br /><br />(March 2013, Primeurs tasting comments by Hubert de Boüardde Laforest)<br />When to taste ?<br />To drink or to keep? The 2012 vintage offers exceptional ageing potential.To be enjoyed from 4 to 15 years old and upwards. The aromatic freshness, balance and<br />smoothness of this Merlot-dominant Pomerol will suit lovers of young wines. In its earlyyears it offers floral notes, a tasty, juicy touch of red and blackberries and slightly<br />spicy, toasty notes.The ageing potential of this vintage will also suit connoisseurswho have the patience to wait for the Grands Crus de Bordeauxto develop more evolved<br />aromas of truffle, undergrowth, game, Russian leather and light tobacco.<br />To air, decant or just enjoy?<br />Airing: when the vintage is young (under 10 years old) it isrecommended to decant one hour before serving to ensure goodcontact with air. This oxygenation allows the wine<br />to 'open up',freeing the aromas and softening the tannins. Decanting: when the vintage is old (over 10 years) a naturaldeposit may form in the bottom of the bottle. The wine<br />loveroften asks for the wine to be poured delicately into the decanterso as to leave the deposit in the bottle. Decanting a very oldwine (over 20 years) can, however, be a<br />mistake as suddencontact with air may deteriorate a wine that has become fragilewith age.Just enjoying: another approach is to avoid the ritualizationaround tasting. You<br />simply choose a vintage, open the bottle,pour delicately and take your time in enjoying it, therebyallowing the wine to tell you its own story as it evolves in theglass over the<br />course of the evening.<br />