2012 Gazin, Pomerol
The first Gazin we tasted, from vintage 2001, was a gift from a market manager of Riche Monde 15 years ago. We thought we were drinking Lafleur Petrus. Despite the age, the wine, fragrant, fresh, polished and fruit focused, remain the character of Gazin. Vintage 2012 is of fleshy back fruit, structure, and with lots of nuances (cream, graphite, spices and teritiary tones). It was made from 90% Merlot, 7% CS and 3% CF, raised from mixed cement and stainless steel tanks fermentation , as well as mixed new and aged French oak ageing for 18 months.
Impressive scores as follows:
95 points James Suckling
This is a gorgeous wine with superb density and balance for the vintage. Full body, polished, fine tannins and a long, long finish. There’s so much complexity and beauty to this with blueberry, wet earth and spice character. Some sliced Chinese mushrooms as well. One of the best wines I have had from here in a long time. (1/2015)
95 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
This is certainly one of the great 2012s from Pomerol. What’s amazing is that it is 100% Merlot. Readers may have forgotten (or never knew) that a chunk of this vineyard was sold to Petrus in the early 1970s, but what remains is still a superb terroir and incredibly well-placed on the plateau of Pomerol, adjacent to Petrus and across the road from Lafleur. This wine tips the scales at 14.5% natural alcohol, which puts it right up there with the 2009 and 2010. This points further to the sensational success Pomerol enjoyed in 2012. It is inky purple in color, with a glorious nose of black fruits, an unctuous texture, and a full-bodied mouthfeel. Sometimes Gazin can show too much new oak in its youth, but that is not an issue with the 2012. This is sensational Pomerol and one of the great wines of this vintage. Give it another 5-8 years of cellaring and drink it over the following two to three decades. (RP) (4/2015)
