2012 Prieuré-Lichine, Margaux

You can't go wrong with this 2012 4th Growth classic Margaux with the high-cost performance. The nose of dry rose, followed by ripe fruit(Blackberry, plums, and cherries) and lovely tertiary tones- blackberry, spices, coffee, tobacco, earthy, lead-pencil-not too complicated but easy to understand. The palate is structured and balanced; silky at the entrance, but there is a Cantenac toughness behind, softened by the richness and palate diversity from soil(70 Ha) and grapes(4 noble grapes with 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot ) though. 2012 is lightish, fresh and comfortable, with a medium finish. It drinks fine now. We rank it 93 points.

Consistent scoring: JS92, AG92, GG91, WE91. RP91. Consistent scorings, such as:

92 points, James Suckling

A wine with blackberry, spice and liquorice character. Medium to full body, firm tannins and a fruity finish. Subtle and fine. Shows class. Lovely tannins. Drink in 2016. (2/2015)

91 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

PerforParker'sh better from the bottle than the barrel; this is a super effort from Prieuré Lichine. This inky purple-coloured wine displays beautiful floral-infused blueberry and blackberry fruit as well as cassis. It is medium to full-bodied, stunningly pure, gorgeously textured, and quite long and impressive. This is a top success in the vintage, capable of lasting 20 or more years. (4/2015)

92 Andreas Larsson

Very inky colour here, bright but very dark at the centre. Quite an elegant nose here, classic style; I get some wood here, roasted wood, leather, and rather dark fruity notes with cassis and plum. Quite traditional, with a hint of tobacco as well. The palate has a good density, not the broadest example, but that fruit is very inky and refreshing, combining that dark fruity character - the cassis, the plum - with a bright freshness. We have a good deal of extract here, but the tannins are powdery and fine. Very stylish, I would say, clearly with a notion of Cabernet elegance. Good purity, good persistence. Pretty delicious to drink already today; I wouldn’t hesitate for a secondwouldn'tbig juicy steak for that good fresh tannin, good acidity, and elegant dark fruit, but doubtlessly, a wine that will be better after a few years in the bottle. Enjoy! (Tasted blind; notes edited)