Château Boyd-Cantenac, Margaux, 3ème Cru Classé, 2012

Rich colour with dense black fruits on the nose and palate, quite supple and rich with tannins to match the depth of fruit, very good wine.

A family run estate that's always late to pick, allowing its high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon to get fully ripe. This is a successful 2012, if still young. Very little green harvesting is carried out at Boyd Cantenac, and the approach is generally fairly traditional, often going long on oak (97% new oak in this vintage). As with the second wine, this is showing far better than the 2011. I love the grilled cedar touch on the nose - it feels very Médoc and very Margaux. It has really enjoyable precision, with touches of florality that don't take away from the tannic power and its clear potential for ageing.