2012 Couvent des Jacobins

Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux tasting. The 2012 Couvent des Jacobins has a light, fresh pencil-lead tinged bouquet that leans slightly to the Left Bank in style. The palate is medium-bodied with dusky black fruit, a little grainy in the mouth with pointed acidity, but the oak feels too strong, too dominant on the coca-lacquered finish. Maybe offer it another 2-3 years to see if it can "eat up" that wood? Tasted January 2016.

Tasted blind. Had sediment. Greyish crimson. Intense, ripe nose. Not intense but not overdone. Some freshness and proper ripe fruit. Mildly grainy tannins. Just a bit suddenly grating on the end but good vigorous fruit. (JR)