Starts off earthy and spicy but turns to dark fruits such as raspberries and blackberries. Full body, chewy tannins and a medium finish. Needs a year or two to soften. Better in 2017. Well done for vintage.

A dark, brooding wine, the 2012 Tronquoy Lalande offers up an enticing bouquet of sweet red plum, tobacco, game, earthiness, smoke and leather. Today, the 2012 is a bit wild and rough around the edges, but it nevertheless possesses plenty of density and enough richness to drink well for the better part of the next decade, perhaps longer. Iron, savory herbs and smoke add complexity on the exuberant finish. The 2012 is going to need at least a few years to settle down, as the tannins are quite fierce today. Still, the Tronquoy Lalande is clearly an overachiever in its peer group.