Chateau La Croix du Casse 2012

Pomerol, Bordeaux, France

Intense deep ruby in colour, it takes some coaxing out of the glass before revealing notes of ripe red cherry, dark chocolate, raspberry, prune, blackcurrant leaf, dying candle flame, roasted meat and dried herbs on the nose. These notes carry across to the palate, where the high acidity and grippy tannins are a bit unsettled, teeth-numbing on the finish. The alcohol is nicely integrated but on the whole it needs a bit more time to mellow its exuberance. Drink 2024-2030.

What is it? A Merlot-dominated red wine from the small Pomerol appellation in Bordeaux, France. Many top wines are produced here and they typically show an elegance and concentration that elevates Merlot to its highest quality. There’s also some Cabernet Franc in the blend, which lends darker fruit notes.

What should I do with it? Keep it in a cellar (someplace dark with a regular temperature around 14C) for another year or two. It needs more time to mellow. That said, American Bordeaux lovers on the whole drink wines younger than we do in the UK and are wont to forgive exuberant youthfulness in a way we Brits don’t.

What should I look out for? This wine is not filtered or fined, meaning there is a decent amount of sediment in the bottle. This shows up as a crust on the inside of the bottle and some may find its way into the glass, creating a gritty mouthfeel. It’s not unsafe but best to remove it either by decanting (slowly pouring the wine from the bottle into another container, typically a decanter but you can use whatever is on hand, stopping when you first see some of this sediment approaching the neck of the bottle from which you are pouring. Some people just sieve it or pass it through muslin. That’s totally fine too.

Rating: 86/100