2012 Le Dragon de Quintus Saint Emilion

"We believe it to be a sleeping beauty of a property" were the words proclaimed by Prince Robert of Luxembourg, the President of Haut-Brion, when they purchased the property in 2011. He was right. Under new guidance the Chateau has become a sleeping giant, too often being overlooked, that delivers well above the modest price tag!

The 2012 vintage was uneven from bud break, which was disturbed by a cool, wet month of April, to véraison (color change), which took place over a long period. Fortunately, the months of July and August were ideal: warm and dry. This fine summer weather enabled us to do everything possible in the vineyard in order to make up for the poor spring weather. For two months, our team worked meticulously to make ripening as homogeneous as possible and removed any green grapes at véraison. The harvest for both red and white wines began under sunny skies. 2012 is a truly fine vintage for early-ripening terroirs such as ours.

Le Dragon de Quintus treads softly in the saturated market that surrounds the Bordeaux wine world. Only rewarding those in the know. At the time of the purchase, Prince Robert declared, "Our family company looks forward to returning this great estate to its former glory." It didn't take them long and once this wine blesses your palate, you won't be able to resist! I recommend bringing home at least 6 bottles and tasting one every 2-4 months if you can wait that long... 

Tasting Notes: 79% Merlot 21% Cabernet Franc. The first word that comes to mind here is: harmonious. The wine is attractive, very round, smooth and fresh, with red fruit, redcurrant, and blueberry overtones. It will be ready to drink fairly young and should provide a great deal of pleasure.