2012 Peby Faugeres

Tasted blind. Relatively purple. Quite perfumed. Pretty drying fruit on the end. No shortage of ripeness but a bit of over-extraction? (JR)

The 2012 Peby Faugeres is another beauty, and shows how strong this vintage is for the right bank. Dense purple-colored with a terrific, ripe, opulent style in its deep black fruits, black cherry, chocolate, and graphite aromas and flavors, it has no hard edges, sweet tannin, just hints of background oak, and a big finish. It’s already drinking brilliantly yet will cruise for another 15-20 years. This cuvee from Swiss owner Silvio Denz comes from a 7.45-hectare portion of the Faugères vineyard, which lies on the eastern edge of Saint-Emilion, on the Saint-Emilion/Castillon border. The parcel is mostly older vines and is a unique southeast facing slopes of brown limestone soils. It’s worth mentioning that Jean-Luc Thunevin’s blockbuster Valandraud cuvee comes from a site not far from here and this sensational wine is made with guidance from Stephan von Neipperg for the viticulture and famed consultant Michel Rolland for the winemaking. All these of these wines reviewed here are beautiful.

Tasted blind. Dark crimson. Very heady, hedonistic black-cherry nose. Sweet start. Bit of damp fur and then green fruit leading to a sour finish. An uncomfortable mix. But it may all come right in the end. (JR)