94(+?) Points | International Wine Cellar , July/August 2012

Extremely closed on the nose, hinting at lemon, vanilla, metallic minerality and resin.  Then chewy and deep in the mouth, with electric citricity and almost painful saline minerality keeping this extremely rich wine almost shockingly austere today.  This has the flavor and texture of liquid stone and surpasses the outstanding 2011 in sheer density of material.  Last year Dauvissat told me that part of this fruit was harvested after the rain, but this is a great and ageworthy premier cru nonetheless.  (At the end of our tasting, Dauvissat opened a bottle of the 2004 La Forest.  Some initial notes of mocha and toffee quickly dissipated to reveal extremely pure, youthful aromas of lemon and wet stone; an urgent, mineral-driven mid-palate; and a finish that displays outstanding lift.  I underestimated this wine at 91 points in 2006; today it merits 92(+?) with a distinct possibility of further improvement ahead.)