The Leveque family has hit pay dirt again with this 2012 Graves. An inky, bluish/purple color, and an equal part blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, the wine shows terrific fruit, great purity, graphite and underlying earthy burning ember notes. It has medium body and loads of fruit, depth and light tannin in the finish, showing this wine can be drunk early, or cellared for up to a decade. A sleeper of the vintage.

This property has ratcheted up the quality over recent years (the 2010 was a killer sleeper of the vintage, and the 2012 Chantegrive is as well). The 2012's dense purple color is followed by sweet notes of smoky black currants, vanillin, barbecue and graphite presented in a medium to full-bodied, layered, plush, heady style. This is a major overachiever in a vintage where over-achievement was rarely noticeable. Drink it over the next 7-8 years. Not surprisingly, Hubert de Bouard is their consultant.