Chateau La Garde Pessac-Leognan 2012 (Dourthe)

2012 is considered an off vintage for clarets particularly the Left Bank. Pessac did somewhat better, and Pessac Leognan is my favourite red Bordeaux commune anyway, so at 9 years old in a slightly lesser vintage, I thought I'd open this one now. I am very glad I did…
The nose is mint, plums, herbaceous and baked earth. Medium weight, smooth tannins. In the mid palate it's dark fruit and there's a fairly long finish. Drink now - 2025. Lay and Wheeler, £25.