2012 Filhot
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 2012 Filhot has a light and fresh bouquet with honeysuckle and quince scents, just a touch of saffron. The palate is light and fresh, quite viscous, very pure with just the right amount of bitterness to balance the finish. Early-drinking, but worth seeking out. I have been critical of Filhot in recent vintages, but kudos to this very decent 2012. Tasted blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting.
Critic scores
Average Score
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Tasted blind. Just a little sugary on the nose. But good tension and freshness on the palate. Burnt notes too. Long and interesting. (JR)
The 2012 Filhot has a simple and rather one-dimensional nose that does not have the complexity of the 2011. The palate is a little raw on the entry, waxy in texture and attenuated quite sharply on the finish. This is not a great vintage for Sauternes and it feels as if it was born only to give short-term pleasure. Tasted at the vertical tasting at Château Filhot.
Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. The 2012 Château Filhot has a simple, rather Germanic scented bouquet (think of a ten-year-old Auslese from a half-decent producer.) The palate is actually better than the nose: viscous in texture with honeyed citrus fruit and tangy orange peel, satisfactory length and precision right to the end. Not a bad Sauternes and certainly an accomplishment in what was a very difficult vintage, even if I would not leave it long-term.