Château Rahoul Graves 2012 Wine Review

Château Rahoul Graves 2012

Graves, France

Community Score:91/100

Community Reviews: 12

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Price: $29.95

Drink: 2019-2025

Bottle size: 750 ml

Alcohol: 13.5%

Sweetness: Extra Dry

Wine Type: Red Wine

Winery: Château Rahoul

Agent: Philippe Dandurand Wines Ltd.

Natalie's Score: 93/100

Only 200 cases of this wine will be released in Vintages this May so get it while you can. Superb depth, concentration and finish on this full-bodied, complex Bordeaux at a great price for this region. The 2012 vintage was superb. Fleshy black fruit wrapped and very large and mouth-filling on the palate, all gently wrapped in a toasty oak blanket. Long finish. The Cabernet Sauvignon (40%) vines are planted in gravel soils, while the Merlot (60%) vines are rooted in clay. Produced by Alain Thiénot, Proprietor. Give it another 5-10 years in the cellar. Great for dinner parties and hostess gifts. This wine still needs serious cellar time, and then decant 1-2 hours when you do open it... but wait.

Graves food pairings: prime rib, roast quail, roast duck.

Best Beef Wine

This Château Rahoul Graves 2012 was reviewed on May 27, 2017 by Natalie MacLean

More Vintages: 2010 2005 2010 2005

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Pricing & Stock Information

LCBO
226043
$29.95
Check Stock

BCLDB
184986
$30.00
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SAQ
12391387
$29.85
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Reviews and Ratings

Lynn van der Linde - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 93/100 with the following review:

The Château Rahoul 2012 is a wonderfully sexy wine, presenting black plums, vanilla and oak, and a balanced mouth feel from first to last sip. It’s a very impressive wine to pour for friends and family, and at thirty dollars it won’t break the bank.
Tasted April 2017.

Jane Staples - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

An extra-dry blend of Merlot and Cab Sauv, with 3% Petit Verdot. An exciting and flavourful wine, showing blackberry, plum, hints of nuts, toasty oak and savoury notes on the finish. Winemaker describes the tannins as still a bit crusty, so cellar this one 5-10 years, but if you can't wait...enjoy!
Tasted April 2017

Andrew Bernardo rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

This wine is my jam. Lots of linzer, black cherry, earth, graphite, mushroom, nuts and a small hint of vanilla. 92 points. This wine is very inviting. Better in 2019. (www.ottawawinejournal.com)

Nicole Lewis rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

Hailing from Graves named for it gravel soils, yet hosting a wide range of terroirs and made up of 60 Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, the Château Rahoul is an intense, opaque full-bodied expression of Bordeaux typicity, that comes to life after a decant of an hour or two. You would be greeted by dark fruit, smooth tannins, medium acidity and a long ripe fruit finish. An excellent pairing with cured meats. This wine could stand 5 - 10 years of cellar time.

Tasted on April 13th, 2017 in a Schott Zweisel glass.

L.J. Palmer WSET 3 rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

One of my favourite wines! Deep dark ruby colour, with a fragrant nose of dark cherry, blackberry, rose and dark chocolate. Overall it has a rich and fruity aroma. The blend is 70% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petit Verdot; making for a lovely balanced wine. A nice long finish of dark fruit with some savoury notes.

Matt Steeves - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

Yum! This densely coloured and richly flavoured Bordeaux shows dark fruit, mocha, cacao, with subtle baking spice and under brush emerging after a short decant. The palate shows intriguing savoury flavours supported by the layers of refreshing dark fruit, providing great acidity and texture. A wine to enjoy at the table, Chateau Rahoul 2012 will be best 2017-2022+. 90-91 points. Tasted April 2017. Matt Steeves - www.quercusvino.ca

Gwen Barton rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Bordeaux blend of Cab Sauvignon and Merlot. Aromas of dark cherry, cedar and sweet tobacco. Loads of dark fruit flavours with notes of licorice, mint, sweet spice and some flint. Dry tannins and decent acidity with lengthy finish. Would benefit from a few years of cellaring. Tasted April 2017

Melanie Aubert rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

This wine stood out for me because it wasn’t like the others. Many of the Dourthe wines we tasted were quite heavy on the tannins, the kind of wines that instantly dry out the sides of your mouth. But the Château Rahoul is a bit different. Hailing from the Graves appellation, known for its gravel soils, this wine is 60% merlot and 40% cabernet sauvignon. The tannins in this wine are much more subdued than in the other wines we tried. On the palate, you get lovely black cherry, smoke, fig, blackberry, cedar, and a hint of spice, backed by very juicy acidity and light tannins. Pair with charcuterie boards or spaghetti bolognese.

Get the whole story at https://winingwithmel.com/2017/04/16/intro-to-bordeaux-dourthe/

Sylvain Segard rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Deep ruby, almost black in colour. Aromas of plums, cassis, and pepper. The palate feels remarkably light for such an oaken and well-extracted wine. It tastes of juicy black fruits, savoury herbs, and bitter chocolate. The tannins are firms and just beginning to mellow. The finish is long and oaky. The wine requires a few more years of cellaring in order to enjoy it at its best, but if you cannot wait to open a bottle in order to pair it with a medium rare roast, then consider decanting at least one hour ahead of time. Score 90. (S.Segard, reviewed April 2017)

Pamela Chiles rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Deep, dark red, plum, vanilla, bramble, sweet spice and fine tannins. Balanced and full of flavour and structure. My notes say "tastes of France" - guess that sums it up!

Wineboy rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

a great example of a more modern Bordeaux. Lovely vanilla touches to the oak show on the nose and palate around a core of modern black fruit. Not heavy, with a soft nutty finish.

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Château Rahoul Graves 2012 Wine Review

Natalie's Score: 93/100

Pricing & Stock Information