Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. The 2012 Chateau Nairac has an attractive acacia honey and beeswax-scented bouquet that might lack vigor, but is at least clean and defined. The palate is well balanced with well judged acidity, and some evidence of botrytis towards the finish that offers a pleasing dab of ginger. This is commendable in context of the vintage.

The 2012 Nairac was showing a little “sullen” at this stage, perhaps missing the exuberance of recent vintages, this despite rigorous coaxing. The palate has good weight, a slight petillance on the entry but offers pleasant spice notes on the wax-textured finish. Let us see if it offers more once bottled, as I feel this has much more to give.