April 9, 2024 - Drank at a business dinner in Montréal.
Decanted and drank over the course of two hours.
Dark cherry, wet dirt, slight spice.
Opened up nicely, probably can use more time.
Paired well with gnocchi.
93 points.
March 27, 2024 - Decanted and began drinking. It continues to improve as it ages.
March 10, 2024 - What a stunner! The nose hooks you immediately with inky black fruit and pencil shavings, the palate is bursting with black fruit, acidity, and surprisingly integrated tannins. Lots of drive and length. At 10 years old, this does not feel too young to drink nor from a “normal” vintage. Great value for the quality
March 3, 2024 - D, Similar to the 2011, the 2014 has added aromatic steeliness, especially compared with the 2012. However, the 2014 displays lovely fruit purity of cassis, red and black berry on the palate, and I like the tension, even if 2012 wins on sumptuousness. Aged 50% new oak , 35% amphora.
March 2, 2024 - 91. Blackberry and graphite on the nose. More black fruits on the palate, medium finish. Fairly straightforward, classic claret.
March 2, 2024 - Had a bottle with one of my best friends at Reussbad Restaurant in Lucerne🇨🇭with great food, it was getting along perfectly with foie gras and entrecote „cafe de paris“
What a wine!! Perfectly ready to drink now
Dry, medium acidity, medium body, very elegant and complex, perfectly balanced between fruit and oak, nice aromas of black fruit and earthy elements in the nose and on the palate, great quality as expected, just a great wine!!
February 23, 2024 - Bordeaux 2014, 10-years on tasted blind: The nose is ripe here with dark fruit and oak spices. Polished palate, again good ripeness and dark berries. Well made, but aromatically a bit foursquare, but it did very well with the crowd. Rank 2/15
February 22, 2024 - Bordeaux 2014 - 10 Years On - 15 Reds: Fifteen red wines (14 left bank/1 right bank). All tasted blind. The 2014 vintage turned out to be good, but not exceptional. This vintage is characterized by a cool, classic style with an impressive expression of fresh fruit. The wines were rich in blue fruit, supported by a fine mineral backbone, without succumbing to overripeness or overbearing fruitiness. Contrary to expectations, the wines were not overly austere and showed good (excellent at the top) tannin structure, contributing to a classic Bordeaux experience. However, it's important to note that while these wines have commendable qualities, they lack the complexity and, to a lesser extent, the finesse and elegance characteristic of the most celebrated vintages. Many of the wines seemed a bit simplistic. I think they are likely to peak in the early rather than mature into 30, 40, 50-year wines as I don’t think there is enough fruit. My top three were a layered, blue-fruited Ducru Beaucaillou, a strawberry-laden, purity-driven Montrose (both rated 94pts), and an elegant Pichon Lalande (93pts), foreshadowing the great things this estate has produced in vintages since. The group winner was also the Ducru.
TN: This was a bit controversial around the table due to its style. While most wines shine with their structure and minerality, show that old-school Bordeaux style, this wine was very polished with lots of candied red berries. Clearly an odd-one out, I wouldn’t necessarily have guessed this to be a Bordeaux. I’m not a strict purist and different styles keep it interesting but this is not a wine I would chase.
Decanting: Not decanted, I would go for two hours.
January 1, 2024 - Retasted another bottle. Still overwhelming with the tannins, despite 2h of carafe. Lovely black fruit flavours and tobacco but simply too tannic for now. Will def. Wait 5 years before next.
December 22, 2023 - Decanted 1hour. Currant, roasted herbs, medium bodied with a long finish. Great upside.