Bordeaux 2014, 10-years on tasted blind: Dark and brooding, earthy notes with dark fruit, with a touch of bell pepper. Clearly closed and not wanting to show anything. Medium+ palate, on the rustic side. Hard to assess today, definitely a wine to wait till 2030. 87-91. Group Rank 12/15
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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: Medium- expressive nose with green bell pepper at the core. On the palate there is not much fruit, but only minerality, herbs, earthy and green bell pepper notes. The tannin quality is good but the wine is not in a good phase right now and very backward, with all the fruit and necessary sweetness dormant. Today, not more than 86pts but with potential.
Decanting: Not decanted, it would have needed several hours.
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My first from a half case. New Year’s Eve. Vail. Upon the cork pull, it’s brooding and reserved. Drinkable and even gulpable, but there is clearly a lot hanging in reserve. It’s keeps on hitting new highs at every 30-minute interval in which I taste it. Four hours in, and this wine has revealed a good deal of its character. It’s slightly more red fruited than black fruited. It’s classical in nature and has cedar, graphite, and tobacco framing the Cabernet flavors, which have not of Pauillac green pepper…but not so much as to concern under-ripeness. Another 5-10 years will be rewarded…and instructive for the post-2010 Bdx fans. Drink or (better to) hold.
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2/23/2024 - Collector1855 wrote: 89 Points
Bordeaux 2014, 10-years on tasted blind: Dark and brooding, earthy notes with dark fruit, with a touch of bell pepper. Clearly closed and not wanting to show anything. Medium+ palate, on the rustic side. Hard to assess today, definitely a wine to wait till 2030. 87-91. Group Rank 12/15
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2/22/2024 - Cailles wrote: 86 Points
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: Medium- expressive nose with green bell pepper at the core. On the palate there is not much fruit, but only minerality, herbs, earthy and green bell pepper notes. The tannin quality is good but the wine is not in a good phase right now and very backward, with all the fruit and necessary sweetness dormant. Today, not more than 86pts but with potential.
Decanting: Not decanted, it would have needed several hours.
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1/3/2024 - up4wine wrote: 91 Points
Very mellow and smooth for such a youngin. Good fruit, but not sure it will sustain another decade.
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12/31/2023 - matlee89 wrote: 90 Points
Surprisingly thin on the palette. Classic cigarbox, violets and cassis on the nose. Perhaps a dumb phase?
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12/31/2023 - O'Meara Likes this wine:
My first from a half case. New Year’s Eve. Vail. Upon the cork pull, it’s brooding and reserved. Drinkable and even gulpable, but there is clearly a lot hanging in reserve. It’s keeps on hitting new highs at every 30-minute interval in which I taste it. Four hours in, and this wine has revealed a good deal of its character. It’s slightly more red fruited than black fruited. It’s classical in nature and has cedar, graphite, and tobacco framing the Cabernet flavors, which have not of Pauillac green pepper…but not so much as to concern under-ripeness. Another 5-10 years will be rewarded…and instructive for the post-2010 Bdx fans. Drink or (better to) hold.
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