“Inky ruby. Smoke- and spice-accented cherry liqueur, blueberry and violet scents are complicated by hints of olive paste and cured meat. Juicy and focused on the palate, offering intense black and blue fruit, bitter chocolate and licorice flavors and a spicy touch of cracked pepper. The meaty quality comes back on the finish, which shows solid thrust, strong persistence and well-knit tannins. Drinking window: 2024-2032. 92 points”
“Vivid purple. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe cherry and blackberry, complicated by notes of candied flowers, incense and smoky Indian spices. Sappy and expressive, offering intense red and dark berry and violet flavors underscored by juicy acidity. Impressive urgency is supported by a nervy spine of acidity. Shows excellent focus and vivacity on the gently tannic finish, which lingers with superb floral tenacity. 93-95 points.
Calling 2014 “a seriously challenging and stressful vintage,” Thierry Allemand added that it “required a lot of work in the vineyards because the fruit flies attacked strongly and the fruit had to be very carefully selected.” Coupled with the delayed ripening caused by the cool summer, “it is definitely a vintage where the best growers stood out.” The relative softness of acids and tannins in the ’14s will make them better wines to enjoy young than the ’13s, he thinks, “and they show very good depth and richness” that might make them age surprisingly well, “since they have plenty of fruit to age on.””
“Opaque ruby. Powerful aromas of ripe dark fruits, olive, smoked meat and exotic spices; a suave floral element builds in the glass. Sappy and energetic on the palate, offering densely packed black and blue fruit, floral pastille and spicecake flavors that turn sweeter on the back half. Finishes very long and juicy, with strong energy and gently gripping tannins that merge smoothly with the wine’s concentrated dark fruit. 10% new oak. Drinking window: 2025-2034. 94 points”
