Winemaker Notes
The 2014 vintage is characterized by mild but very rainy periods in winter (January, February), which favored a rapid growth of vegetation. The cool spring slowed down the development of the vine. July and August were cool and regularly watered, with sometimes hot spells over a few days. Beautiful sunshine in September and stable weather over several weeks allowed us to get the grapes to ripen well. The North Médoc and Loudenne were spared from the corridor of rain and storms which struck Saint-Estèphe and Pauillac.
Blend: 50% Merlot, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon
Professional Ratings
-
Wine Enthusiast
This wine has plenty of structure, showing firm, rough tannins with some extraction bitterness. Light fruit flavors are offered further levity from bright acidity.
Barrel Sample: 88-90
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
While it claims the same basic landscape as the Medoc—only every so slightly elevated above river level—the Haut Medoc is home to all of the magnificent chateaux of the Left Bank of Bordeaux, creating no lack of beautiful sites to see.
These chateaux, residing over the classed-growth cru in the villages of Margaux, Moulis, Listrac, St-Julien, Pauillac and St. Estephe are within the Haut Medoc appellation. Though within the confines of these villages, any classed-growth chateaux will most certainly claim village or cru status on their wine labels.
Interestingly, some classed-growth cru of the Haut Medoc fall outside of these more famous villages and can certainly be a source of some of the best values in Bordeaux. Deep in color, and concentrated in ripe fruit and tannins, these wines (typically Cabernet Sauvignon-based) often prove the same aging potential of the village classed-growths. Among these, the highest ranked chateaux are Chateau La Lagune and Chateau Cantemerle.