Bordeaux 2014: Broad Impressions
Although I will go into more detail in each of my regional reports, it is certainly worth considering the style of the wines overall, looking in particular here at the reds. I will also provide more detail on the white wines, which I will include in my Pessac-Léognan report, and of course I will also look more closely at Sauternes in the appropriate report. It seems to me the best way to clarify the character and the quality of the vintage for the reds is to breakdown the analysis of the wines into the various components I look for when tasting the primeur barrel samples.
Fruit Flavours
First up is fruit flavour, which in cooler vintages tends in the Bordeaux varieties to lean towards red fruits, whereas in warmer, riper vintages we get darker fruits. When it comes to the Cabernets the fruit profile in 2014 is very ripe, a reflection of the long period of warm weather towards the end of the season. The most predominant aromas were reminiscent of black cherry, sometimes other dark fruits such as blackcurrant, and quite often with a slightly dried or desiccated character, more reminiscent of fruit skins rather than sweet fruit flesh. On one or two occasion currants, rather than fresh fruit, came to mind. The Cabernet Francs seem to have done particularly well, and wines with high proportions of Cabernet Franc express it very clearly, with aromas of sweetly perfumed violets and dark fruits, with a pencil-straight definition to the aromas. But wines based on Cabernet Sauvignon also have ripe and convincing fruit flavours. This, to my palate, is all good.
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