Bordeaux 2014 Primeurs: Moulis & Listrac
I sometimes find great joy in the wines of Moulis and Listrac, particularly in the former. Yes there are châteaux in Listrac that can turn out an appealing wine, but in Moulis there are a couple of estates that can really give their classed growth peers a run for their money. So in terms of quality there is often something of interest here, but in terms of value-for-money both appellations are also significant. They can offer wines that are, compared to the more famous left bank communes, often very favourably priced. So, whether you are looking for a classed-growth alternative, or drinking to a tight Bordeaux budget (and aren’t we all drinking to a budget?), it can be worth getting to know these two less famous left-bank appellations.
The question now is, of course, how have they performed in the 2014 vintage? This was a challenging year which was looking like a re-run of 2013 in late August, but which was then saved by an Indian summer. It isn’t, therefore, a given that we will find something of interest here, no matter how much some would like to talk up the vintage. And sadly, the vineyards of Moulis and Listrac do not seem to have outdone themselves this year. I don’t have any weather data for the region, but I see no evidence in my tasting notes that these vineyards escaped the dismal summer weather, which comes through in the character of the wines quite plainly. Sage Moulis and Listrac bargain-hunters, regular buyers of Château Poujeaux, Château Chasse-Spleen (pictured) and the like, are I am afraid likely to be disappointed this year. Of course, I am going to make a few comments on the vintage for Moulis and Listrac here anyway, followed by my tasting notes on the next page, but those looking for a budget buy in this vintage are likely to be better served by one of the leading cru bourgeois estates of St Estèphe than anything from these two appellations.
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