Bordeaux 2014 Primeurs: St Estèphe Tasting Notes
Having looked at the big three, the other châteaux in this appellation should not escape or attention. This appellation has faired well in this vintage, putting on the most convincing display of all the Médoc communes. Thus there is plenty of promise for good drinking here, and because of the good number of cru bourgeois châteaux here this means we might see some decent value too.
Château Sérilhan is among those estates offering the most promise from the cru bourgeois gang, although Château Lilian Ladouys is clearly raising its game under the ownership of Jacky Lorenzetti and with the expertise of Emmanuel Cruse also on board. I thought the wine here was really quite a success, especially if taken in the context of the vintage. Château Meyney is also good. although the wines do seem to possess a fatter and less finessed character since Hubert de Boüard de Laforest of Château Angélus was brought on board as a consultant here (interesting this doesn’t seem to apply to Sérilhan though, where he also consults). Also don’t overlook Château Phelan-Ségur, one of the most impressive of all the cru bourgeois châteaux in any vintage. Registering an IPT of 85, outstripping that declared by the big three in the appellation, and indeed any other château in St Estèphe for which I have data, this is an impressive wine of some concentration which should age very nicely.
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