HOW ARE THE WINES OF THE 2014 VINTAGE? THE GUIDE

Is the 2014 vintage close to your heart? Is it a year of birth, a year of marriage or any other symbol that makes you want to offer or drink a wine from this year? Let us help you decipher this vintage and find the right bottle to suit your needs.

> Our 2014 wines in stock!

 

• Vintage 2014 in BORDEAUX

The 2014 vintage is an underestimated one, because even if it's not on a par with the great years of 2005, 2009, 2010 and 2015, it's still one of the great vintages. Some Châteaux, depending on their blends, have succeeded in producing wines with great potential. It has to be said that 2014 is not a classic vintage. Spring did not go as planned and flowering was a little late. July and much of August followed suit in the cold, slowing ripening considerably.

Then came the Indian summer. From the end of August until November, the weather was hot and sunny. This slightly "offbeat" and long-lasting weather will have a very interesting effect on Cabernets. Both Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc managed to reach maturity slowly, producing grapes with a good balance between aromatic power and body on the palate. Châteaux with a majority of Merlot grapes, on the other hand, will have to decide when to harvest the grapes, as the earlier-ripening Merlots will reach maturity quickly.

Then it's time to make the right choices in the cellars. Find the right balance between the fruity, opulent Merlots and the finesse of the Cabernets.

For lovers of fine Bordeaux, we still have quite a few wines available for sale.

Some of the most prestigious, such as Château Mouton Rothschild 2014rated 95/100 by Parker.

This Pauillac Grand Cru Classé is planted with a large proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon, generally 75%, complemented by Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The wine is then aged for 18 to 24 months in new barrels. A great wine that needs to be kept for at least another ten years before it can be enjoyed.

For lovers of discovery, even if for a good number of tasters it is one of the greatest wines, the Côte de Bourg - Roc de Cambes 2014The Mitjavile family's new wine is a nugget, difficult to obtain and of immense quality. This bottle, tasted blind against some of Bordeaux's greatest names, may surprise many. This wine from the Right Bank is predominantly Merlot, but the Mitjavile family have worked the wine very well in their cellar, adding just the right amount of new oak to accompany and not weigh down the wine. A great success, with dark fruit and chocolate aromas.

 

• Vintage 2014 in BOURGOGNE

The 2014 vintage is a very good one in Burgundy. Even if the overall quality is very good, we'll still have to be careful when selecting wines, as this 2014 vintage has reserved a few surprises and climatic hazards, which will put our winemakers in doubt and force them to make the right decisions.

Winter was calm over much of the vineyard, allowing flowering to get off to a good start. April and June were marked by mild, dry weather. The first difficulties arose during the summer, with a wet and cool July and part of August. Just the opposite of what vines need to feel good. Then, as in Bordeaux, the Indian summer arrived, and the vineyards enjoyed high temperatures and a warm, dry climate. Perfect for the grapes to make up for the delay of the first few months. All the winegrowers were delighted with these temperatures and the sunshine that beat down on the vineyards. The harvest took place at the end of October, and the Pinot Noirs were well-received by the estates.

The grapes returned with interesting ripeness potential, but not the best recorded. However, after a lot of hard work on the estate, the juices turned out to be well-balanced, with no trace of greenness or under-ripe grapes. As for the reds, the Côte de Nuits wines are fantastic. The best worked are powerful, ripe and complex. They have great ageing potential, and will need to wait a little longer before being opened. For lovers of this type of wine, we have a wide selection to choose from, headed by the Musigny Grand Cru du Domaine Prieur 2014. A pure marvel, combining the power of the Côte de Nuits with the finesse of the Chambolle terroir. Further down the Côte de Beaune, the wines are more elegant and refined. Pinot Noirs are more flavorful. Unfortunately, the côte has been hit by heavy storms, which will decimate part of the Pommard and Meursault vineyards. But don't worry, we've still got some little gems. Henri Boillot proposes a Volnay 1er Cru Les Caillerets 2014 of pure wonder. Enjoy after 3 hours of opening, or after a few more years of cellaring. This Pinot Noir reveals all its silkiness and delicacy. Perfect with Bresse poultry.

As far as white wines are concerned, the 2014 vintage is also a great success. In the Chablis region, the warm weather in September enabled us to harvest grapes that were well saturated without being diluted. In the rest of the vineyard, the Indian summer did the job very well. Chardonnay, which is earlier than Pinot Noir, will tend to reach maturity more quickly. Watch out, therefore, for growers who want to harvest too late, at the risk of depriving themselves of freshness and thus balance for their wines. The opposite is true of Chablis, where the grapes are harvested a little later than in southern Burgundy. Here, too, we have some marvellous wines. Le Puligny 1er Cru les Combettes by Jacques Prieur 2014 (once again) will take you on a journey between fat, white fruit and truffle aromas. Wonderful with scallops or poularde.

 

• Vintage 2014 in VALLE DU RHÔNE

The 2014 vintage is a very difficult vintage, a winemaker's vintage, whether in the North or the South. The weather was almost identical, with an interesting start to flowering and veraison. The grapes were able to start ripening as they should. Then came the complications. September was rainy, even very rainy, which significantly slowed juice ripening. In the Northern Rhône Valley, the wines are quite balanced. Juices are fruity, round but relatively light. The September rains have brought a little freshness to the white wines, which bodes well for the future. As for red wines, Hermitage, Cornas and Côte Rôtie are fruity, tannic and long on the palate.

For wines from the southern part of the region, quality is heterogeneous. The rainy month of September will slow down the ripening of the wines. This is not necessarily a bad thing. So if you're a fan of powerful, heady, heavier wines, skip it... This 2014 vintage is quite the opposite, offering fruitier, finer, lighter wines.

We invite you to taste this very interesting 2014 vintage. We have a number of interesting wines to choose from, starting with the Henri Bonneau's Châteauneuf du Pape 2014opulent, rich with roasted aromas. Or, for lovers of Syrah, La Côte Rôtie du domaine de La Janasse 2014. Complex, supple and very long on the palate. Totally different from the previous wine.

 

Vintage 2014 in the rest of France

A bit like in the Rhône, Champagne was a difficult vintage for many winegrowers. The cool, wet summer didn't bode well for the vignerons, but the Indian summer helped them to harvest ripe grapes. However, the earliest-ripening Chardonnays should be preferred, as the Pinot grapes had some difficulty reaching maturity.

For the LoireThe 2014 vintage is a great success. The region experienced the same climatic problems as the others, albeit with a slightly milder spring. With the Indian summer doing the work, the whites are dry, mineral and endowed with superb tension.

 

The best French wine of 2014

 

• Mr Chapoutier - Ermitage l'Ermite White 2014

Visit only French wine of the 2014 vintage to be rated 100/100 by Robert Parker & The Wine Advocate.
Custody: 2018 - 2048
By Jeb Dunnuck in December 2015: "The wine of the vintage (and I'm going to include all Northern Rhône wines, red and white in this grouping. Still composed of 100 % Marsanne, which comes from the granitic soils of lieu-dit l'Hermite, it was aged 11 months in 25 % new demi-muids before bottling unfined and unfiltered. Its medium-gold color is followed by a heavenly bouquet of liquid rock, hazelnut, caramelized pineapple, stone fruit and quince. Thick, unctuous, full-bodied, exhilaratingly pure and laser-focused, with a dry, explosive finish that just won't quit, it needs 2-3 years of cellaring and will drink nicely over the next three decades or more."

 

> The best wines of 2014 in stock on the site