Utterly sumptuous, this is a real triumph for 2014. The vintage’s freshness is present and correct: there is purity of fruit, elegant, almost seamless tannins and a really nice level of acidity. More luscious and approachable than in recent years, this is (as usual) benchmark Claret and very much on our list of favourites. We very regularly recommend this wine to our customers for a reason, it is reliably consistent, tasty and typically great-value red Bordeaux. A sweetness emerges on the finish, it is aromatically pure and simply charming.

82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc

Change continues apace at this estate, which has been under new ownership since 2010, with their new cellar and tasting room opening in summer 2015. Displaying a lighter, more ethereal style, the 2014 has notes of menthol, tobacco and sweet blackcurrants, with violets and floral aromatics. Medium-bodied with a dark, plum-like colour, there is some sour cherry in the mix too. Earthy, mineral and with plenty of acidity, the luscious fruit balances out really nicely alongside the savoury edge. Persistent on the finish, spice and green pepper linger on the palate. The wine is quite powerful and serious, with layers of complexity. The 2014 is a very good effort.

55% Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot

Wonderfully youthful on the nose, the wine seems innocent, but attractive and compelling. Aromas of bright fruit leap from the glass, red berries in abundance. There is a lovely richness here, great structure and depth. Acidity is incredibly well interwoven with tannins to create a concentrated mouth-feel. It's a really generous, yet fresh and juicy wine. It's actually rather delicious, even at this young age and a wine which really ought to be considered strongly this year.

56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 11% Petit Verdot

This Fourth Growth St Julien estate has been performing consistently well for the past several vintages and 2014 is no exception. The nose is pretty, attractively perfumed, fresh and expressive. The palate is dominated by rich, fleshy fruit. There is a purity here, great precision and ripe tannins which grip, and offer an intense focus. High acidity, complexity and a persistence on the finish suggest this wine has excellent potential for aging. Elegant and fine, it is a wine that the château can be proud of. Bravo indeed.

65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc

Black cherry and dark blackcurrant notes are accompanied by pure cassis and a cool forest-floor edge. This has a more reserved nose than many, but one which builds up in the glass. It slowly brings out a gentle spicy note from the oak. There is a lovely fresh crunch to the palate, with a core of dark fruit which is perfectly balanced by the tannins and that fresh acid that glides through. Clos du Marquis is less flamboyant than many in 2014, but is serious, with a great sweetness that adds to the length of the finish.
Hong Kong Fine Wine Team

It is always hard to taste the stable of Ch. Lafite Rothschild wines en primeur and, true to form, Carruades de Lafite, the second wine of the property, was one of the toughest this year. The wine displays nice floral aromatics and an overall pleasing perfume. There is a sense of power in the weighty palate which is deeply plummy and brimming with dark cherry. Very finely-knit tannins and acidity complete a fine structure. High in Cabernet Sauvignon in 2014, the wine is quite focused and pure on the finish, the lingering flavours silky and textured.

87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc

A Quatrième Cru Classé, the step up in quality from H. Martin’s other St Julien property (Ch. Gloria) is reassuringly evident. This is a 2014 with a sense of ‘lift’ to it, the oak is apparent but there’s a very good amount of fruit too. A very sound, stylish wine.
Tom Cave, Cellar Plan Manager

This property seem to be able to deliver exceptional wines whatever the weather due to arguably one of the best terroir in Bordeaux and a dedicated wine making team who is adverse to trends and do not manufacture their wines. This year is no exception, the nose is intense and layered with cassis and blackberries. Once on the palate the power and drive is instant, covering all parts with meaty, powerful black fruits. The length is firm and focused but the tannins are very ripe. This vintage will open up quite quickly but with such power and balance this is also built for the long term.
Max Lalondrelle, Fine Wine Buying Director

Dark is the watchword here when describing the fruit. Plums, cassis, black cherries and blackberries all vie for attention. There are hints of spice too and a pleasing sweetness emerges, especially on the finish. Well balanced, the soft, ripe tannins contribute to a silky result and the wine is long, charming and pure. This is another wine of some class from the Bartons in 2014 and, yet again, a great benchmark Claret.

83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc

A very solid performer both in terms of quality and pricing. It is very difficult to find any cheap back vintages of Ch. Talbot and when we do it is always at a higher price than at release. The 2014 was made under the watchful eyes of the famous consultant Stephane Derenoncourt and it is a stunner. Blackcurrant and cherries on the nose with a touch of cedar, one of the most focused and fresh wines of the appellation, lovely concentration and depth on the palate, bags of black fruits in the middle and and an excellent finish with firm but ripe tannins. Serious and structured, it will provide customers with generous fresh early drinking while having all the ingredients for long term cellaring. Definitely one to watch.
Max Lalondrelle, Fine Wine Buying Director/Bordeaux Buyer

The easy-going charm of 2014 as a vintage suits Talbot’s cheerful character well. Displaying a plethora of ripe, plump dark fruits with a depth of flavour this is going to delight followers of this perennially popular château.
Tom Cave, Cellar Plan Manager A very solid performer both in terms of quality and pricing. It is very difficult to find any cheap back vintage of Ch. Talbot and when we do it is always at a higher price that release. The 2014 made under the watchful eyes of the famous consultant Stephane Derenoncourt is a stunner. Blackcurrant and cherries on the nose with a touch of cedar, one of the most focused and fresh wine of the appellation, lovely concentration and depth on the palate, bags of black fruits in the middle and and excellent finish with firm but ripe tannins. Serious and structured it will provide customers with generous fresh early drinking while having all the ingredients for long term cellaring. Definitely one to watch.
Max Lalondrelle, Fine Wine Buying Director/Bordeaux Buyer

There is real energy on the nose of the Grand Vin. Sweet, succulent and beautifully-perfumed with floral aromas and a touch of vanilla-spice. There is focus here, but a rewarding elegance too, even at this young age. Like La Conseillante and Ch. Figeac, this great estate has used its famous terroir to create a special wine in 2014. Light, silky, yet generous and lifting on the finish, it is a splendid result this year. Minerality follows on the lingering finish, with carefully- and well-managed tannins rounding things off. This is really good St Emilion.

The yield was 40 hectolitres per hectare this year: that doesn't represent a great yield, but it is much better than recent years, in particular 2013. I always buy this wine for my own cellar and will be doing so again. Soft and really approachable, this is a gentle wine. Shy, but pretty on the nose, it is decadent and could be enjoyed very early; but that's not to say it won't age well, all the component parts are singing in harmony: ripe, fleshy fruit, freshness, attractive acidity and silky, fine tannins. The finish is soft too. This is so silky and enjoyable, even when tasting a barrel sample.

65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot

Ch. Haut-Bailly has a genuine Pessac personality in 2014. Graceful and charming, it also appears to be delicate too, displaying a lightness of touch. There is a welcoming harmony to this wine. It just tastes as red Bordeaux should: attractive, a fleshy fruit nose, with helpings of alluring dark fruits - in particular cherry and plum - and a spicy, lingering finish.

78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot

This year the blend is 90% Merlot, 9% Cabernet, 1% Cabernet Franc and just 4,750 cases will be produced. The nose is elegant, refined and pure. Beautifully streamlined. Spicy, almost sweet Asian spice in style. The fruit explodes in the mouth but is restrained by the beautiful structure (almost the highest total acidity on record). A very linear wine showing a very fine, silky tannin structure and great integration of oak. Clinet 2014 is well balanced and has a long, pure finish. Recommended!

This is fantastic. La Conseillante is known for its elegance and finesse, but this really is something else. Sweet, rich and showing a depth of fruit and layered complexity, it is one of the best wines I tasted during en primeur week. There is a cool, fresh precision to this wine. It is not a big wine, but there is certainly a depth of flavour and richness to the fruit. Perfectly balanced tannins complement the acidity to create a sumptuous mouth-feel. There is lift to the finish too, and the taste buds long for more – the palate tingles. Jean-Michel Laporte and his team should be proud of another delicious wine in 2014, it is almost Burgundy-like.

78% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc

This Second Growth has produced a really complex wine in 2014. It is really well-balanced and displays a nice tannic structure. An exuberant and open nose displays juicy red fruits and a racy floral edge. The palate offers good acidity, juicy fruit, and grippy tannins complete the picture. There is decent aging potential here, but it is already showing a depth of flavour and racy freshness at this young age. It is a wine of great potential, with good length, volume of fruit and really considered. The 2014 is an impressive effort.

77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc

Richly-perfumed, charming and delicious, Vieux Château Certan has been a favourite of mine in previous years and the 2014 is really tasty. Alexandre Thienpont told us that September and October saved the vintage, and we are all thankful for that. Strong acidity provides freshness, complexity and generosity. It is really seamless, gloriously sweet and focused on purity. There is not much weight or power here, but everything is carefully integrated. Clean and precise, it offers excellent length on the finish too. This is quite simply delicious.

80% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc, 1% Cabernet Sauvignon

Tasting wine at Ch. Margaux is one of the greatest parts of our job: it’s a true privilege. This wine has great harmony and persistence in 2014. It has a beautiful elegance, and wears the domination of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend with real harmony. A pure expression of Margaux, there are spicy black fruits on the palate and ripe, red fruits on the nose. Showing real purity, freshness and real polish, elegance and length, it is beautifully layered too. Softly-textured, the spice is really attractive. Just 24 percent of the crop went into Pavillon Rouge in 2014. Concentrated, pure tannins linger on the long and satisfying finish.

77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot

Giscours was one of my favourite wines of the week. It is multi-layered with an ultra-fine tannic structure that makes you really fancy drinking it now! It has a great, juicy density that's completely compelling. Not as complex as 2010 but definitely up there with the 2009 Giscours. A favourable euro rate, a bountiful crop and a savvy head honcho at the Château will see this coming in at a great price and early release. No pressure there then.
Simon Staples, Sales Director - Asia

Round and seductive, Ch. Giscours is brimming with dark fruit this year, showing an inky colour. It is neatly packed with dense fruit, with good concentration and luscious tannins. Black fruit dominates the nose and palate. There is an elegance here, alongside a structure which demonstrates the super terroir of this property and indeed the appellation. Cool, refreshing acidity appears on the finish and textured tannins complete a really attractive mouth-feel. A broad, fleshy fruit profile really appeals.