One of the several wines in the Jean-Hubert Delon (Léoville Las Cases) stable, Ch. Potensac is a great little wine. It holds its own when tasted alongside its more illustrious siblings, displaying a powerful underbelly and precise structure. It usually offers exceptional value and rewards five to 10 years’ cellaring – I expect both aspects to be true this year. Spicy green peppers greet the nose, combined with dark fruit, blackberry, blackcurrant and cherry. There is some sweet fruit on the finish, which is well balanced, quite long and intermixed with earthy spice, fresh acidity and ripe tannins.

40% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot

A reigned in savoury plum and damson appeal upfront. Smooth fruit tannins and thick chocolaty depths come through with the 5% Petit Verdot lending real depth and length. Another attractive offering from this value estate.
Peter Newton, Private Account Manager

65% Cabernet Sauvignon 30% Merlot 5% Petit Verdot

A beautiful savoury nose that's rich and enticing. Black fruit dominance which is slightly different to other years. Not better or worse because of it but different and still moreish and will offer relatively early access to its undoubted charms. Will be a bargain too. Come one. Come all.
Simon Staples, Sales Director - Asia

The rejuvenated Ch. du Tertre is steadily building a reputation for excellent value for money. The 2014 has a lovely expressive nose, with sweet red fruits combining effortlessly with aromas of floral cassis and dried fruit. There are generous helpings of blackberries and cream on the palate which sit wonderfully alongside the elegant Margaux femininity. Fine tannins, crunchy black fruit and excellent length. The Cabernet Franc provides a really strong backbone and the Cabernet Sauvignon a structure and texture, which is typical of this commune. There is a lovely peppery focus here, courtesy of the Cabernet Franc. Focused and direct, it is a real pleasure to taste this wine, even at such an early stage, straight from barrel. It's one of the best du Tertre wines we have tasted in many years.

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

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.

The 2014 Malartic-Lagravière has a crisp and focused bouquet with precise blackberry and briary scents, a lovely undercurrent of mineralité. The palate is beautifully balanced on the entry with rounded, quite concentrated black fruit. There is a lot of extraction here and I fear that they may have found a touch of under-ripe tannin towards the finish, which is a shame because the nose is so damn gorgeous! Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.
Neal Martin, vinous.com

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

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

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

Just below Ch. Margaux and Ch. Palmer in the Margaux pecking order, this historic estate has created a stylish wine in 2014. Darker fruits dominate and the wine expresses a tension which suggests there is more to come in the future. Blackberries and a touch of cassis add real appeal. There is a generous core of velvety fruit and the most appropriate descriptor for the entire tasting experience is ‘charming’. There are creamy notes on the nose, it's really open and expressive. There is a roundness to the fruit too, with an enticing spicy edge on the finish. Good length and attractive, refreshing acidity dances in the mouth.

56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc

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!

The 2014 Smith Haut-Lafitte has a much simpler bouquet than the 2014 Pape-Clément, with scents of pencil lead and cooked meat infusing the black fruit. The palate is well balanced with slightly firm tannin, moderate levels of acidity that segues to a very peppery and vivacious finish. This is a sophisticated and classy Pessac-Léognan, though I wonder if it is starting to close down? Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.
Neal Martin, vinous.com

Magical aromas of blackberry and blueberry compote with just a hint of mouth-watering vanilla make you want to dive in and embrace this beautiful wine. Packed full of concentrated black cherry and dark fruits of the forest it has a fabulous core that is very hard to top. Beautifully refined tannins coat this liquid centre. Exceptionally long finish that just leaves you gasping for more. Not as serious and St Estèphesque as 2010 but with more charm and opulence this could be their best wine since the brilliant 2005. Delicious.
Simon Staples, Sales Director - Asia

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.

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