Bordeaux 2013 – Médoc, Haut-Médoc, Moulis and Listrac

A slightly rotten character to the fruit on the nose, but the palate is pure enough. Bitter, granular tannins. Displays the lack of volume so typical of 2013. (RH)

Rich cassis and sweet oak spice. Fine but very firm tannins. Attractive smoked-meat character. Good, solid stuff. (RH)

Jammy, curranty sort of character – not a bit of underripeness here! Firm, clay-textured tannins. Dry, medium-bodied palate. Starts confidently, but finishes somewhat simply. (RH)

Black cherry, savoury and structural. No lack of ripeness, but pretty firm and unyielding at this stage. Reliable, classic claret with very enjoyable savoury character. (RH)

Not much on the nose. Better fruit clarity on the palate, in a savoury, slightly bitter style. Very firm tannins. Not much fun. (RH)

Green, vegetal note sticks out on the nose – in a way that suggests Chilean Carmenère. Dry, chewy texture, plenty of concentration. Slight mousiness which doesn’t leave the cleanest finish. (RH)

Potent liquorice and menthol nose, perhaps with a bit of volatile acidity? Strident tannic grip, medium body, concentrated cassis. Not entirely balanced. (RH)

Very juicy and fragrant. Sumptuous, generous oak. Lovely, modern, sweet style. Lots of easy-drinking enjoyability. (RH)

Bright blueberry and raspberry fruit – quite different from the cassis norm. Fragrant, minty element and lovely firm grip on the palate. Lovely balance here, and plenty of life ahead of it. (RH)

50% Merlot, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon. Simple but ripe fruit, a little bitter on the finish. Pert tannins, light body. (RH)

Lovely black fruitcake character and a lick of sweet vanillin. Rounded, smooth and easy drinking, but pretty slim on the palate, and short to finish. (RH)

Slight medicinal notes, a bit of milk chocolate. Fine-grained tannins, light body. Pretty insubstantial. (RH)

Pretty compact nose. Lots of cassis on the palate, and a firm tannic grip too. Good concentration, considering the vintage. Pretty simple flavour profile, but very nicely made. (RH)

63% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot. Soft oak, bright, ripe and light. Well made and balanced, but it finishes with a sourness that jars. (RH)

Because everything is late in 2014, the wines have not been blended yet. Hence there are four lots. 19 hl/ha yield. Very small quantity of Merlot, which was therefore co-fermented with Cabernet Sauvignon. Not scored, because it is not yet blended. Four lots as follows:
Lot 1: 95% Cabernet Sauvignon. 5% Merlot, co-fermented. Perfumed and rich – plenty of richness without heaviness. Pretty brusque tannins, but not too aggressive. The palate retains smoothness, in fact.
Lot 2: Also 95% Cabernet Sauvignon. 5% Merlot, co-fermented. A little bit herbal and leafy. More astringent and hard than the Lot 1 – good to give a bit of structure. Pretty tough by itself though.
Lot 3: 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot, co-fermented. Tight structure – very fine tannins, very compact fruit. Quite austere and crunchy, but the fruit quality is convincingly savoury.
Lot 4: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Scented and perfumed. This will probably be the heart of the blend. Chewy tannic structure, very classic and firm – but very delicious and satisfying too. (RH)

Super-sweet fruit, almost jammy. Heavily oaked too, giving a sawdust and sweet spice character. Chewy tannins, modest length, light body. No shortcomings, but no intrigue either. (RH)

Liquorice, menthol, black cherry. Very drying, protuberant tannins. Pleasant fruit character, but the structure doesn’t frame the flavour so well. (RH)

66% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon 6% Cabernet Franc. 10% new oak. Loads of perfume – very pretty and soft. Lovely tender bite to the tannin. Balanced, complete – fairly simple, but good early-drinking claret style. (RH)

49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. 33% new oak. Richly scented, and showing its oak rather. Very dry tannins – really structural, but not hard. Certainly needs a good amount of time to age though. (RH)

Ripe, juicy blackberry – sweet and modern and attractive. Just a touch of oak on the palate, well-balanced body and higher than expected tannins, especially on the finish. (RH)

Rather scorched fruit on the nose. A bit clumsy and underpowered on the palate. Very fine tannins, but not supported with enough else to really engage. (RH)

Sweet perfume, glossy black fruit and a good dose of liquorice. Light and easygoing with a slightly crude finish. (RH)

Black cherry nose, but a bit dilute and thin on the palate with a musty finish. (RH)

Juicy cassis and smart, toasty oak aromas. Good concentration and persistence on the palate, plenty of floury tannin to finish. Serious, savoury and worthy of cellaring. (RH)

Juicy, ripe fruit and pretty overt clove character from oak. Very stiff-brushed tannins too. Needs some time to resolve in bottle, but I’m not sure there is long-term fruit in here. (RH)