2014 Bordeaux PART II, Saint-Émilion – From Every Day to Grand Vin

This Saturday we will be continuing our tasting series of the excellent 2014 vintage in Bordeaux. Our second shipment stays focused on the Merlot-based wines of the Right Bank, specifically the wines of Saint-Émilion. These wines represent every day drinking to Premier Grand Cru Classé wines capable of decades long cellar development.

We’ll have an assortment of wines open to taste this Saturday. All bottle prices are deeply discounted and based on the purchase of six or more bottles.

Although Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate ratings don’t factor into how we select the wines we carry, we do understand that many drinkers find them useful. You’ll see the ratings for the 2014 vintage of each wine following the text.

 Castillon

~$25 Château Joanin Becot
Purchased by the Becot family in 2001, the name Joanin is actually a unique “lieu-dit” or vineyard situated on clay and limestone soils at some of the highest elevations along the Gironde. (89-91)

~$25 Château Montlandrie SOLD OUT
An ample wine from perfectionist proprietor Denis Durantou, known for his celebrated Pomerol estate Château l’Eglise Clinet. (89-91)

 Saint-Émilion

~$22 Château de Fonbel (Grand Cru) SOLD OUT
Managed by Pauline Vauthier. The vineyard is located at the bottom of a slope, not too far from the venerable Château Ausone, which is also owned by the Vauthier family. (88-90)

~$30 Château Fonroque (Grand Cru)
Managed by Alain Moueix, who also runs Château Mazeyres in Pomerol (a hit at last Saturday’s tasting). One of the few Bordeaux estates that is 100% biodynamic. (91-93)

~$31 Château Grand Corbin-Despagne (Grand Cru) SOLD OUT
One of the rare Bordeaux estates to have remained in the hands of the same family for over two centuries. Today it is managed by François Despagne, the 7th generation of his family to take charge of the property. (90-92)

~$33 Château Quintus “Le Dragon de Quintus” (Grand Cru)
Previously known as Château Tertre-Daugay, the Quintus estate is owned and operated by Count Léo de Malet Roquefort, who also owns Château Haut Brion and Château La Mission Haut Brion. (87-89)

~$35 Clos La Madeleine (Grand Cru Classé)
With recent extensive improvements, including a new vat house and barrel aging cellars constructed in deep limestone quarries, Clos La Madeleine is an estate on the rise. (89-91)

~$40 Château Faugères (Grand Cru Classé)
A recent complete renovation of the wine making facilities makes Silvio Denz’s Château Faugeres one of the most modern estates in the Right Bank. (91-93)

~$40 Château Rol Valentin (Grand Cru)
About 40% of Château Rol Valentin’s vines are placed on sandy soils, north of Château La Gomerie on the way to Château Cheval Blanc. The remaining 60% are planted in the cooler, clay and limestone soils near Château Faugères. (89-91)

~$42 Château Valandraud “Virginie de Valandraud” (Grand Cru)
The second wine of Château Valandraud. This estate is recognized as giving birth to the “Garage Wine” movement, although today they utilize modern cellars and cultivate almost 25 acres of vineyards. (90-92)

~$43 Château Grand Mayne (Grand Cru Classé)
An estate with centuries of wine production history. Today it is run by the Nony family with the help of wine consultant Louis Mitjaville, best known for his work at top tier Saint-Émilion estate Château Le Tertre Rôteboeuf. (91 – 93)

~$65 Château Beau-Séjour Bécot (Premier Grand Cru Classé B)
One of the leading Premier Grand Cru Classé ‘B’ properties in Saint-Émilion thanks to modern era improvements to the estate and the consultation of Michel Rolland. (91 – 93)

~$70 Château Larcis Ducasse (Premier Grand Cru Classé B)
With vines abutting the famed estate of Château Pavie, Larcis Ducasse has both prime terroir and the knowledge of dynamic consulting duo Nicolas Thienpont and Stephane Derenoncourt. (91 – 93)

~$81 Château Pavie-Macquin (Premier Grand Cru Classé B) 
This estate takes part of its name from visionary Albert Macquin who deserves much of the credit for solving the phylloxera epidemic. Today it is Nicolas Thienpont and Stephane Derenoncourt operating this estate at the highest levels. (91-93)

$102 Clos Fourtet (Premier Grand Cru Classé B)
Erected during the Middle Ages as a defensive fort, the property is situated opposite the main entrance to the old town of Saint-Émilion. Currently the estate is owned by Philippe Cuvelier, also owner of Château Poujeaux. (94)

~$212 Château Ausone “Chapelle d’Ausone” (Grand Cru)
The second wine from the venerable Château Ausone. With some of the finest terroir in all of Bordeaux, Ausone is currently operating at the very peak of its form. (90 – 92)

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Posted on 2017.05.05 in France, Bordeaux