2014 Bordeaux PART VI, Saint-Julien & Haut-Médoc

This Saturday we will be continuing our tasting series of the excellent 2014 vintage in Bordeaux. Our sixth shipment takes us to the smallest of the great “Left Bank” appellations, Saint-Julien. These are the classic Cabernet Sauvignon-based blends that put Bordeaux on the map centuries ago, all classified “Second,” “Third,” and “Fourth-Growth” wines.

Because of the warm autumn in the 2014 vintage there have been claims that declare it a Left Bank vintage, thanks to the later ripening qualities of Cabernet Sauvignon versus the earlier ripening Merlot. Taste for yourself, we’ll have an assortment of these wines open to sample this Saturday. All prices are 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.

Haut-Médoc

~$19 Château Citran SOLD OUT
Managed by Céline Villars and owned by the Merlaut family, who also own several properties in the region, including Château Ferrière, Château Gruaud-Larose, Château Chasse-Spleen and Château Haut-Bages-Liberal. (89)

~$35 Château Sociando-Mallet
Sociando-Mallet was a forgotten and derelict property by the time it was bought by Jean Gautreau in 1969. The estate has since seen considerable expansion and modernization, and subsequently a reputation for quality. (92)

Saint-Julien

~$50 Château Lagrange
Classified “Third-Growth” estate. With recent extensive renovations including modernization of their entire wine making facilities, Château Lagrange has risen to become a model estate in Bordeaux. (92)

~$54 Château Branaire-Ducru
Classified “Fourth-Growth” estate. Patrick Maroteaux has owned this property since 1988 and has invested heavily in new plantings as well as modernizing the cellars. He was one of the first “Left Bank” producers to begin filling his tanks entirely by gravity. (89)

~$57 Château Talbot
Classified “Fourth-Growth” estate. Completely renovated wine making facilities, vat rooms and barrel cellars along with increased levels of sorting and reduced yields make today’s Château Talbot wines the highest quality. (90+)

~$58 Château Saint-Pierre
Classified “Fourth-Growth” estate owned and operated by Jean-Louis Triaud who also runs Château Gloria. Château Saint-Pierre was one of the first estates in the Médoc to embrace the use of satellite imagery to help identify which vineyard parcels are ready to pick. (92)

~$75 Château Gruaud-Larose
Classified “Second-Growth” estate owned by Jacques Merlaut who also owns Château Chasse-Spleen, Château Haut-Bages Libéral, and Château Citran. (90)

~$82 Château Léoville-Poyferré
Classified “Second-Growth” estate. One of the most exciting properties in Saint-Julien thanks to owner Didier Cuvelier and his extensive commitment to vineyard improvement. (93+)

~$93 Château Léoville Barton
Classified “Second-Growth” estate. Since Anthony Barton took over the reins from his Uncle Ronald in the mid 80s, quality has soared at Léoville Barton and the wine has become one of the most exhilarating in the Médoc. (94)

~$45 Croix de Ducru-Beaucaillou (second wine of Ducru-Beaucaillou) (92) SOLD OUT
$153 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou SOLD OUT
Classified “Second-Growth” estate. Owned by the Borie family since 1941 and led by Bruno Borie since 2003, Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is presently producing the best wines in their long, illustrious history. (96)

~$54 Clos du Marquis (distinct cuvée from Léoville-Las Cases ) (92) SOLD OUT
$187 Château Léoville-Las Cases
Classified “Second-Growth” estate. Owned and operated by the Delon family since 1902, Château Léoville-Las Cases is one of the oldest classified growths in the Médoc and the leading estate in Saint-Julien. (96)

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Posted on 2017.07.12 in France, Bordeaux, Saturday Sips Wines