The weather conditions of the vintage
With a particularly mild winter and an early bud-break, the 2014 growing season was mild and wet at the beginning of spring, which enabled vine vegetation to develop quickly.
The flowering began at the end of May in rainy weather, but conditions were then very favourable during the first two weeks of June, when temperatures rose significantly, allowing the flowering to finish in very good conditions.
August, which was quite cool and often stormy, slowed the grape ripening process. To make sure that the vine canopy remained in good health and that the bunches continued to enjoy a favourable microclimate with as little compacting of the fruit as possible, great care and perseverance were necessary.
September and October were very hot and dry, causing some water stress to appear in the vines during the second phase of the ripening process, thus providing the ideal conditions for natural concentration of the berries and ripening of the tannins.
The picking of the Merlot began on the 3rd October and finished on the 14th. The Cabernet Sauvignon was harvested from the 20th to the 22nd October and the Petit Verdot on the 20th October.
Vinification
We harvested very high quality fruit thanks to particularly favourable weather conditions which allowed the grapes to reach optimum ripeness in each plot of vines.
The vinifications went smoothly and were carried out using alternate pumping over, punching down of the cap of skins and delestage.
Tasting notes
The 2014 vintage displays an attractive deep colour. The nose reveals lovely aromas of ripe red berry fruit with hints of spice. On the palate, the wine is full, well-balanced and with very good volume and a lovely finish that has superb, ripe and already quite soft tannins.
✓ Blend: 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot
✓ Ageing: 60% new oak barrels, 40% second-fill barrels
✓ Ageing time: 16 months