If there ever were a time to dig into Bordeaux, it's now
The days of over-extracted and over-wooded wines seem to be over. The 2014 reds show harmony and finesse, and the dry whites display electrifying acidity with fantastic density. Even lesser ranked estates from appellations as simple as Bordeaux or Bordeaux Superior made very good wines. The vintage may be the best value in Bordeaux since 2008. Here are 10 top bottles from the 2014 vintage to get you started.
Château Lafleur Pomerol
Fantastic on the nose. Exuberant aromas of lavender, tobacco, cigar box, violets and sliced plum. Medium to full body. It builds on the palate and goes on forever. Speechless. Such finesse and beauty. Just a hint of spices. What a glorious, hyper-classic wine. Coup de foudre! 100 points
Château Ausone Saint-Emilion
Fabulous aromas of currants, rose petals, dried strawberry and hints of lemon rind, wet earth and chalk. Full and dense and so compacted. What a texture. Phenomenal. Needs five to six years to open, but it’s a joy to taste. Amazing. Such energy. From organically grown grapes as well. I’m in awe. 100 points
Château Mouton Rothschild Pauillac
Incredible iodine, oyster, currants, peat and cedar, yet subtle. Full body, chewy yet polished tannins, and great depth and complexity on the finish. I love the spice and blueberry character on the finish. Vibrant. A sexy style of Mouton. Try drinking this in 2022. 99 points
Château La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc Pessac-Léognan
So much lemon, pineapple and green papaya on the nose here. Stones and salt block, too. Full-bodied and dense with a creamy and layered mouthfeel. Powerful and agile at the same time. Exceptional. Rivals the 100-point 2011 La Mission. Drink if you can find it. 99 points
Château Latour Pauillac
Violets, liquorice, pencil, flowers and currants define this on the nose before it moves to fresh mushrooms. It’s full-bodied yet compacted with tension and a compressed centre palate. Incredible fine-grained tannins and energy. The length is truly great. Give it time—it should be even more beautiful in 2024. 99 points
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou Saint-Julien
Fabulous aromas of crushed blackberry and blackcurrant, not to mention spices. Wet earth and cedar, too. Complex. Full-bodied yet agile and complete. A dense centre palate. Ultra-round tannins. Everything in the right balance. Wonderful to taste but better to drink in 2022. 99 points
Domaine de Chevalier Pessac-Léognan Blanc
This is so solid and structured. It’s bigger and better than most 2014s. What a wine. Full body with flavours of stone, dried apple and pear. Goes on for minutes. Yes man! 98 points
Château Léoville Las Cases Saint-Julien
I love the nose of blackberry, blueberry, flowers and citrus. Hints of stone and wet earth. Full body and ultra-fine tannins that are so long and seamless. Incredible length. A wine that you want to drink now. 98 points
Château Lafite Rothschild Pauillac
The aromas of stone, oyster shell, blackcurrant and mushroom are intense. Full-bodied, dense and powerful, with lots of blackberry. Great finish. Super energy and depth. Try in 2022. Fascinating. 98 points
L’If Saint-Émilion
The purity and complexity of fruit on the nose are really exceptional with blackberry, clove, nutmeg and stones. Flowers, too. Full-bodied, yet bright and reserved with everything compacted in the centre palate. Acidity is delicious. A superb wine. Give it time to open and show everything, but it’s so wonderful now. Try in 2022. 98 points
To see the full list of Bordeaux’s top 100 wines, visit jamessuckling.com