94 Points, Vinous: “The 2014 Fleur Cardinale is a dark, sumptuous wine. Dark cherry, plum, rose petal, licorice and sweet spices are all pushed forward. Extravagantly ripe and flamboyant, the 2014 hits all the right notes. As always, Fleur Cardinale shows the more overt, opulent side of Saint-Émilion, and yet all the elements are beautifully balanced. Tasted two times.” – Antonio Galloni, February 2017
Blend: 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon
ANTONIO GALLONI ON THE 2014 BORDEAUX VINTAGE
2014 Bordeaux: A September Surprise
Two thousand fourteen was one of the most dramatic growing seasons ever witnessed in Bordeaux. It may be hard to believe today, but well into August, 2014 was shaping up to be a repeat of 2013, a vintage most would like to forget. Then something remarkable happened. Freakishly warm, dry conditions arrived with a
vengeance in September and saved the harvest. By all accounts, it was one of the warmest and driest Septembers ever recorded.
It is, of course, a little more complicated than that. While the Indian summer was an unexpected and a positive surprise, there was some rain during harvest, while the blisteringly hot conditions caused issues with dehydration and shriveling in some areas. For the most part, however, September and October benefited from a glorious Indian summer that led to a late harvest. One of the hallmarks of 2014 is very long hang time, which in the finest wines manifests itself in very silky, polished tannins. - February 2017
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