Wine Advocate (98)

Now that it's in bottle, the 2014 Cote Rotie La Turque has exceeded all of my earlier expectations. It's got those classic Côte Rôtie elements on the nose of smoked bacon, olives and violets, seamlessly entwined with supple tannins and raspberry fruit. Medium to full-bodied, it's silky and fine, showing tremendous length and complexity on the finish. On this occasion, La Turque came to the head of the class as the most approachable, exciting and elegant of the three La Las.

James Suckling (98)

The pure fruit is incredible with a dark-fruit and blackberry character. Some sous bois but also shows clarity and finesse. Full body and super fine tannins. Tight and so pretty. A classy and fine Harlan. Needs four to five years to open up.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)

The 2014 Haut-Bailly has turned out beautifully. Dark, sumptuous and expressive, the 2014 exudes depth and finesse. Ample and resonant on the palate, with striking depth, the 2014 possesses exceptional balance and class. Hints of smoke, tobacco and licorice infuse the deep, creamy finish.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)

The 2014 Haut-Bailly has turned out beautifully. Dark, sumptuous and expressive, the 2014 exudes depth and finesse. Ample and resonant on the palate, with striking depth, the 2014 possesses exceptional balance and class. Hints of smoke, tobacco and licorice infuse the deep, creamy finish.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92)

The 2014 La Parde de Haut-Bailly is a generous, juicy wine. Red cherry, plum, spice and herbal notes all flesh out in the glass. Succulent and inviting, the 2014 is a terrific choice for drinking now and over the next few years. Silky tannins add to the wine's finesse and sheer appeal.

James Suckling (98)

Beautiful interplay of vivacity and silkiness. Vibrant and phenolic, yet also supple with long, caressing layers of crushed almond, brown butter, apricot, praline, white chocolate and hints of sage. Really opens up. Fantastic integration. 100% new barrels from selected parcels of the Argonne forest. Drink or hold.

Savour the exquisite quality of Hospices de Beaune Meursault 1er Cru Genevrieres Cuvee Baudot 2014, a fine vintage underpinned by a rich tradition in Burgundian wine-making. Produced from the revered vineyards of the Burgundy region, it hails from the Meursault 1er Cru Genevrieres domain, bearing testament to the esteemed reputability of Hospices de Beaune, world-renowned for their exceptional commitment to viticulture mastery.

This critically acclaimed, full-bodied Chardonnay is expertly hand-harvested, preserving the purity and intensity of the fruit. The microclimate and rich soils have endowed it with exceptional terroir complexity, offering sophisticated layers of ripe apples, roasted nuts and hints of honeysuckle on the palate.

With age, Hospices de Beaune Meursault 1er Cru Genevrieres Cuvee Baudot 2014 develops bracing mineral undertones, becoming more nuanced and vibrant. This wine is a true representation of elegant French viniculture, an exquisite choice for the discerning collector.

The Hospices de Beaune Pouilly Fuisse Cuvee Francoise Poisard 2014 is a quintessential expression of French Chardonnay of distinction. This exquisite wine originates from the famed vineyards of Pouilly Fuisse within the prestigious Maconnais region of Burgundy. Managed by the historic Hospices de Beaune, whose viticultural excellence dates back to the 15th century, this wine bears the name of its benefactor, Madame Françoise Poisard.

The 2014 vintage, made under the meticulous supervision of celebrated winemaker, Ludivine Griveau, enjoyed an extended fermentation with full malolactic conversion in oak barrels. The outcome is a wine imbued with an intricate palette of aromas, from delicate white flowers to ripe orchard fruits. On the palate, gentle hints of oak intertwine with the vibrant freshness of Chardonnay to produce an irresistible complexity and length. Indulge in the Hospices de Beaune Pouilly Fuisse Cuvee Francoise Poisard 2014 for an authentic taste of Burgundian sophistication.

Experience the exquisite taste of Hospices de Beaune Volnay 1er Cru Cuvee Blondeau 2014, an exemplary fine wine exemplary of the magnificent Burgundy region. Produced in the esteemed Hospices de Beaune, rooted in a tradition of charitable work and excellence in winemaking since 1443, this wine carries the allure of history merged with elite craftsmanship.

This magnificent Volnay 1er Cru, made from 100% Pinot Noir grape emanates an array of vibrant red fruits underpinned by fine-grained tannins complementing its complexity. Each grape was meticulously harvested by hand in the vintage year of 2014, ensuring optimum quality.

The Cuvee Blondeau is matured in French oak barrels, infusing it with silky texture and delicate spicy notes. A true testament to French viticulture, this fine wine is perfect for the discerning palate seeking robust flavours elegantly balanced with a buoyant finish. Truly, the Hospices de Beaune Volnay 1er Cru Cuvee Blondeau 2014 represents the epitome of luxury imbibing.

Wine Advocate (97)

I knew that the 2014 Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru would be great when I tasted it from barrel last year...but not this great. It has a wonderful, tensile bouquet that just seems to sparkle. The fruit is so crystalline and laden with energy and mineralité that you almost have to sit down! The palate is surfeit with energy, the fruit perhaps a little darker than in barrel with white pepper, spices towards the almost Richebourg-like finish. Tasting them side-by-side, I would err for this over the Richebourg - it is a magnificent wine from Charles van Canneyt.

James Suckling (96)

Decadent and rich with mango, papaya, citrus, and mineral. Slate too. Full-bodied, dry and fruity. It really shows great length and complexity. First vintage of this single vineyard wine from the best parcel of the Schonenberg. Contrasty. Drink now.

Wine Advocate (100)

Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Wraith opens with compelling crème de cassis, wild blueberries, anise, chocolate mint and black earth scents plus suggestions of candied violets, cinnamon stick, tar, cigar box and smoked meats. Full-bodied, rich, super firm and built like a brick house, the palate offers layer upon layer of very tightly wound, subtly nuanced flavors leading to a very long, very perfumed and minerally finish. If any Hundred Acre wine can live for 100 years, this is certainly a contender.

Wine Advocate (94)

Il Poggione has one of the appellation's most enviable track records for quality and cellar longevity. The 2014 Brunello di Montalcino is a different beast. This wine prizes elegance, finesse and a compact mouthfeel. I would suggest a slightly shorter drinking window of approximately ten years. No matter how you cut it, the wine is absolutely beautiful and indeed ranks high on a list of favorite wines from the vintage. The bouquet is chiseled and tight with wild blueberry, plum, red rose and a touch of cherry confit. No doubt the mouthfeel is thinner in this vintage, but the wine has plenty more going on to keep your attention. I'm liking it. I went back to the bottle a few days after it had been opened and the wine was still going strong. Some 110,000 bottles were made.

Vinous (93)

Bright, deep red. Knockout aromas and flavors of black cherry, black raspberry, crushed stone and smoky minerality. Wonderfully deep, tangy and sweet, with a captivating creamy texture making this deceptively tastable today. Impressive today for its volume, and finishes very long, broad and classically dry, with substantial fine-grained tannins. As delicious as this is right now, its overall balance suggests it will reward a decade of aging. For his part, Mugnier says that virtually every vintage of his Musigny needs ten years in the bottle.

Wine Advocate (92-94)

The 2014 Nuits St Georges 1er Cru les Pruliers was much more backward on the nose compared to the 2014 les Roncières when I tasted it at the domaine; this is broody and a bit sulky at the moment. The palate is more expressive with fine, saturated tannin. The new oak is a little more prominent here and will need time to be absorbed, but there is plenty of fruité and density on the finish; plus there is tangible mineralité and indeed, spiciness on the finish that has more concentration than Etienne Grivot's other Nuits-Saint-Georges. Superb.

Burghound (96)

A gorgeously spiced and perfumed nose is intensely floral in character while offering up notes of both red and dark currant, sandalwood, exotic Asian-style tea and discreet dried rose petal nuances. The muscular yet refined big-bodied flavors exude ample minerality onto the powerful, focused and once again compact, focused and explosively long finish. This too is indisputably built-to-age and I wouldn't be surprised if it required fully 20 years before it is fully ready. In sum this Richebourg is one of the finest wines of the 2014 vintage.

Wine & Spirit Magazine (96)

This is an archetypal Prüm Auslese, from its aristocratic poise and silky finesse to its vibrant energy and crystalline complexity. Its sleek fuselage of fruit feels succulent without needing to be overly rich, and its subtle, mineral-drenched flavors unfold in kaleidoscopic detail on the long and fragrant finish. At the same time, its youthfulness is almost painfully evident, a reminder that drinking this wine in optimum maturity is a pleasure that won't be experienced for at least another two or three decades.

Tim Atkin MW (96)

South Africa's Sweet Wine of the Year 2017.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94-97)

The 2014 L'Eglise Clinet is a real head-turner. Gorgeous, super-expressive aromatics meld into a core of dark, sumptuous fruit. Lavender, mint, violets, graphite and crème de cassis notes abound in a powerful, structured wine endowed with magnificent purity and a skyscraper-like sense of lift. Finesse and power collide in a crystalline Pomerol of exceptional beauty. Powerful and dense to the core, the 2014 is shaping up to be one of the wines of the vintage. The blend is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc.

Wine Advocate (95)

The 2014 L'Evangile comes racing out of the blocks on the nose with plenty of black cherry, blueberry, cold stone and black truffle scents, quintessentially Pomerol with impressive delineation and focus. The palate is medium-bodied with a slightly grainy texture, lovely black fruit here laced with Earl Grey, spice and sage, quite intense and fanning out gloriously towards the long finish. This seems to have gained precision after bottling and I did warn that it may merit a higher score. This is a deeply impressive L'Evangile that might challenge Lafite-Rothschild in the long term. Chapeau!

Vinous - Neal Martin (91)

The 2014 La Chenade has a reserved but well defined bouquet with earthy red and black fruit, hints of truffle oil and sage, gaining a little intensity with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with firm and quite strict tannin. This is rather aloof and distant and yet it is undeniably well defined and fascinating, a Pomerol that clearly needs some bottle age. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)

The 2014 Lafleur-Pétrus is a wine of translucence and total finesse. Deep and rich, yet also light on its feet, the 2014 Lafleur-Pétrus is one of the most distinctive wines of the vintage for the way in which it brings together intensity and elegance, all with an unmistakably understated personality. Bright aromatic top notes add to the wine’s open-knit bouquet and overall feeling of sensuality. A considerable amount of Cabernet Franc character comes through, even if Franc is only 7 % of the blend. All the elements are in the right place. In 2014, Lafleur-Pétrus is 93 % Merlot and 7 % Cabernet Franc.

Vinous - Neal Martin (96)

The 2014 La Mission Haut-Brion has a sophisticated, very detailed bouquet with blackberry, wild hedgerow, cedar and graphite. This is very focused and yet at the same time quite controlled and discrete. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, crisp acidity, cedar and touches of allspice. I love the depth of this wine and the gentle grip towards the finish. It knows not to push too hard in this growing season and that results in a very classy wine. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96+)

The 2014 La Mondotte is fabulous. Ripe, powerful and structured, with notable vertical intensity, it is wonderfully complete, not to mention hugely expressive. Inky blue and purplish-hued stone fruits, crème de cassis, licorice, lavender and violet build effortlessly as the wine shows off its beguiling personality. Even with all of its intensity, it finishes with notable precision and driven by distinctive chalk-inflected notes. A few years in bottle should help the new oak integrate. Today, the 2014 Mondotte is a real stunner. The blend is 80 % Merlot and 20 % Cabernet Franc.

Tim Atkin MW (94)

La Rioja Alta is one of the most traditional wineries in Haro’s Barrio de la Estación, famous for producing wines that are good to drink on release, but also age beautifully in bottle. This new Gran Reserva, made from Tempranillo with 6% Graciano for added backbone, is very much a reflection of the cooler, more “Atlantic” 2014 vintage. La Rioja Alta didn’t make its top two Gran Reservas – 904 and 890 – in 2014, so all of its best grapes were used for Viña Arana. Fine and elegant, with vibrant acidity, notes of coconut and cinnamon from the American oak and a core of savoury, refreshing tobacco leaf and red berry flavours framed by fine, caressing tannins. Old-fashioned Rioja at its glorious best.

Wine Advocate (90-93)

Tasted as a tank sample, the 2014 Grand Cuvee Blanc is a terrific looking blend of mostly Grenache Gris that’s aged, on Viognier lees, in 20% demi-muids. From the Aspres terroir and 60- to 70-year-old vines, it has awesome notes of citrus blossom, white flowers, green herbs, salty minerality and ample pear and stone-fruit characteristics on the nose. This is followed by a textured, full-flavored, yet clean and pure white that has both freshness and richness. Count me a fan. This is a terrific white that will impress for 2-3 years, if not longer.

James Suckling (98)

The aromas of stones, oyster shell, blackcurrants and mushrooms are very intense. Full-bodied, dense and powerful with lots of blackberries. Great finish. Super energy and depth. Try in 2022. Fascinating.

James Suckling (100)

That is fantastic on the nose. OMG! Exuberant aromas of lavender, tobacco, cigar box, violets and slice plums. Medium to full body. It just 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!

One of the finest exemplars of Champagne in existence, the Laherte Freres Les Vignes d'Autrefois Extra Brut 2014 epitomises the elaborate craftsmanship of the famed Laherte Freres estate. Located in the celebrated Chavot-Courcourt region of France, the vineyard blends conventional wisdom with avant-garde winemaking techniques to bring to life this delectable heritage cuvée.

Born from a single vineyard growing on clay and limestone soils, this 2014 vintage is made from 100% Chardonnay grapes, painstakingly harvested by hand to ensure their pristine condition. After undergoing meticulous vinification in oak with indigenous yeasts, the wine is left to age on lees for 24 months, resulting in an extra brut that truly captivates.

The Laherte Freres Les Vignes d'Autrefois Extra Brut 2014 reveals complex notes of white fruit, brioche, and an enticing minerality. The palate is robust, yet refined, reflecting the extraordinary precision of this esteemed estate. A splendid toast to tradition.

Jancis Robinson (17.5)

Tasted blind. Berries and rather simple, brutal fruit. Very youthful indeed. Not a charmer! But it’s back-end loaded so it may well shine eventually. Absolutely not communicating at the moment… Lots of weight and concentration. One of the most backward wines we have tasted so far. Massive in every way.