Second Pour hot off the presses!

Just published last week, Master of Wine Lisa Perrotti-Brown of The Wine Independent brings the 2014 Bordeaux vintage and its somewhat overlooked gems as they turn 10, to everyone’s attention: “I was more bullish than others…” she confesses, “in the context of recent vintages, it’s a bit like Back to the Future - an old-school growing season crafted with a modern approach to tannin extraction and élevage. For this reason, I believe the 2014s are a style that lovers of classic, traditionally styled Bordeaux will want to forage. The wines emphasize savory/earthy aromas and flavors with a chewiness to the tannins, which stand apart from the richer, fruitier, plusher styles of recent vintages…” concluding “most of the 2014 reds already show abundant tertiary characters and are ready for drinking now, although the top-top wines still have at least a couple more decades of cellaring potential.”

Meanwhile, we’ve been giving this vintage the love it deserves over some crazy good deals, here are the last 10 cases of a couple of gems from our stash, one from each bank, both drinking wonderfully now…

Our fave Bordeaux find last year, here’s what this classically minded, traditionally made, silky smooth St.-Émilion is good at:

• Made by Angélus winemaker
• Owned by Cheval Blanc ex-proprietor
• Neighbored by Figeac
• Designated a Grand Cru
• Winery library provenance
• Raving reviews
• Under $40 with over HALF OFF!

Neighboring Figeac’s 2014 goes for $200 and up. Double that to get an idea of Angélus’ going rate. And the 2014 Cheval Blanc? Don’t ask. If you must, double that again, no joke.

Dominique Hébrard co-owned and operated Château Cheval Blanc, the pearl of the Right Bank from 1991 until 1999 when it was sold to LVMH. The following year he bought Trianon to bring this 17th-century Château, once the residence of King Louis the 14th’s Chancellor, back to its glory days. The one man he saw fit for the job was the co-owner and winemaking consultant of Château Angélus, Hubert de Boüard de Laforest - and the dynamic duo got to work. The result is in our glasses…

Lucid ruby, with a redolent perfume of steeped cherries, boysenberry, and Tahitian vanilla. It unfolds in layers of rum raisin, milk chocolate, and clove-studded orange peel, throughout the velvety mouthfeel that embraces the palate with powdery fine tannins. Supple, opulent, and stylish, this juicy beauty begs for rich fare!

So, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate was right, “2014 Bordeaux is a very good to excellent vintage” adding that “The leitmotifs of 2014 are freshness, terroir expression, an erring towards red rather than black fruit, crisp and occasionally quite edgy tannins and vivacity. These are wines destined to sing in the wine glass, wines less concerned with impressing critics like me, more intent in pleasing consumers like you (and me).”

And me, and you, repeat until it’s SOLD OUT.

92 Points – Antonio Galloni’s Vinous

“The 2014 Trianon is a dark, powerful Saint-Émilion. Ripe dark cherry, sweet spice and copious French oak are some of the signatures. Although not especially complex, the 2014 will drink well pretty upon release because of its soft contours and lovely balance. Drink 2018-2026.”