2014 Clos de l'Oratoire

The 2014 Clos de l’Oratoire has an earthy, slightly meaty bouquet, more forward than its peers but well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, fleshy with moderate depth, gaining more tension towards the finish that completes this Saint-Émilion with some style. Good but maybe early-drinking. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.

Tasted blind. Lightly soapy nose and some green notes on the end. Rather austere. But impressively long. And good energy. Rather burgundian in structure. (JR)

The 2014 Clos l'Oratoire has certainly lost its bashful personality since en primeur, now in bottle, much more exuberant with pure cranberry, boysenberry and orange rind aromas, nicely delineated with impressive intensity. The palate is smooth, almost velvety on the entry, a plush and quite luscious Saint Emilion with impressive volume and presence. It might lack a little delineation, but there is satisfying length as those mulberry and raspberry notes persist and linger long after the wine has departed. This surpasses my expectations.