2014 Napa Valley Red Blend

A blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 1% each Carmenère and Petit Verdot, the medium to full-bodied 2014 Proprietary Red Wine is drinking very well at the moment, with suave mint and dusty-earth notes accenting ripe cherries. It's lighter and brighter in character than either the 2015 or 2017, coming across as particularly fine and elegant despite being matured in 80% new French oak.

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Carmenѐre. ‘2014 was a year when Mother Nature showed us her power and her grace. The third year in a drought cycle and a harvest beginning with a magnitude 6.0 earthquake created drama. In the midst of this, we experienced a near-perfect growing season with no heatwaves and a bountiful harvest that ripened with excellent acidity and flavour.’ Not the deepest purple. A little refreshing vegy note and lovely texture with the tannins almost hidden and with great lift. Racy and elegant. (JR)

A less celebrated vintage than the 2013 but for me this is the more successful of the two, certainly if you are looking to drink it in the next few years. This was the second drought summer in the Napa Valley, and perhaps the vines were adapting, or perhaps the significant earthquake that struck at the end of August released ground water. What is certain is that there is a tenderness and a flexibility to the tannins that is extremely appealing, and the raspberry and blackberry fruits are wrapped in gourmet brioche and smoked caramel, while given lift by crushed mint and eucalyptus on the finish. Charles Thomas winemaker, Michel Rolland consultant, 80% new oak for ageing.