2014 Domaine du Bouscat La Gargone

Dark cherry jam, chocolate, leather, licorice, cloves and menthol are all pushed forward in the 2014 La Gargone. Super-ripe, concentrated and flamboyant to the core, the 2014 possesses off-the-charts richness and intensity for a wine in its price range.

Blackberry jam, cloves, new leather and tobacco jump from the glass in the 2014 La Gargone from Domaine de Bouscat. Round, sensual and layered, the Gargone will appeal most to readers who enjoy racy, up-front wines. In 2014, the Malbec seems to be particularly expressive. Hints of mocha and bittersweet chocolate add nuance on the finish. The blend is 60% Merlot, 20% Malbec, 18% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon, vinified in oak and aged in 100% new French oak barrels of various sizes.

The "Les Portes de l'Ame..." 2014 from Domaine du Bouscaut is a blend of 50% Merlot, 25% Malbec and 25% Cabernet Franc cropped at just 19 hectoliters per hectare and aged in 100% in new Seguin oak demi-muids. It has an upfront, incense-infused bouquet that handles the oak well. The palate is medium-bodied with bold, ripe tannin and a decent line of acidity. It doesn't quite deliver the complexity on the finish that I think a better vintage would have bestowed, but there is good depth and an attractive pepperiness that lingers in the mouth.