2014 Château Latour-Martillac

Silky, seductive damson and black cherry fruit, and this is the year to start with if you are wanting experience the slick, seductive Pessac-Léognan signature that Latour-Martillac has become so adept at delivering in recent years. Black chocolate, liqourice, milled pepper spices, fresh acidities. Really enjoyable. 40% new oak harvest September 26 to Octobr 16.

55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot. Following a mild and wet winter in which ground water levels were increased, spring 2014 was a season of constant rainfall and mild temperatures that encouraged an early bud break. The flowering period which followed this was rapid and homogeneous. After a cool and mainly dry July, August was particularly wet . The cool August nights stimulated the presence of advanced aromas in the white grapes and an excellent build-up of anthocyanins and aromas in the red grapes. The fabulous Indian summer in September evened out the discrepancies in ripeness, which occurred during veraison. Harvest 26 September to 16 October. Fairly deep ruby in the glass. Good freshness on the nose, hedgerow fruits and a little camphor but also an underlying ripe cassis note. Vibrant acids and black fruits well knit together, though the slightly firm tannic backbone of the vintage is still jarring at this stage. The finish has a moreish savoury note as the fruit starts to mellow. (TP)

Tasted blind. Sour and broad. Drying and austere. (JR)