Fans of the sturdy and ambitious wines of Moulis and Listrac will have a lot to enjoy in 2014. This is undoubtedly the best vintage here since 2010. As usual there is a lot of freshness to the wines, but in most cases the fruit is genuinely ripe and the tannins well handled. Château Poujeaux once again leads the field. It has produced an impressive wine of depth and polish. Do look out for the excellent effort from Château Maucaillou and good wine has also been made at Chateau Anthonic. Château Chasse-Spleen is fresh and elegant, though it needs to fill out. In Listrac, Château Fourcas Hosten and Château Fourcas Dupré look very good as usual, and there is an excellent effort from Château Clarke.

The following wines were tasted variously at the UGC event at Château Lamarque, Le Grand Cercle event at Château Bellefont-Belcier and the cru bourgeois tasting at Château d’Arsac in Margaux.

LISTRAC

Château Cap Léon Veyrin, Listrac, Cru Bourgeois, 2014

Deep and saturated look; tight to rim; opaque centre; cassis and blackcurrants; slightly reductive at present; fresh and vigorous palate; blackcurrants, some wet rock notes; acidity; but there is flesh; touch of austerity on the finish. Cab dominated wine. Will come good. Chew and acidity on the finish – in a helpful way. Length here actually. Drink 2018-2028. Tasted 29 March, 2015 at Grand Cercle. 85-87+

Château Clarke, Listrac, 2014

Deep and saturated look; spices; menthol; iron and minerals; wet rock; substantial palate; sturdy fruit; warm with some oak influence; ripe fruit tones; some chew. Nicely done. [80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13.5% alc]. Tasted 31^st March ’15 at UGC. Drink 2019-2027. 88-90+

Château Fonréaud, Listrac, Cru Bourgeois, 2014

Deep looking; fragrant aromatics; spices and some oak influence; soft entry on the palate; good texture; supple; not too grippy but has bite and freshness. Elegant Listrac with fresh finish.[55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot]. Tasted 31 March ’15 at UGC. Drink 2019-2025. 86-88+

Château Fourcas Dupré, Listrac, 2014

Deep and saturated colour; healthy looking; attractive; spicy plums and blackcurrants with touch of pain grillé notes; blackcurrant fruit on the palate; mid-weight; composed and elegant. Nice acidity. Works well.[50% Merlot, 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Petit Verdot]. Tasted 31 March ’15 at UGC. Drink 2019-2027. 88-90+

Château Fourcas Hosten, Listrac, 2014

Mid depth; glossy; purple edge; ripe plums; some cassis; little prune and black cherry; ripe; glossy palate; some wet rocks and chalk; full and extracted; chewy. Fresh acidity on the finish. [60% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc]. Tasted UGC 31 March ’15. Drink 2020-2028. 88-90+

Château Lestage, Listrac, Cru Bourgeois, 2014

Deep looking; dark at centre; soft and round; some cream; leaf and blackcurrant; freshness; full and sweet; some perfume to the fruit; little oak; fresh acid; has the elements. Drink 2019-2023. Drink 2019-2025. Tasted 2 April, 2015 at d’Arsac. 85-87

MOULIS

Château Anthonic, Moulis, Cru Bourgeois, 2014

Mid depth; deep at centre; fresh and vigorous aromatics; stalky blackcurrant tones; black cherry too; fresh attack; stalky blackfruits; softish tannins; some acid and grip on the finish but this is good, refreshing Moulis. Drink 2019-2025. Tasted 2 April, 2015 at d’Arsac. 86-88

Château Brillette, Moulis, Cru Bourgeois, 2014

Deepish; fresher; some blackcurrant; wet rocks; nice fruit on the nose; elegance; more minerally; graphite; blackcurrant; nice tension on the palate; good elegance; some flesh and polish; elegant finish; lacks some depth but tannins nicely handled. Drink 2017-2025. 85-87+

Château Biston-Brillette, Moulis, Cru Bourgeois, 2014

Deep and saturated look; wet rocks; solid; iron and multivitamin notes; ink; ripe and soft on the palate; bit chewy and chunky on the finish; needs to round out a bit. Drink 2019-2024. Drink 2019-2025. Tasted 2 April, 2015 at d’Arsac. 84-86

Château Chasse-Spleen, Moulis, 2014

Mid depth; purple at edge; fresh blackcurrants; certain modesty; some spice; hint of menthol; blackcurrant fruit beneath; fresh palate; some depth; slightly lighter toned; freshness; stalky; will settle. Fresh and elegant style. Hopefully will fill out further during elévage. [50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot, 13.5%]. Tasted 31 March ’15. Drink 2010-2030. 85-87

Château Gressier Grand Poujeaux, Moulis, Cru Bourgeois, 2014

Mid depth; spicy blackcurrant aromatics; fresh; clean and elegant palate; freshness but needs to fill out; has structure and ripe tannins. Drink 2019-2024. Tasted 2 April, 2015 at d’Arsac. 84-86

Château Maucaillou, Moulis, 2014

Deep and saturated colour; lovely ripe fruit; real extract and matter; fruitcake; blackfruit; wet rock; layers here; menthol; lots of fruit; creamy tones on the palate; menthol; blackcurrants; spices; nice texture; grip. Excellent Moulis from Maucaillou. [51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot, 13% alc]. Tasted 31 March ’15. Drink 2019-2028. 89-91+

Château Poujeaux, Moulis, 2014

Deep and arterial in colour; attractive blackcurrant fruit; layered and pure; unadorned beauty; lovely purity here; very good; blackcurrant flavours dominate the palate; clean, fresh and concentrated. Some spice from the oak at the back but mostly soaked up by the pure fruit; length too with nice freshness. Great effort from Poujeaux. [60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, 30% new oak]. Tasted 31 March ’15. Drink 2020-2030. 90-92