Château Monbousquet 2014 – Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé

Opaque rubied, it has a tight rim and is very youthful. The nose is refined and elegant. It reveals notes of blackberry and violet associated with excellent touches of spices (especially pepper) and coffee. The palate is fresh, mineral and fat. The mouth expresses blackberry candy notes and slight blueberry notes associated with touches of red fruit (in the background) and very subtle and well-integrated oaky notes. Tannins are supple and well built. Good length. The bottle starts drinking fine now—a bodied, modern St Emilion at almost 14% ABV. Chateau Monbousquet is a high-performing chateau.

In 1999 when Gerard Perse purchased it, the quality of the wine drastically improved. In 2006 elevated to Grand Cru Classe concerning the drastic increase in performance of the product. Today Michel Rolland consults, which provides excellent insight into the estate's wine production. The 2014 vintage shows an outstanding balance between the weight of the wine and its approachability. Ageing: 18-24 months in new French Oak Composition for 2014 is 60% Merlot, 30% cabernet franc, 10% cabernet sauvignon.Tiny yields of 31 hectoliters per hectare. Monbousquet's terroir is exceptional, with primarily warm, deep gravel to the south and sandy-clay soils to the north. Like Cheval Blanc and Figeac, its soils are mainly gravel and thus friendly. The warm soils in the vineyards allow for the relatively late-ripening Cabernets to ripen perfectly. This natural feature accounts for a substantial proportion of Cabernet grapes in the vineyard's composition.

Very few tasters interpret differently: we all have a firm view of the richness and structure. If you may want to look for finesse, this wine may not be for you.

The score is consistent at the 93-point level. For example:

WS93

Not shy, with hefty fig paste and blackberry pâte de fruit notes backed by a rumble of bramble, ganache and liquorice snap. A base layer of tobacco and graphite underneath roils should slowly surface with time. I may have pushed the extraction envelope ever so slightly, but this keeps it together in the end—best from 2022 through 2032. Seven thousand five hundred cases were made. (Edited)

JS93

Very aromatic and fresh with lovely brightness and perfume. Medium to full body, fine and silky tannins and a bright finish. Ultra-fine and balanced Monbousquet. Better after 2020, but already very pretty.(Edited)