Millésime 2014

Millésime 2014
Amateur Favorite

Château Charmail 2014

The 2014 Charmail vintage is vibrant and focused, combining crisp acidity with fine tannins. It showcases a fresh and mineral-driven profile, with bright fruit aromas such as blackberry and cassis. The wine has great backbone and structure, while still offering a juicy and approachable character. It’s a vintage that highlights balance and precision, with elegance and depth that unfold over time.

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Tasting notes

Classic & Structured

  • Appearance: Dark ruby, vibrant and youthful.
  • Nose: Blackcurrant, cassis, and black cherry dominate the nose, with earthy notes of graphite and hints of cedar and baking spices.
  • Palate: Structured and bold, the palate is rich with dark fruits and supported by firm tannins. Blackberry, licorice, and a spicy finish with clove and pepper provide a complex, long-lasting experience.
Key wine facts
  • Country of Origin: France
  • Region of Origin: Bordeaux, Left bank
  • Appellation: Haut-Médoc
  • Varietals: 38% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 12% Petit Verdot
  • Type: Red Wine
  • Alcohol Content: 13.5% ABV
  • Vine Age: 33 years
  • Terroir: Clay gravels
  • Viticulture: Soil work, Manual leaf stripping, No herbicide
  • Harvest: 100% Manual, from September 25th to October 16th, 2014.
  • Vinification: Thermoregulated stainless steel vats, cold fermentation maceration for 15 days at 5 degrees, extraction at a maximum of 26 degrees, 21 days of vatting.
  • Aging: 12 months of aging in French oak barrels, with 25% new barrels and 75% barrels previously used for the prior vintage.
  • Oenologist: Antoine Medeville
  • Production: 100,000 bottles of 1st wine

Poured at

  • Critic

    Reviews

    James Suckling
    91

    “Very bright and aromatic with currants and rose petals. Medium-bodied, extremely juicy and savory. Lovely finish. Delicious already. Drink now.”

  • Critic

    Reviews

    Robert Parker
    90

    “The 2014 Charmail has a ripe, quite opulent (for the vintage) bouquet with raspberry, crushed strawberry and melted tar scents. There is great precision here. The palate is medium-bodied with plush, supple tannin, cloaked in blackberry and raspberry fruit, brown spices and a pleasant chewiness towards the finish. Maybe a little rustic compared to its peers, but I think this will age extremely well. Tasted February 2017.”

  • Critic

    Reviews

    Wine Enthusiast
    90

    “Unusually for the Médoc, this wine has a significant percentage (14.5%) of Cabernet Franc as well as 12.5% Petit Verdot. These two grapes give the wine its perfume and its dark color. They add to the rich tannins and juicy black currants that pack the wine. Drink this fine wine from 2020.”

From vine to wine

Viticulture

The 2014 growing season started with great promise but took a turn in the summer, when August brought uncharacteristically cool and rainy conditions. However, September and October delivered an extraordinary Indian summer, allowing the vines to regain lost ground. At Château Charmail, the diverse terroir played a crucial role in managing these shifts. The gravel soils on the higher plots provided excellent drainage, while the clay-limestone sections retained enough moisture to sustain the vines during the cool spells, resulting in well-balanced, elegant wines.

Harvest

The 2014 harvest kicked off on September 25th, a full week later than the previous year, allowing the grapes to benefit from the extended warmth of the Indian summer. The late-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon thrived in these conditions, achieving excellent maturity. Harvesting continued into mid-October, with meticulous hand-picking to ensure only the healthiest clusters made it to the winery. Petit Verdot, harvested last, brought its characteristic depth and color to the blend.

Vinification

For the 2014 vintage, a balance between tradition and precision was maintained. Cold maceration lasted 15 days, followed by a carefully controlled fermentation. The team focused on preserving the vibrancy of the fruit and the freshness of the vintage, with extraction kept gentle to avoid overly tannic structures. The wine was allowed to develop gradually, creating a harmonious expression of the vineyard’s diversity.

Aging

Charmail’s 2014 vintage spent 12 months aging in 225L French oak barrels, with 25% new oak. The wine’s time in barrel added a layer of complexity, with subtle notes of cedar, vanilla, and spice. The balance between the new and older barrels allowed the wine’s natural freshness and minerality to shine through, while still gaining depth from the oak’s influence. The result is a wine that combines elegance with structure, primed for long-term aging.

Millésime
2014
Pairs well with
Pea and Mint Soup
Roasted Cauliflower with Cumin
Braised Short Ribs with Red Wine
Sautéed Mushrooms with Garlic and Parsley