Château Charmail 2014

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.

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.

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.

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.