2014 Les Trois Croix

The 2014 Les Trois Croix, the Fronsac estate of Patrick Léon, has a crisp and well-defined bouquet of blackberry and bilberry fruit, cedar and tobacco joining the chorus line with aeration. The palate is fresh and vibrant on the entry: crisp acidity, fresh and lively with black cherries and a touch of blueberry skipping along the elegant finish. This has turned out very well in bottle after a more modest showing in barrel. This comes recommended.

The 2014 Les Trois Croix is a bit burly and rough around the edges, but it offers solid quality. Savory herbs, red/purplish stone fruit, tobacco, mint and licorice notes give the wine its savory personality. Drink it over the next few years.

The 2014 Les Trois Croix is an attractive, mid-weight wine. Sweet red berries, flowers and mint open up nicely in the glass, but ultimately, the 2014 is a wine that impresses more for its overall harmony than anything else. Although not especially complex, the 2014 is quite pleasing and very nicely balanced throughout.