2014 Chateau de France - Rouge
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Tasting notes
The 2014 De France is deep in color. The nose is backward and sultry at the moment, not as expressive as some of its peers, but perhaps it just needs time. The palate is medium-bodied with too much extraction, as if trying to overcome the limitation of the finish, whilst the finish feels too oaky. Hopefully it will improve and take its foot off of the accelerator—just a wine trying too hard. A second bottle tasted five months later in February 2017 was a little better, but still seemed just a tad broody and needed to just come out of its shell. Perhaps bottle age will meliorate this Pessac-Léognan?
Critic scores
Jancis Robinson MW
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Grapefruit, nettle and subtle oak spice. Vibrant and expressive with a lot of core concentration. Just a hint of baked apple adds further complexity. Like their red, this is a great 2014. (RH)
Lightly tangy nose with a whiff of oak and lemon oil. Definite lanolin and Sémillon at first and then quite a bit of Sauvignon tightness on the finish. Still taut and embryonic. But lots of grip and substance. (JR)
The 2014 de Franc is a supple, fruit-driven red to drink over the next few years. Super-ripe cherries, mocha, new oak and sweet spices meld together in a juicy, mouth-filling wine with plenty of near-term appeal. The style is flashy and forward, yet also nicely balanced. This is very pretty for what it is.