Chateau
Patache d’aux
2014

Chateau
Patache d’aux
2014

bottle-chateau-patache-d-aux
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Climatic conditions

The 2014 season began very early, with a two-week advance on budburst following a particularly mild winter. The spring trend soon fell in line with that of 2013, with frequent rains but less than the previous year. Flowering got off to a cool, very damp start, not auguring well for the harvest, but the hotter, drier mid-June conditions unified things at the end of flowering, producing well-ripened Cabernet grapes. Summer 2014 was marked by frequent thunderstorms up to mid-August, with very little likelihood of water deficits during the summer period. Ripening lasted for over a month, especially for Merlot grapes. The final days of August were particularly hot and dry, provoking water constraints in the driest areas, although late season growth meant that foliage was dense and berry size large. Northern Médoc is the part of Bordeaux that received the least water during the summer period, with water stress regularly observed in gravelly zones, suggesting a better vintage in our area. As harvest approached, acidity was high and berries large, significantly diluting phenolic potential, which was finally relatively high compared to previous vintages. The very dry months of September and October (an unexpected Indian summer) then made it possible to patiently wait for optimal skin maturity and evaporation of water in the berries, boosting development of a high concentration of good quality, phenolic compounds.

Vintage presentation

With high levels of acidity and tannic load, the entire 2014 harvest was placed in barrels to refine the wine’s structure… generally strict and straight, and even a little rustic. This enabled rounding of the tannins, bringing softness to the wine’s otherwise austere profile. The potential of Château Patache d’Aux 2014 is one of the best of the decade… proof that patience really is a virtue!

From the wine to the glass

A very successful vintage in the Nord Médoc, where the late ripening of the terroir made it easy to get through the September rains and reach a perfect level of ripeness.
Intense aromas of black fruit, evolving towards dried fruit such as dates and prunes. A touch of rustic wine-cellar notes, with a hint of cedar and spice. Fresh juicy fruit, spicy vanilla and undergrowth on the palate, with a long finish of pronounced tannins.
This wine is the perfect accompaniment to a lamb shank braised in red wine, with onions and root vegetables.

Concours Mundus Vini – Médaille d’or

Concours de Bordeaux – Médaille d’argent

DECANTER Asia Wine awards – Médaille d’argent

Jancis Robinson – 15.5/20

The Wine Doctor – 15.5/20

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