2014 Château La Marzelle
Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé
“Dark ruby/purple core. Some roasted notes, mild spices and wild berries on the nose. The palate has a dense structure, fine concentration and moderate extraction, still youthful with a fresh acidity, ripe dark berries and a hint of wood on the finish, fine balance just a bit young, should develop well.”
93/100
Andreas Larsson The origin
- Vineyard
- 16.28 ha of adjoining land
- Grape varieties
- 75% Merlot - 17% Cabernet franc - 8% Cabernet sauvignon
- Density
- 5 700 à 7 150 plants/ha
- Âge moyen
- 25 years
- Production
- 34 000 bottles
- Situation
- Upper terrace of Saint-Emilion formbed by the former Isle riverbed
- Pruning
- Bordelaise method (2 canes per vine)
- Alcohol
- 13,5%
2014 Exceptionally sunny late summer
Following a mild and wet winter, the springtime weather was within the 30-year average of the region. July and August were very rainy and cool. Luckily the end of the season was remarkable with only slight precipitation and very warm temperatures.
This weather turnaround was beneficial for the vines and the ripeness arrived rather quickly. The harvest took place from the 30th of September until the 14th of October.
A new harvest reception area with SOCMA de-stemmers and an AMOS densiometric sorting machine allowed for a better selection of grape berries that imparted upon the wine an incomparable precision and purity.
Reviews
Antonio Galloni
91-94
“The 2014 La Marzelle is stunning. Unabashedly modern, opulent and full-throttle, the 2014 races across the palate with superb depth and richness. Violets, lavender, smoke, spices, crème de cassis and dark, inky fruit meld together in an effortless, powerful wine that dazzles from the very first taste. Unlike so many wines made in this style, the extraction is not at all forced, which is remarkable. In many ways, the 2014 feels incredibly natural, with the style of the wine very obviously well-calibrated to the personality of the site. Readers who enjoy voluptuous, racy reds will flip out over the 2014. Jean-Luc Thunevin and Michel Rolland consult. What a gorgeous wine this is. The 2014 is 80% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc and 7% Cabernet Sauvignon from a blend of the three soil types on the property that are basically gravels and sand on clay. Tasted two times.”
Yves Beck
93
“Rouge rubis aux reflets violacés. Bouquet de bonne intensité, complexe et fruité. Notes de framboise, réglisse, clous de girofle. Agréable touche de menthe. L’attaque est compacte, friande et séduisante. Le vin a du corps, du gras et est bien équilibré. Le fruit s’y révèle parfaitement également et est bien soutenu par la structure acide qui le porte jusqu’en fin de bouche. Un vin convaincant de par sa nature séduisante mais aussi par son caractère tannique. Bravo, belle réussite. 2018-2032”
Antonio Galloni
94
“The 2014 La Marzelle is just as striking from bottle as it was from barrel. The purity and freshness of the red-toned fruit is captivating. Today, the new oak is a bit prominent, while the tannins are present. Both should integrate with more time in bottle. Voluptuous and racy to the core, the 2014 La Marzelle is a gorgeous, modern Saint-Emilion long on class and style. 2020-2034. -- Antonio Galloni”
Andreas Larsson
93/100
“Dark ruby/purple core. Some roasted notes, mild spices and wild berries on the nose. The palate has a dense structure, fine concentration and moderate extraction, still youthful with a fresh acidity, ripe dark berries and a hint of wood on the finish, fine balance just a bit young, should develop well.”
James Suckling
92-93
“Gorgeous core of ripe fruit with berry and cherry character. Full bodied, soft and velvety. Serious.”
James Suckling
93
“Lovely black fruits, chocolate and savory notes give this powerful wine a lot of immediate appeal, and the serious tannins drive it along at a brisk pace — right through the long finish. Made from biodynamically grown grapes. Try in 2021.”
Neal Martin
90-92
“The Château La Marzelle 2014 has a very attractive bouquet: enticingly pure with cassis and black cherry fruit that blossoms from the glass, veins of vanilla imparted by the new oak. The palate is fresh in the mouth with sweet candied red cherry fruit struck through with fine acidity. It is silky smooth right to the finish. This is a well-crafted modern Saint Emilion with more than enough panache.”
Jacques Dupont
16/20
“Fruits rouges, bouche vive, droite, fruité assez éclatant, tendu, net, relevé, frais, tanins croquants, finale tonique.”
Jancis Robinson
16/20
“75% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon. Inky purple crimson. Sweet oak with light note of chocolate and plenty of cassis. Lots of dark chocolate and oak on the palate too but juicy and fresh, the tannins remarkably supple. Mocha finish.”
René Gabriel
17/20
“La Marzelle: Sattes Purpur-Granat, dicht in der Mitte, lila Schimmer aussen. Viel Heidelbeeren, vermischt mit etwas Lakritze, zeigt dabei eine gewisse Tiefe. Im Gaumen sehr dicht, also mit sehr sattem Extrakt, die Tannine sind dabei recht prägnant, der Wein hat aber genügend Kraft um das Ganze auszugleichen. Das ist einer der wenigen Saint Emilions, welcher praktisch so gut gelungen ist wie sein eigener 2009er und 2010er. Wenn auch in anderer Form. Bravo! 17/20 2022 – 2034”
James Lawther
16.75/20
“Thunevin consulting and a big change of style. Creamy, dark fruit nose. On the cusp of confit. Cherry and damson notes. Mouthfilling fruit on the palate, tiny, fine tannins. Good length.”
Wine enthusiast
93
“Produced from biodynamically grown grapes, this is a fine, smooth and rich wine. Great tannins are cushioned within the ripe blackberry fruits and generous texture. It is already a delicious wine, although certain to age as well. The estate is close to Château Figeac. Drink from 2022.”
Izak Litwar
92
“La Marzelle was well-packed with fruit and tannin, fine acidity, intense and tight, splendid structure, persistent finish. Impressive wine.”
Jean-Marc Quarin
90
“Couleur intense et belle. Nez fruité, mûr et frais. Bouche charnue, fondante, savoureuse et plutôt pleine. Finale longue, savoureuse et très enrobée. Bonne longueur. Bravo ! Un cru en hausse et un profil d'Outsider!”
Bettane & Desseauve
91
“Gras, rond, généreusement fruité, avec de la fraîcheur et une bonne longueur.”
Panos Kakaviatos
91
“Voila! Here we have freshness and tannic structure along with a Merlot opulence that come together to make a rather compelling Saint Emilion. 13.5% alcohol. Bravo!”
Wine Spectator James Molesworth
91
“Solidly grippy, with bramble and graphite notes working vigorously to support layers of fig, boysenberry and raspberry confiture. Snappy anise and roasted apple wood details play a large role as well. Much better than when tasted from barrel. Best from 2020 through 2030. 2,800 cases made. --JM”
Christer BYKLUM
90
“Ruby. Scented, blueberries, cassis, anise nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, anise, spices, quite juicy and refreshing, long.”
La revue du vin de France
15-15.5/20
“Robe opaque purpurine. Un velouté fruité de haut vol, ultra soyeux, la structure tannique semble profondément enfouie dans la pulpe.”
Jeff Leve
88-90
“This is the best wine the property has ever made. Jean Luc Thunevin, who was recently brought in as the new consultant, has done an excellent turn for the estate. Revealing the deepest color ever for a La Marzelle wine, it is flush with licorice, plum, coffee bean, black cherries and fresh, forward, polished textures.”
James Molesworth
88-91
“Quite ripe and direct, with a good blast of raspberry, blueberry and boysenberry confiture notes, backed by a hint of toasted anise. Has just enough acidity to stay honest. Should be a crowd-pleaser.”
