Château Haut-Bacalan, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France, 2014

An interesting property full of ambition, the owners also have Haut-Brana and Château d’Eck. This is 55% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon (a little higher than in recent years) and 5% Petit Verdot with a yield of around 30-35 hl/h, brought down by natural concentration as they are big proponents of late harvest – even the Merlot didn’t begin being picked before October 20. First grape sorting on the vines, second in the cellar, and all young vines are worked by horse. Black cherry and cassis fruits, no surprise that this is a full 14.5%abv. Clear extraction but in fact manages to hold off being too abrupt. Vinified in vat then 100% new barrel ageing.