VINTAGE 2014
A wine of great aromatic power, incomparable density and tension.
WEATHER DURING THE GROWING SEASON
Winter was very mild - there was not a single day with frost – as well
as very wet: nearly 500 mm of rain between November and February.
Storms and high tides ravaged the coast, and the Garonne burst its
banks on the 26th of January. After the usual spring showers in March, bud break occurred starting on the 20th of that month.
However, cold nights in late April transformed the inflorescence of
some bunches into tendrils. There were alternating cool and stormy periods in May, and flowering began
on the 25th between showers and sunny spells. Mid-flowering took place in early June, followed by summer-like weather with stormy intervals. The vines grew quickly and it looked as though it would be an early harvest. However, this was not to be, since summer weather simply did not appear. A few grapes became overheated due to extremely hot temperatures on the 16th and 17th of July. The 104 mm of rain that fell month, and especially hail on the
25th, caused considerable damage. Cold, wet weather in August made us doubt that the grapes would ever ripen properly. While we were not troubled by mildew this
year, another pest gave rise to considerable worry in mid-August: vinegar flies that
cause sour rot. The hope for a large crop, after two years of very low yields, lessened
with each passing day.
With an average maximum temperature of 27°4 and not a drop of rain, September
weather enabled the grapes to ripen perfectly and stopped the proliferation of
vinegar flies. A first "tidying-up pass" in mid-September removed grapes affected by sour rot, but brought in only a very small amount of fruit. After some muchwelcome
rain from the 6th to the 16th of October, accompanied by temperatures 4°C greater than average, noble rot spread with lightning-quick speed. The beautiful, warm, sunny days with south and south-easterly winds were ideal for picking grapes in prime condition. One pass followed another, non-stop, from the 20th to
the 30th of October. The crop was small, but the must filled the cellar with magnificent fruity aromas.
HARVEST
After removing over half of all bunches due to the presence of sour rot, yields amounted to just 5 hectolitres per hectare. The new wine was put into barrels (40% new). Conditions in October were ideal for noble rot. The grapes retained good acidity and botrytis produced very pure and particularly fresh flavours. This crop of barely fifty barrels of wine features great aromatic complexity as well as the vivacious fruitiness typical of the most elegant vintages at Château de Fargues. 2014 Château de Fargues is tremendously fresh both on the nose and palate. The first impression on the nose is of just-pressed apples, apple and pear compote, poached pear, and a lovely hint of greengage. The bouquet goes on to reveal subtle floral overtones evocative of lily of the valley, accompanied by a whiff of sea breeze. As usual with young vintages of Château de Fargues, there is also a resinous component.
THE WINE
Surface area: 23ha80 Number of selections : 4 selections Fermentation : 3 to 4 weeks of fermentation Production : 10.000 bottles Vinification : 40% new wood and 60% wood one year and a half
NOTES ET CRITIQUES DÉGUSTATION>
TASTING NOTES
"The wine of Château de Fargues 2014 is characterized by a great freshness both in the nose and in the mouth.The nose attacks on pressed apple, apple-pear compote, poached pear, followed by a nice touch of plum Reine Claude. This fruity range is combined with fresh and subtle floral notes reminiscent of lily of the valley, all wrapped up in a very fresh marine. The palate, with its wide amplitude and great density, is as fresh as the nose. One is immediately charmed by the citrus zest and more particularly by the sweet bitterness of the grapefruit zest. We find the freshness and the acidity of rhubarb, pineapple, candied lemon but also the sweetness of yellow and juicy peach. More surprising, the notes of sweet and delicate white flowers remind us of freshly picked jasmine. Then, little by little, the fresh apricot asserts itself in this perfect balance between sweetness and acidity.
Château de Fargues,2017
98/100
«This starts off with an enveloping note of toasted coconut, giving way slowly to creamed peach, mango and papaya flavors. Long bitter orange and almond threads provide needed tension while the lush waves of fruit cascade through the finish, picking up a mouthwatering mirabelle plum accent along the way. A monster of a wine. Best from 2025 through 2055 ».
Winespectator.com, J. Molesworth – janvier 2018
20/20
« Derrière l’ananas presque rôti, suit une note de citron plus confit que frais. La puissance de Fargues parle, sa force prend toute la bouche par sa persistance. « Un vin peu muté en 50 », d’après Alexandre de Lur Saluces. Il offre la race et la no- blesse des grands millésimes.
RVF, R. Pétronio- avril 2015.
94-96/100
The Château de Fargues 2014 has an opulent, rounded and powerful bouquet that delivers a payload of botrytized fruit that is precise, upholding the de Fargues style, hints of mandarin and clementine developing in the glass. The palate has a huge weight in the mouth : a fine line of acidity with layers of clear honey, marmalade and a dash of ginger on the finish. This represents an immensely pure Château de Fargues with enormous length and intensity. Superb».
RobertParker.com, N. Martin – mars 2015
95/100
« Outstanding. Château de Fargues, Sauternes. Intense pineapple and honeycomb on the nose with loads of marmaladey botrytis. Rich but suave in the typical Lur Saluces style, with caramel apple and grilled mango flavours finishing long and thick. Not overly sweet thanks to searing acidity ».
Decanter, I. d’Agata – juin 2015
– Télécharger la fiche millésime –
"The wine of Château de Fargues 2014 is characterized by a great freshness both in the nose and in the mouth.The nose attacks on pressed apple, apple-pear compote, poached pear, followed by a nice touch of plum Reine Claude. This fruity range is combined with fresh and subtle floral notes reminiscent of lily of the valley, all wrapped up in a very fresh marine. The palate, with its wide amplitude and great density, is as fresh as the nose. One is immediately charmed by the citrus zest and more particularly by the sweet bitterness of the grapefruit zest. We find the freshness and the acidity of rhubarb, pineapple, candied lemon but also the sweetness of yellow and juicy peach. More surprising, the notes of sweet and delicate white flowers remind us of freshly picked jasmine. Then, little by little, the fresh apricot asserts itself in this perfect balance between sweetness and acidity.
Château de Fargues,2017«This starts off with an enveloping note of toasted coconut, giving way slowly to creamed peach, mango and papaya flavors. Long bitter orange and almond threads provide needed tension while the lush waves of fruit cascade through the finish, picking up a mouthwatering mirabelle plum accent along the way. A monster of a wine. Best from 2025 through 2055 ».
Winespectator.com, J. Molesworth – janvier 2018« Derrière l’ananas presque rôti, suit une note de citron plus confit que frais. La puissance de Fargues parle, sa force prend toute la bouche par sa persistance. « Un vin peu muté en 50 », d’après Alexandre de Lur Saluces. Il offre la race et la no- blesse des grands millésimes.
RVF, R. Pétronio- avril 2015.The Château de Fargues 2014 has an opulent, rounded and powerful bouquet that delivers a payload of botrytized fruit that is precise, upholding the de Fargues style, hints of mandarin and clementine developing in the glass. The palate has a huge weight in the mouth : a fine line of acidity with layers of clear honey, marmalade and a dash of ginger on the finish. This represents an immensely pure Château de Fargues with enormous length and intensity. Superb».
RobertParker.com, N. Martin – mars 2015« Outstanding. Château de Fargues, Sauternes. Intense pineapple and honeycomb on the nose with loads of marmaladey botrytis. Rich but suave in the typical Lur Saluces style, with caramel apple and grilled mango flavours finishing long and thick. Not overly sweet thanks to searing acidity ».
Decanter, I. d’Agata – juin 2015