2014 Château Haut-Bergey- France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan (5/15/2019)
I like the combination of the more classic 2014 vintage, with the relatively modern style of Haut-Bergey. At a top level, this is fairly slick, but there’s an underlying tannic spine, and bit of earthiness that places the wine in Bordeaux. The balance is good, so I have no concerns about some mid-term aging (5-10 years), but it does drink well now, as as a sort of Cali/French style hybrid. For those who enjoy less opulent California Cab/Merlot wines, this is a great value option, as you are not going to get this quality level in this price range anywhere but Bordeaux.
Nice note and discussion. I have a few vintages of Haut Bergey and agree that the less ripe years are more attractive. Haven’t got any with 15+ years of age, I tend to drink them young. Not sure if they would reward extended cellaring.
I’ve found Haut Bergey from riper years, well 2009 specifically, to occupy a middle ground no man’s land. It’s a good wine, not excellent, and it’s too fruit forward, ripe and oaky to satisfy my Pessac cravings. Yet it’s not really hedonistic enough for the Napa Cab lovers I know. It is a great value compared to similar quality Napa cabs.