Chateau Pedesclaux 2014, Pauillac 5th
Deep, inky color; tight pink rim. Cassis on the nose (mixed with nutmeg, chocolate, tobacco, cedar, licorice). Decanted, intense notes of fresh Morello cherry and blueberry. On palate, polished and harmonious(same comment by Bettane & Desseauve who awarded it with 17/20 ) with ripe soft tannins accompanied by a dense dark fruit, milky toffee, toasted cocoa. This wine is drinking ok now, but certainly will benefit by 3 to 5 years’ ageing. At this price, it can't go wrong safe bet.
One of Pauillac’s less well-known estates but has been growing in terms of popularity, particular in smaller, western restaurants(according to a wine merchant member) becasuse of high value and performance. And, it is afterall classed as a Pauillac 5th and is well-situated and is just next to Mouton Rothschild and Pontet-Canet.
We have 9 points of interests and USPs are:
It is consulted by the famous Eric Boissenot, who always makes fine-palated wines.
Area of the property is 49.7(90% with vines) is large enough to give good economies of scale, hence the great price always
Vineyard density is high at 8 500 à 10 000 vine stocks; hence palate is always intense with a bit of tension.
Vineyard average age is 35 years old, with classic terroir of Garonne gravel (quaternary) on limestone bedrock Grape varieties, hence always the classic Pauillac nose, tastes and structure.
Composition (53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot) is geared for modernity, structure, flesh and body and so is not difficult to understand and appreciated
ABv is 13.91%, so quite bodied and powerful.
Product is low at 42 ha/litre, hence always fine palate.
Always easy, ripe and creamy palate: Harvest is relatively late for both Cab (mid October!) and Merlot (late September!). Handpicked, green-harvest, plot-by-plot gravitational, whole-bunch with berries caviar-like size, long vatting time, the wine was casked per gravity (60% new barrels and 40% one year old barrels).
Good rates on Vivino: 52% voted 4-star.
One word on vintage 2014. This is for Chateau Pedesclaux and in the way we interpreted a year of topsy-turvies. Plenty of rain (87% more) in the 2014 growth cycle. Spring was mild, dry and sunny and therefore we were 15 days ahead of time, cold summer, late veraison until mid-August, more sunshine(more than 20%), higher average temperatures (by 2°C than a normal vintage and less rain) in September. So 2014 seems to nurture wines with maturity and concentration (and high scores too), which is not restricted to Chateau Pedesclaux.
Prestigious ratings and scores are:
94 points James Suckling
Amazing quality for here. Best wine ever. Superb balance of fruit and ripe tannins with velvety texture, yet this is tightly grained and luscious. What length. (4/2015)
93 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The Château Pédesclaux 2014, what will surely be known in future as the 'fishtank' château given that it is now encased in glass, is a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon and 47% Merlot aged in 60% new oak. It has a precise and well defined bouquet with minerally black fruit infused with graphite and cedar. The palate is medium-bodied with supple black fruit and that hints of graphite again. The acidity is well judged and there is a sense of refinement and class on the finish. This estate has been threatening to make a great wine...this might be it. (NM) (4/2015)
93 points Wine Enthusiast
Barrel Sample. From an up and coming property in Pauillac, this wine shows firm tannins and lively acidity on the palate, with a fruit kick on the finish. (RV) (4/2015)
91 points Vinous
Dark red cherries, plums, smoke, new leather and cedar meld together in the 2014 Pédesclaux. Silky, supple and expressive even in its youth, the 2014 will drink well with minimal cellaring. The high percentage of Merlot in the blend gives Pédesclaux lovely juiciness and much of its soft, easygoing personality. The blend is 53% Cabernet Sauvignon and 47% Merlot. Tasted two times. (AG) (4/2015)
91 points Wine Spectator
Distinctive, with a ripe cassis and boysenberry core, lined with dried anise hints and backed by ample singed apple wood notes, though this stays very polished overall. An extroverted style. (JM, Web-2015)
Jancis Robinson
Deep glowing crimson. Very rich glowing fruit on the front palate. Fine and good balance. Sinewy and a tiny bit stringy on the end. But correct and reasonably satisfying. Could be GV. (3/2015)
