2014 Chateau Le Gay, Pomerol

The 2014 Le Gay has a perfumed and ebullient bouquet with blackberry, leather and warm brick aromas. I appreciate the delineation here and the manner in which it blossoms in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, well balanced and gentle in style, caressing with pure strawberry and cranberry scents towards the elegant finish. This is a great Le Gay. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. - vinous.com, March 2018

Blueberry-skin and stone aromas follow through to a medium body, firm tannins and a juicy finish. Shy but still shows wonderful depth and polish. Better in 2021.

The 2014 Le Gay is blessed with a fabulous bouquet of brambly red berry fruit tinged with black truffle, roasted chestnut and just a hint of hung game. There is marvelous energy here, the aromatics keeping you engaged. The palate is medium-bodied with superb purity, certainly very well balanced with a fine bead of acidity. Sure, there is a veneer of vanilla oak to be assimilated on the finish, but there is such depth and persistence that this will be no problem. This surpasses my expectations from barrel and continues the fine form of this Pomerol estate. (Neal Martin)

Very ripe, rounded and creamy in feel, with flattering plum sauce and raspberry and boysenberry pâte de fruit flavors. Flecks of anise and black tea impart energy, keeping this focused and driven through the finish. A flashy display of fruit. Drink now through 2030. 1,250 cases made. (JM)

The 2014 Le Gay is soft, silky and inviting. Crushed flowers, sweet tobacco, mint, licorice and dried cherry are nicely layered. Today, the 2014 shows quite a bit less density than it did as a barrel sample. I had hoped it would fill out a bit more over time, but that has not happened yet.

Vinification intégrale (ie in barrel). Tasted blind. Dark core with bricky rim. Fragrant and open and not as evolved as some. A touch cedary/leafy. On the palate, light, dry, elegant. On the lighter side but shows real finesse and freshness. The tannins are finely dry but not drying. (JH)

Tasted blind. Minty, biscuit nose. Some vibrancy. Racy and even a little porty. Grip on the end. (JR)