2014 Durfort Vivens
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Tasting notes
The 2014 Durfort-Vivens was the first vintage with 50mg of SO2. It offers brambly red fruit on the nose with raspberry, wilted rose petals and light pencil-shaving aromas. The palate is medium-bodied, ripe and fleshy, pliant in the mouth and nicely balanced with a gentle grip. It's linear on the finish with a touch of sour cherry. This has fine precision on the finish, and it should drink well for the following ten years. Tasted at the château.
Critic scores
Average Score
Neal Martin
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot. Aged 18 months in barrel (50% new oak). Garnet hue. Fragrant and floral on the nose. Smooth and again floral on the palate, the tannins finely honed, the freshness apparent. Plenty of length and drive. Still not the density of a top year but digeste , balanced and with added finesse. Clearly a step up. (JL)
90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot. Tasted blind. Mid crimson. Sweet, rather New World Cabernet impression. Edgy and not yet integrated. Work in progress. Needs to settle down but there are very notable ingredients. (JR)
The 2014 Durfort Vivens has a backward, earthy, damp undergrowth-scented bouquet that one comes to expect from the estate. It has its own charm. The palate is medium-bodied with stringy tannin, rustic red fruit with a green edge that becomes more apparent towards the finish. Maybe I am missing something, but this just does not appeal as much as other Margaux 2014s tasted in bottle.