2014 De Lille Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Ciel
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Tasting notes
Glossy and cedary oak aromas with notes of boot leather and wild herbs, leading to a palate that has a smoothly defined, lustrous tannin texture and carries plenty of ripe cassis and dark cherries. Try from 2022.
Critic scores
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
James Suckling
More reviews and scores
(all 191 clone, aged entirely in new oak): Dark red-ruby. Cassis, blackberry and licorice aromas are lifted by a violet high note. Plush, fat and sweet, conveying a distinctly chewy quality to its flavors of dark berries and sexy Taransaud spices. This very concentrated wine displays a savory complexity and finishes with a firm tannic spine and outstanding length.
I loved the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Ciel from barrel, and it didn't disappoint from bottle. Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from one of the top terroirs in the state, it boasts a vibrant purple color as well as classic notes of lead pencil shavings, wet gravel, black currants and chocolate. The tannin is more pronounced here than in the Shaw Red Mountain release, yet it has full-bodied richness, good concentration, beautiful balance and a great finish. I wouldn't touch bottles for another 4-5 years.