The 2014 Proprietary Red Les Pavots (3,570 cases) is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 13% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot aged in mostly Taransaud barrels with a small helping of Darnajou thrown in. This wine is fabulous in the vintage, although certainly less profoundly concentrated and extracted, as well as structured, compared to the 2013, which was off-the-charts fabulous. This is a brilliant wine, charming, with front-end loaded plum, blackcurrant and black raspberry fruit interwoven with graphite, tar and truffle notes. The wine has sumptuous texture, sweet, velvety tannin, and a long, full-bodied finish. It should drink well for at least two decades.

The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Les Pavots is striking, but it is also going to need at least a few years to come into its own, as it is presently very tightly wound and reticent. Grilled herb, smoke, tobacco, licorice, game and incense overtones give the bouquet tons of depth. On the palate, though, the wine is quite a bit less forthcoming. Readers will have to be patient. In 2014, Les Pavots is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc, 13% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot.

The 2014 growing season was driven by high temperatures, leading to an early bud-break. Irrigation was necessary in this drought year, and although yields were high the grapes had low juice at the press, with high concentration. This wine makes a great companion to bistecca alla Fiorentina simply dressed with black pepper, salt and olive oil, with a good char on the crust. It's liquorous and herbal, with a layer of wild raspberries, a juicy core and velvety tannins, resulting in a balanced composition.