Château Simard - St. Emilion Grand Cru 2014

The 2014 is composed of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. The grapes are hand-picked and selected, and vinification takes place in concrete; the wine is then aged for around twelve months in tank and barrique, with only about 30% matured in wood. This preserves fruit and freshness and gives Simard a significantly more classic profile than many opulent, oak-heavy Saint-Émilions. The nose reveals ripe cherries, plum, and dark berries, along with hints of violets, tobacco, licorice, spices, and a fine earthy note. Medium-bodied on the palate, juicy and straightforward, with vibrant acidity and tannins that have by now become beautifully integrated. 2014 is not an opulent blockbuster vintage – and that is precisely what suits this wine well: classic, fresh, spicy, and pleasantly effortless. For us, Château Simard 2014 is, above all, a really good Bordeaux for anyone looking for aged Saint-Émilion at a reasonable price. The connection to Ausone makes it interesting, but what happens in the glass is more decisive: honest Bordeaux character, fine drinking maturity, and enough sense of origin to rise well above an ordinary everyday Bordeaux.