2014 Vintage — Freshness, precision and classic elegance

Buying a 2014 wine means choosing a vintage of freshness, finesse and definition. Less solar than some neighbouring great years, 2014 stands out for its balance, aromatic purity and ability to express terroir with clarity.

The strongest buying priorities are found in Burgundy, especially for white wines, in Bordeaux among classic grands châteaux, in Napa Valley for Cabernet Sauvignon and in Champagne for the most balanced vintage cuvées. The Rhône Valley and Piedmont also offer beautiful bottles, but require more selective buying.

Which 2014 wines should you buy first?

The style of the 2014 vintage

2014 is a vintage of freshness, precision and clarity. The most successful wines are not about power, but about balance, tension and purity. It is a particularly interesting year for lovers of classic, digestible and elegant styles, with very strong results in regions where ripeness was perfectly managed.

Burgundy 2014 — A great year for white wines

In Burgundy, 2014 is one of the great recent vintages for white wines. Jasper Morris / Inside Burgundy highlights the remarkable consistency of the whites, with wines showing fruit, texture, balanced acidity, persistence and personality. Chablis, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet are therefore major buying priorities.

The reds are more delicate than powerful, often fine, fragrant and already very enjoyable when produced by precise domaines. Focus on: great white Burgundy, Chablis, Côte de Beaune and selected Côte de Nuits. Buying priority: very high for whites, more selective for reds.

Bordeaux 2014 — Classicism, freshness and fine structure

In Bordeaux, 2014 is now appreciated as a classic, fresh and structured vintage. Neal Martin, looking back ten years later, describes a vintage that can be uneven, but with stronger consistency on the Left Bank and a particular highlight in Saint-Julien. The best wines offer freshness, fine tannins, structure and excellent drinkability.

Focus on: Saint-Julien, Pauillac, Saint-Estèphe, Margaux, Pessac-Léognan, as well as the finest terroirs of Pomerol and Saint-Émilion. Buying priority: high for lovers of classic Bordeaux and grands châteaux entering gradual maturity.

Napa Valley 2014 — Purity, balance and great charm

In Napa Valley, 2014 is a very successful year for Cabernet Sauvignon. Antonio Galloni / Vinous describes the wines as aromatic, savoury and highly expressive, with the complexity brought by age and enough freshness to remain vibrant. Compared with the powerful 2013s, the 2014 vintage often appeals through charm, precision and polished tannins.

Focus on: Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, great Bordeaux-style blends and benchmark estates. Buying priority: very high for the most recognised producers.

Champagne 2014 — Freshness, energy and selection

In Champagne, 2014 is a fresh, precise and more classic vintage than 2015. Essi Avellan MW notes that the year required care and selection, with variable results depending on sector and grape variety, but also a good balance between ripeness and acidity. The best cuvées stand out for their tension, aromatic clarity and attractive accessibility today.

Focus on: leading houses, prestige cuvées, Blancs de Blancs, Blancs de Noirs and producers known for precise balance. Buying priority: high for the best cuvées.

Rhône Valley 2014 — Freshness, charm and discernment

In the Rhône Valley, 2014 is a more contrasted vintage, but an interesting one for lovers of less massive wines. Jeb Dunnuck describes the northern Rhône 2014 as an early-drinking vintage, with moderate concentration and immediate charm. The best Syrahs offer freshness, fruit, aromatic expression and a more slender silhouette.

Focus on: Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage, Saint-Joseph, Cornas and very consistent producers in the southern Rhône. Buying priority: selective, with particular interest in estates able to preserve balance.

Piedmont 2014 — Purity, freshness and top producers

In Piedmont, 2014 was a difficult year, marked by rain, cool conditions and the need for strict selection. Antonio Galloni / Vinous reminds readers that the vintage requires work from buyers, but that the best Barolo can be remarkable for their energy, purity and terroir expression.

This is not a year of power, but a year of finesse. Focus on: Barolo, Barbaresco, leading producers and the most balanced single-vineyard cuvées. Buying priority: selective, but very interesting from the best domaines.