The spice and floral characters are fresh and perfumed. Walnuts. Medium body, with firm and silky tannins and a linear and crisp finish. Orange peel undertone to the currants. Tight and racy. Needs two to three years to open up.

The 2014 Phelan-Segur has quite a punchy nose with blackberry, iris and iodine scents that shoot from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with a pleasant chewiness on the entry. This segues into a well balanced middle with well-judged acidity, crisp black fruit infused with graphite and a touch of sea salt towards the finish. It might not quite have the finesse of the top Saint Estephe's, but there is clearly decent length and energy here. Tasted twice with consistent notes.

The initial wood flavors in this wine rapidly give way to rich fruit. Spice and black-plum flavors are built by a firmly tannic superstructure. The aftertaste brings out the acidity. This wine should develop well over the long term.

Pure and expressive, featuring a lovely beam of cassis gilded with light lilac, wet pebble and tobacco notes that should emerge more with cellaring. Shows textbook typicity for the AOC.