The 2014 Larkmead Vineyard LMV Salon Proprietary Red is a noteworthy wine from the Napa Valley, California. This proprietary blend, predominantly composed of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Cabernet Franc, is produced by Larkmead Vineyard. It boasts an alcohol content of 14.9% and features a traditional cork closure.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate awarded this wine an impressive score of 95, describing it as "prodigious" and highlighting its "crushed rock and wet gravel minerality" alongside a "beautiful, cedary, blackcurrant nose" with hints of "forest floor, allspice and soy." The palate is noted for its blackberry flavors, savory herbs, and spices, with a touch of licorice. Parker emphasizes its "broad, fleshy, juicy and succulent style," making it suitable for drinking now and over the next two decades.
Wine Spectator's review, penned by JL, scores the wine at 92. The reviewer notes that "strong oak is the dominant aroma, flavor and texture," which currently overshadows the "rich blackberry, plum, currant and anise flavors." The wine is described as ending "long, pure and chewy" and is recommended to be best enjoyed between 2018 and 2028. A total of 804 cases of this vintage were produced.
James Suckling gives the wine a 94, praising it for its "lots of blueberry, licorice and gun-powder aromas" that lead to a "medium to full body, fine tannins and a savory finish." Suckling appreciates the wine's "lovely balance and fruitiness" and its "tangy minerality," calling it "lovely now" and ready to drink and enjoy.
Decanter also scores the wine at 94, noting its "savoury nuances of bitter chocolate and burnt sage" which mix with "dusty red and black fruits and petroleum jelly" in a complex bouquet. The wine is described as "ample but controlled" with "rich, sapid tannins and cool acids." Decanter suggests that the wine will benefit from some additional time in the cellar to fully reveal its potential.
Overall, the 2014 Larkmead Vineyard LMV Salon Proprietary Red is a complex and well-regarded wine, praised for its robust flavors and excellent aging potential.