| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > Lalande Pomerol |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
Plum, chocolate and cassis-bush aromas follow through to a full body, integrated tannins and a fresh and clean finish. Drink in 2020, but already a joy to taste.
The 2014 La Chenade has a reserved but well defined bouquet with earthy red and black fruit, hints of truffle oil and sage, gaining a little intensity with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with firm and quite strict tannin. This is rather aloof and distant and yet it is undeniably well defined and fascinating, a Pomerol that clearly needs some bottle age. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. 2021 - 2035
Tasted blind. Meat and two veg on the nose. Lots of life and freshness. Quite forward aromatically. Though admittedly there are still lots of tannins. Clean and minty – fresh as a mountain stream.
Drink 2023-2035
Tasted blind at the Southwold group 2014 tasting.
A bright ruby in the glass, this wine is floral and complex on the nose with violets, blood orange and black cherry fruits supported by exotic clove and star anise spices. The palate has chalky but refined tannins which support the juicy cherry and plum notes. The acidity here is fresh and tames the ripeness of the fruit, allowing for sweet vanilla and toast to come through as subtle hints of the oaking for this wine. Approachable now, but will develop savoury complexity over the next 4-7 years.
This has a solid core of steeped raspberry and blackberry fruit flavors, backed by black tea, cinnamon and anise notes. A steady stream of fine-grained tannins gives this a persistent finish. Drink now through 2021. 1,967 cases made.
The nose has woodland violets charm a hint of vanilla the palate starts with black cherry firmness but it fills out in the middle rich fruits fine tannins velvety and silky. Damsons enrich the back palate the finish is sweet fruited. 2020-29
Reflecting the sandier soils on which it is grown, La Chenade is often the lightest and most "feminine" wine in Denis Durantou's portfolio. This is very scented indeed, with refreshing acidity framing raspberry and wild strawberry fruit. The 30% new oak adds a sheen of vanilla spice.
The 2014 La Chenade, a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, has a straightforward but appealing bouquet with ample dark cherries, bergamot tea and a touch of dried flowers. The palate is medium-bodied with a tightly-knit structure. I appreciate the depth here, the focus and finesse, a wine that threatened to blossom in bottle... and it has. Given the market prices for this Lalande-de-Pomerol, Denis Durantou's 2014 comes highly recommended. Drink Date 2018-2028
The La Chenade 2014 is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc from gravel soils, picked September 24-29 and October 17-21, respectively. Matured in 30% new oak, it has a slightly simpler bouquet compared to Denis Durantou’s Saintayme, but still very pure with blackberry and hints of undergrowth, a light marine influence coming through with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with veins of dark chocolate on the entry, the oak probably needing a little more time to fully integrate than the Saintayme. It segues into a spicy and slightly austere finish that should gain more flesh during its élevage. Drink: 2016 - 2022
This is has a mint, fresh herb character. Medium body, fine tannins and a fresh finish.
Bright crimson. Quite angular and structured. Lots of minerality on the end. Less charming than the Saintayme St-Émilion tasted immediately before.
Drink 2019-2027
With a deep purple colour and fresh plum and bramble fruit, this wine delivers on its promise from the barrel now that it is in bottle. Violets, cocoa and clove add lift and spice to the nose, which is youthful and ripe. The palate has a crunchy, refined texture from the still firm tannins softened by vibrant black cherry and plum. Hints of smoke and spice from measured oak provide sweetness and complexty and ther is a cool, ripe lift throughout the palate that leaves a savoury and moreish, long finish. This is approachable now if you open an hour before serving or give it a light decant, and will continue to improve over the next five years in bottle. Another superb effort from Denis Durantou that over-delivers on its price point.
Made by the brilliant Denis Durantou of Chateau L'Eglise Clinet. The fruit is sourced from a section of the Les Cruzelles vineyard with gravel soil. 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 30% new oak. 1500 case production. This is probably Farr Vintners biggest selling Bordeaux wine over the last 15 years. Year on year La Chenade delivers the goods but the price remains reasonable. A wine that never lets you down. In 2014 the Merlot was picked between 24th and 29th September and the Cabernet Franc on October 6th. Deep ruby with a purple rim. Very floral with violets, vanilla, black cherry and plums on the nose - essence of Merlot. Quite spicy with nutmeg and clove, ripe plums and juicy cherries on the palate. Very fine, refined tannins give a silky, generous texture. This is an excellent Chenade that will give early drinking pleasure.
