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La Chenade 2018

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > Lalande Pomerol
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyMerlot/Cabernet Franc

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 and younger vines. 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc. This has probably been Farr Vintners' biggest selling Bordeaux wine en primeur over the last 15 years. Year on year La Chenade delivers the goods but the price remains reasonable. As the quality of the vineyard continues to increase, more of the fruit is used for Les Cruzelles. So in 2018 there are only 1000 cases of La Chenade - which is being aged in 30% new oak.

View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Vignobles Denis Durantou

Label

Tasting Notes

A pleasing wine with plum, chocolate and walnut character. Medium body, nice integration of fine tannins and a savory finish. Try after 2022.

92
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, March 2021

Brought up in 30% new French oak and based on an 80/20 split of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Château La Chenade has a classy, beautiful nose of crème de cassis, dried tobacco, lead pencil, and earth. This carries to a vibrant, medium-bodied Lalande de Pomerol with fine yet present tannins, a solid spine of acidity, and a great finish. It's another release from Denis Durantou that's going to benefit from just short-term cellaring and cruise for a decade.

92+
Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com, March 2021

The 2018 La Chenade is more backward and demands more coaxing than the Lés Cruzelles, reluctantly unfolding to reveal scents of blackberry, melted tar and violet petals, all very well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly grainy tannins, well-judged acidity, gentle grip and a slightly smoother but slightly less engaging finish than the Lés Cruzelles. Still, this is very fine. 2022+

91
Neal Martin, vinous.com, March 2021

The 2018 La Chenade is composed of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc with 30% new oak. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, it opens with notes of tar, licorice and cracked black pepper, leading to a core of baked black plums, boysenberries and blackberry pie, plus a waft of woodsmoke. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers loads of earth-laced blackberry flavors with a frame of ripe, rounded tannins and bags of freshness, finishing savory. 2022 - 2035.

This was produced by the late Denis Durantou of Château L’Eglise Clinet. The vineyard is in Lalande de Pomerol on gravel-based sandy soils.

90
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, March 2021

Tasted blind. Rich nose and then a very drying finish without quite enough fruit in the middle. 14.5%
Drink 2026 – 2040

16
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, February 2022

80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc; 30% new oak. Barrel sample.
Ripe, sweet black fruit. A little bit jammy in fruit style and then thick with tannin on the palate. Chewy and so dense but with bags of fruit. Needs time but I’m not sure it will age that long because the fruit is pretty ripe. (JH) 14%
Drink 2023-2028

15.5
Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2019

Deep ruby in the glass, with lifted aromas of violets, cherry blossom and blueberry. The palate is bursting with juicy red and black fruits, and framed by grippy, ripe tannins. This is sumptuous, exotic and rounded, with great intensity for a wine at this price, offering waves of sweet spice and summer fruits. This is one of the value picks of the vintage.

91+
Farr Vintners, Farr Tasting, April 2019

(80 Merlot, 20 Cabernet Franc) | 30% new oak | 14% alc | 12000 bottles were produced | Picked between 17th and 25th September and the Cabernet Franc was picked on 25th September Thrilling balance and great density of fruit mark this as a wine with huge potential and the oak is certainly present, but it is the skin tannins which bring the palate together. Imposing and indulgent this is a mighty wine and there is a superb red-fruited theme in the background which will emerge in time.

17+
Matthew Jukes, MatthewJukes.com, April 2019
Read more tasting notes...

The 2018 La Chenade comes from gravel soils and was picked September 17-25 for the Merlot, September 25 for the Cabernet Franc, then matured in 30% new oak. It has a perfumed blueberry and black currant bouquet; touches of violet petals and orange peel come through with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins. There is a nice bite to Denis Durantou’s Lalande-de-Pomerol, and an attractive saline finish. Excellent. 2022+

90/92
Neal Martin, vinous.com, November 2019

This is really delicious and fresh with lovely dark berries and purity at the same time. Medium body, fine tannins and a lovely finish.

92/93
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2019

This is produced by Denis Durantou of Château L’Eglise Clinet. The vineyard is in Lalande de Pomerol on gravel-based sandy soils. The 2018 La Chenade is composed of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc with 30% new oak. Deep purple-black in color, the nose is slightly reticent and broody, offering notes of tar, chargrill and damp soil to begin, giving way to a core of fresh plums, black cherries and kirsch plus touches of bay leaves and iron ore. Medium-bodied, the palate is fresh and juicy with plenty of bright black fruit and a plush texture, finishing long and refreshing.

90/92
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate (April 2019), April 2019

A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc from gravelly soils, the 2018 La Chenade comes from the team of Denis Durantou and is still aging in 30% new barrels. It offers a rich yet savory style in its black raspberries, dried cherries, leafy herbs, and chocolate-laced aromas and flavors. Beautifully balanced, medium-bodied, and silky, this is another remarkable wine in the vintage that’s well worth seeking out.

90/92
Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com, May 2019
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.