| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > Castillon - Côtes de Bordeaux |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
The Côtes de Castillon vineyard of famous Pomerol winemaker Denis Durantou of L'Eglise Clinet (first vintage was 2009). Sadly, the 2019 will be the last vintage harvested by Denis following the news of his passing in May 2020. This 11 hectare vineyard has 25 year old vines - 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% of a new clone of Cabernet Sauvignon that Denis planted in 2009. Always modestly priced, this is a wine that gives brilliant value for money.
The 2019 Montlandrie has quite an intense nose with blackberry, briary and desiccated orange peel scents, nicely delineated and focused. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, cedar-infused black fruit, fresh and nicely structured with a quasi-Médoc finish that conveys a sense of energy. Very fine. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. Drink 2025-2042.
The best Montlandrie made to date. Deep crimson colour. The nose is expansive and intense, full of cherry blossom, ripe plums and hints of bramble. There are savoury spices too, but they are tamed by the power of fruit. This follows on the palate, which is generous yet rich in structure. This is a wine of depth and poise; it will need time to show its full potential. There is a note of iron intermingled with savoury spices and roasted plums. This is long and complex - it will reward patience.
Blueberries and dark cherries with walnuts and hazelnuts. Some nutmeg, too. Medium-bodied with firm, polished tannins and a flavorful finish. Very fine tannins. Drink after 2025, but already gorgeous.
A blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in 40% new oak, the 2019 Montlandrie is medium to deep garnet-purple colored. It comes barreling out of the glass with exuberant notes of plum preserves, black cherry compote, and black raspberries, plus suggestions of violets, wild sage, and crushed rocks. Full-bodied, the palate shimmies with energy, featuring ripe, rounded tannins and a lively backbone, finishing long and lifted.
This is an excellent vintage of Montlandrie, with smoked coffee and cocoa bean, a ton of salinity, powerful blue and red fruits, super juicy on the finish. Enticing curled woodsmoke as it comes out of the glass, slate finish with a scrape of minerality. 40% new oak. Harvest September 30 to October 10.
Tasted blind. Heady, rich nose. Good freshness and zest. Oak (just) overwhelmed by some detailed fruit. But there is lots of tannin too. 14.5%
Drink 2027– 2039
The 2019 is a blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and will be aged in 40% new French oak. There will be 49,500 bottles produced with an abv of 14.5%. Vibrant ruby in the glass, and bursting with juicy plums and cherries on the nose. The palate is fleshy, with tannins that are more refined than we have ever seen from this wine. The result is an open-knit and juicy wine, with dark cherries and hedgerow fruits layered by lightly spicy, sweet vanilla. The finish is long, fine and harmonious. This is the best Montlandrie we have ever tasted, bravo!
A perennial no-brainer, the 2019 Château Montlandrie sports a vivid purple hue as well as a gorgeous bouquet of juicy black cherries, blueberries, tobacco, and cedarwood, with some classic chalky minerality in the background. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has terrific purity of fruit, silky tannins, and a great finish. I’d be thrilled to have bottles in the cellar, and it should have 10-15 years of longevity.
75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon; 40% new oak. Barrel sample.
Bright and lifted on the nose. Dark-fruit aromatics with a lingering chalky note. Fresh and layered on the palate, the limestone terroir again apparent. Firm, fresh and dry with plentiful tannins and a stony, pebble-sucking finish. Muscular but refined at the same time. (JL) 14.5%
Drink 2025 – 2034
A chewy, structured red with medium body. The flavor shows blue fruit with salty, minerally undertones. It’s tannic, yet driven. Tight.
The 2019 Montlandrie is a blend of 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. It comes bounding out of the glass with bright, cheerful scents of warm redcurrants, Morello cherries, wild blueberries and boysenberries with touches of lavender, red roses, cinnamon stick and cast-iron pan. Wow. I LOVE this energy on the elegantly styled, medium-bodied palate. The red and black fruit layers practically dance, intermingled with grainy (Cabernet-like) tannins and tons of freshness. It has a satisfyingly long, fragrant finish. Truly impressive!
Cinnamon and spice box with pulped raspberry fruits on the nose, this has the restrained exuberance of Montlandrie in spades, where the ripe fruits are balanced step by step with fresh acidities and lip-smacking salinity that speaks to the limestone soils of this estate. Cabernet Sauvignon adds a savoury touch, and overall this is yet another example of why the loss of Durantou will be felt for years. Drinking Window 2025 - 2036
