| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > Lalande Pomerol |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
The 2014 Les Cruzelles has a simple bouquet, tertiary in style, woodland scents intermixed and perhaps dominating the fruit underneath. The palate is medium-bodied with dry tannin, chewy in the mouth at first although it musters more detail towards the lightly spiced, quite saline finish. Like other Pomerol wines it just needs another three or four years in the glass. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. 2021 - 2035
The blueberry, chocolate and walnut aromas are compelling. Medium to full body, ripe and silky tannins and a flavorful finish. Better in 2020 but already a joy to taste and even drink.
Deep in colour with a spicy, layered nose of dense black cherry, plum and savoury toasted spices, this is powerfully aromatic and primary at this stage. Juicy and rounded in texture thanks to the weight of black fruit at the core, the fine but firm tannins frame the palate but are coated by soft, ripe fruit and lifted floral violet tones. Through the mid palate there are layers of spicy, smoky flavour that add complexity and a touch of sweetness from balancing oak flavour. Long, youthful and spicy, this wine is approachable now with a light decant for 30 minutes and thanks to the firm-textured tannin and pure fruit length will have a superb life ahead of it. Outstanding value for money.
Very suave, with creamy plum sauce and blackberry confiture notes inlaid with ganache and anise details, all flowing through the toasty yet integrated and refined finish. Wins on mouthfeel and fruit, but there's a fine mineral edge as well. Drink now through 2022. 2,135 cases made.
A mix of black fruits floral and fragrant there is lots of charm. The start of the palate has complexity fresh and focussed but in the mid ripe damsons enrich supple and fleshy underpinned by ripe tannins. Fresher towards the back the finish is long spicy with a lovely purity of flavour.
A wine that's very marked by its comparatively small percentage of Cabernet Franc, this is always one of the Gironde's greatest bargains. Grassy, elegant and leafy with dark berry and fennel notes that build on the palate, complemented by stylish, aromatic oak. Typically impressive winemaking.
The 2014 Les Cruzelles is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc picked between 24-29 September. It has a little more ripeness on the nose compared to the La Chenade, very perfumed with subtle violet and iris aromas, later a hint of orange blossom. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin with ample blackberry and bilberry; grainy in texture with a pleasurable marine/oyster shell element lending personality on the finish. This is very fine. Drink date 2018 - 2030
The Château Les Cruzelles 2014 is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc picked from 24 to 29 September and 17 to 21 October and aged in 50% new oak. The nose is ripe and generous with wild strawberry and dark plum aromas, the oak nicely integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with supple and fine tannin. It is not a complex Lalande-de-Pomerol but is (as usual) extremely well balanced with a fine degree of tension and finesse on the broody finish. Give this a couple of years in bottle and it should give several years of pleasure, probably more. Drink: 2017 - 2027.
A fine and silky red with blackberries, walnuts and spices. Medium to full body, fine tannins and juicy finish.
This 11 hectare property in Lalande de Pomerol is situated 1 km from the famous plateau of Pomerol, and is visible from the back door of Eglise Clinet. The Château was purchased in 2000 by Denis Durantou who ages the crop in 50% new oak and relegates fruit from the younger vines to his La Chenade label. Often better than many Pomerols and Saint Emilions that we taste, yet far cheaper thanks to the unfashionable appellation. 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc. Grapes are selected from the best terroirs of the vineyard - clay soils similar to those on the plateau of Pomerol. A wine that always reminds us of a top Pomerol. Recent vintages have been stunning. Along with Roc de Cambes, this is, in our view, the best wine produced in a "satelite appellation" of Bordeaux. Pricing policy is moderate. We absolutely love Les Cruzelles! In 2014 trhe Merlot was picked between 24th and 29th September and the Cabernet Franc on October 6th. Production approximately 1500 cases. Deep purple colour. Spicy black fruits dominate the ripe and complex nose. Sweet black cherries and plums are layered by sweet spices. Very pure and ripe red fruits, with a cool edge of black cherry on the palate, which is also floral with violets. Incredible focus, complexity and length, with lots of very fine and soft tannins and fresh acidity. Very impressive.
