| 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). 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.
A wine with generosity yet, at the same time, structure with pretty, dusty tannins. Full body. Crushed stones and dried earth. Very consistent and long. Impressive. Hard to decide whether it’s better than 2015. Beautiful. Drink after 2021.
A blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2016 Montlandrie has a deep garnet color. After a swirl or two, notes of blueberry preserves, dark chocolate, stewed plums, and Chinese five spice erupt from the glass, with underlying suggestions of molten licorice and iron ore. The full-bodied palate is richly fruited with black fruit preserves and exotic spice layers, wonderfully offset by a lively line of freshness and beautifully plush tannins, finishing long and fragrant. Yum!
The 2016 Montlandrie has an attractive, well-defined bouquet of blackberry, raspberry, cedar and subtle figgy aromas, the oak neatly integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent tannins, and quite tarry in style, with a gentle grip on the saline, almost Left Bank-inspired finish. Fine, but a bit broody at present. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. 2021 - 2034
The classic Durantou Castillon. The aromatics are jumping right out of the glass, and gentle cappuccino curls round out the tight blackberry fruits. I love it, it's so elegant yet full of flavour. 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon yielding 40hl/ha from 9ha, picked between 3rd and 17th October. Aged in 60% new oak.
Very deep crimson. Intense nose. Sweet start and very dramatic. This should be worth looking out for over the next few vintages. Real improvement this year!
Drink 2021-2029
The Côtes de Castillon vineyard of famous Pomerol winemaker Denis Durantou of L'Eglise Clinet (first vintage was 2009). 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. Aged in 60% new oak, with 3400 cases made in 2016. Plums and black cherries on the nose with a hint of cocoa. Mouthcoating, ripe and supple tannins reveal plush sweetness through the mid-palate with classic red and black fruits, chocolate and vanilla. Juicy, ripe and plush - another fantastic with from Denis.
Another one of those hidden gems from the Castillon region of Bordeaux, the 2016 Château Montlandrie is a rock star of a wine that readers should snatch up! From more clay soils (the region is mostly limestone) and with surprising power and richness, it offers a stacked bouquet of red and black currants, smoked earth, and chocolate. Full-bodied and concentrated, with ripe tannins and terrific balance, it’s a winner. Drink it over the coming 10-15 years. Drink 2019-2034.
Firm on the nose the palate has black cherry and red fruits at the start with rich ripe fruit in the middle. Chocolate richness rounded tannins there is a supple fleshiness and although fresher at the back it finishes with depth of flavour rich fruit. 2022-30
Generally the most tannic of Denis Duranotu’s impressive range, this is the one where he says “thanks” to Cabernet Sauvignon for providing extra backbone and tannin. Dark fruits, some orange zest and considerable underlying structure make this a wine that will reward patience. 2025-32
Montlandrie parades some serious graphite notes and fine-grained tannins which make it rather hard for the fruit to be
heard. With a dark hue and a closed palate, this is a wine which requires thought. The strong bass note of fruit gives it a
more introspective demeanour, making this the sleeper of the Durantou family. 17++
The 2016 Montlandrie is the Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux from Denis Durantou. On the nose, it is the ripest of Durantou’s six offerings, offering mulberry, Dorset plum and hints of fresh fig, and more open than either La Chenade or Les Cruzelles, his two Lalande de Pomerols. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grip on the entry. There is good volume and depth to this wine. The red fruit merges with more black fruit toward the finish, where hints of tobacco and cedar lend a slightly Left Bank feel. Very impressive. Drink 2021-2036.
The 2016 Montlandrie is a blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon picked between 3-17 October. It was picked at 40 hectoliters per hectare and raised in 60% new oak (although my sample was from a one-year-old barrel). It is the first vintage to include more than 80% of the vines that were planted by Denis Durantou after 2008. This has a more broody bouquet than the two Lalande-de-Pomerols, just a touch of leafiness originating from the Cabernet Sauvignon that enhances the complexity. The palate is medium-bodied with fine structure, more saline than the Les Cruzelles, backward at the moment, but the Cabernets impart some lovely graphite notes on the saline finish. Superb. Expect this to land towards the top of my banded score once in bottle. Drink 2021 - 2036.
Very fine and polished with pretty tannins, balance and fruit. Medium-bodied, fresh and clean. All about clarity.
Montlandrie 2016 is a blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and has a deep garnet color. It rolls effortlessly out of the glass with ready-to-go scents of baked black plums, blueberry preserves, and cassis, plus touches of garrigue, pencil shavings, and fallen leaves. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is chock full of expressive black and blue fruits with a velvety texture and seamless freshness, finishing with a minty kick.
Medium garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Montlandrie opens with pretty rose hip, lavender and cinnamon stick notes over a core of baked plums and spice cake plus a touch of tilled soil. Medium-bodied, it has a chewy texture and oodles of freshness framing the youthful spiced plums flavors, finishing on a lingering savory note. Drink 2019-2031.
