| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > Castillon - Côtes de Bordeaux |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
A blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc, the 2011 Montlandrie has a deep garnet color, with a touch of brick. It slowly awakens in the glass with notes of mossy tree bark, blackberry preserves, aniseed, and clove oil, plus emerging wafts of dried lavender and tobacco leaf. The full-bodied palate is laden with maturing flavors of black fruit and fragrant earth, supported by impressive freshness and velvety tannins, finishing long and opulent.
A thrilling offering from proprietor Denis Durantou (who also owns Pomerol's l'Eglise-Clinet), this blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc is a surprisingly large-scaled Cotes de Bordeaux Castillon revealing a dense ruby/purple color as well as lots of sweet mulberry, kirsch, black currant, licorice, spring flower and graphite notes. Medium to full-bodied as well as remarkably concentrated, this wine outperforms many of Bordeaux's more famous names in this vintage. A stunner in quality and value, it can be enjoyed over the next 10+ years. It is a sleeper of the vintage.
The Montlandrie is a blend of 75% Merlot picked from 20th until 23rd September and 25% Cabernet Franc picked between 24th and 26th September aged in 50% new oak. It has a very lifted bouquet with mulberry fruit, a touch of oyster shell and orange blossom. It unfurls nicely over five minutes, for this is certainly a sample that needs time. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grip on the entry. It is a bold Cotes de Castillon wine, quite sinewy with firm grip, but it keeps it freshness from start to finish. Very fine. Tasted April 2012.
This shows lots of blueberry and mineral character with hints of chalk. Medium to full body, chewy tannins and a polished, refined texture. Needs another two or three years to soften.
From the Denis Durantou (l'Eglise-Clinet) stable. Firm, forceful and structured in style. Hint of Saint-Emilion from St-Christophe-des-Bardes. Good value. Drink 2015-2022.
From Chateau l'Eglise Clinet's proprietor, Denis Durantou, this big time sleeper of the vintage may be even better than the 2009 Montlandrie. The dark ruby/purple-colored 2011 appears to have hit every sweet spot on the palate, offering lots of plum, black currant, incense and floral notes. With a velvety palate, attractive opulence and terrific fruit intensity (but no hard edges), this is a hedonistic as well as intellectually pleasing wine that sells for a song. Drink it over the next 5-6 years.
