Les Cruzelles 2010

The Les Cruzelles is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the former picked a little earlier than the La Chenade with 50% new oak. The nose is more extroverted, a little more flamboyant than the La Chenade with a tangible floral aspect and fine delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, slightly grainy tannins. It is more linear than the La Chenade, slightly more peppery at the moment but still with great freshness towards the finish. It will need a little bottle age to come round. Recommended. Tasted November 2012.

Chocolate, vanilla and blueberries. Some raspberry and cherry blossom with spicy white pepper. Full and dense on the palate with lovely fruit and velvet tannins. Juicy and round with a nice fruit-focused finish. Lots of ripe fruit under the chewy tannins. Drink from 2015.

One of the least well known of Denis Durantou's wines, this is a really good buy for the price-conscious claret lover in 2010. It's a big, statement wine, but beneath the oak, there's plenty of texture, flavours of sweet blackberry and liquorice and a spicy, refreshing finish. A mini Eglise-Clinet? 10+ years.

A very well-made wine from proprietor Denis Durantou, this estate in Lalande de Pomerol came up with a wine that has luscious black cherry, and black currant fruit along with hints of caramel candy, vanilla and spice. Medium-bodied, round, pure and very graceful, it should be drunk over the next 7-10 years.

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 moderately priced thanks to the 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 gorgeous nose of smoky , vanilla oak and plumy fruit. Creamy and silky with a voluptuous mouth-feel, this is nevertheless soft and elegrant with an almost Pinot Noir like character. A simply gorgeous wine that tastes like a top Pomerol. Bravo!

Sweet black plum and cherry give richness on the nose and a good weight of flavour on the palate. The tannins are rounded adding suppleness and then towards the back red fruits cherry and raspberry come through lifting the flavours on the finish.

Ripe, savoury, generous and more firmly structured than the '09. Attractive Burgundian red fruit aroma. Long. Gives the lighter Pomerol's a run for their money. Drink 2015-2022.