| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > Lalande Pomerol |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Vignobles Denis Durantou
The La Chenade was picked between 26th September and 5th October, the Cabernet Franc the following day. A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc (50% new oak) it has a ripe, quite generous bouquet with dark cherries, a touch of cassis and iodine with fine definition. The palate is medium-bodied with fine definition. I really appreciate the nervosité in the wine - great freshness with fine tannins and beautifully interwoven new oak on the finish. Seductive. Tasted April 2013.
80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, on gravel. Deep cherry red. Lifted cherry fruit. Lots of sweet and sour cherry on the palate too. Really juicy and bright and full of life. A little dry and hard in the middle but should come round to something more harmonious. (JH)
Made by the brilliant Denis Durantou of Chateau L'Eglise Clinet. Most of the fruit is sourced from a section of the Les Cruzelles vineyard with gravel soil. There are no longer any bought-in grapes used. 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 30% new oak. A consistent, reliable wine, always well made and always great value for money. This is gorgeous with a beautiful milk chocolate, cream and red fruit character. The palate has delightful strawberry fruit, sexy, lush, rich with a nice touch of spice and vanilla oak. Excellent length. A fabulous wine for the price and will be absolutely delicious to drink in its youth.
The nose has lots of flavour with ripe black plum giving a fleshy start on the palate. Under the fleshiness the sweet fruit there is some bilberry that refreshes, brings out the hints of spice and gives vibrancy and freshness on the long finish. 2016-26.
Denis Durantou's more accessible Lalande de Pomerol isn't far behind the amazing Les Cruzelles in the value for money stakes this year. It's a quintessence of Merlot, with a lift of
leafy Cabernet Franc adding a touch of graphite. Sensuous and balanced, this is delicious to drink right now. Drink: 2018-26
I adore Durantou’s two Lalande de Pomerols, and they were terrific in 2010, but especially 2012. Suddenly you can see that milky grace, that hedonistic charm, that beguiling softness which is one key to Pomerol’s appeal, and which you always hope you’ll find on the other side of the Barbanne.
La Chenade is prettier and more chiffon-wrapped to start with, but marginally less deep when you tape-measure the fruit; both, anyway, are outstanding value and the kind of wines it would be hard not to gobble up as soon as the delivery person handed over the case. (Remind yourself what a wonderful grape variety Merlot is as you do the gobbling).
