Region | |
---|---|
Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > Lalande Pomerol |
Colour | Red |
Type | Still |
Plum, chocolate and cassis-bush aromas follow through to a full body, integrated tannins and a fresh and clean finish. Drink in 2020, but already a joy to taste.
Tasted blind. Meat and two veg on the nose. Lots of life and freshness. Quite forward aromatically. Though admittedly there are still lots of tannins. Clean and minty – fresh as a mountain stream.
Drink 2023-2035
Tasted blind at the Southwold group 2014 tasting.
A bright ruby in the glass, this wine is floral and complex on the nose with violets, blood orange and black cherry fruits supported by exotic clove and star anise spices. The palate has chalky but refined tannins which support the juicy cherry and plum notes. The acidity here is fresh and tames the ripeness of the fruit, allowing for sweet vanilla and toast to come through as subtle hints of the oaking for this wine. Approachable now, but will develop savoury complexity over the next 4-7 years.
This has a solid core of steeped raspberry and blackberry fruit flavors, backed by black tea, cinnamon and anise notes. A steady stream of fine-grained tannins gives this a persistent finish. Drink now through 2021. 1,967 cases made.
Reflecting the sandier soils on which it is grown, La Chenade is often the lightest and most "feminine" wine in Denis Durantou's portfolio. This is very scented indeed, with refreshing acidity framing raspberry and wild strawberry fruit. The 30% new oak adds a sheen of vanilla spice.
The 2014 La Chenade, a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, has a straightforward but appealing bouquet with ample dark cherries, bergamot tea and a touch of dried flowers. The palate is medium-bodied with a tightly-knit structure. I appreciate the depth here, the focus and finesse, a wine that threatened to blossom in bottle... and it has. Given the market prices for this Lalande-de-Pomerol, Denis Durantou's 2014 comes highly recommended. Drink Date 2018-2028
The La Chenade 2014 is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc from gravel soils, picked September 24-29 and October 17-21, respectively. Matured in 30% new oak, it has a slightly simpler bouquet compared to Denis Durantou’s Saintayme, but still very pure with blackberry and hints of undergrowth, a light marine influence coming through with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with veins of dark chocolate on the entry, the oak probably needing a little more time to fully integrate than the Saintayme. It segues into a spicy and slightly austere finish that should gain more flesh during its élevage. Drink: 2016 - 2022
This is has a mint, fresh herb character. Medium body, fine tannins and a fresh finish.
Bright crimson. Quite angular and structured. Lots of minerality on the end. Less charming than the Saintayme St-Émilion tasted immediately before.
Drink 2019-2027
With a deep purple colour and fresh plum and bramble fruit, this wine delivers on its promise from the barrel now that it is in bottle. Violets, cocoa and clove add lift and spice to the nose, which is youthful and ripe. The palate has a crunchy, refined texture from the still firm tannins softened by vibrant black cherry and plum. Hints of smoke and spice from measured oak provide sweetness and complexty and ther is a cool, ripe lift throughout the palate that leaves a savoury and moreish, long finish. This is approachable now if you open an hour before serving or give it a light decant, and will continue to improve over the next five years in bottle. Another superb effort from Denis Durantou that over-delivers on its price point.