As attentive readers of earlier blog posts like this one about the ‘tango of en primeur’ will know, we are avid fans of Denis Durantou, maker of Chateau l’Eglise Clinet. Denis also makes a line-up of considerably less expensive but聽great value聽wines from the surrounding appellations, and these are offered today.
Montlandrie, Cruzelles, Saintayme, and La Chenade all come strongly recommended, although my own favourite聽in the 2010 line-up聽was the Montlandrie,聽which is聽really the epitome of the Castillons I keep聽saying are聽brilliant value this year. When I said this to Denis he quickly re-shuffled the order of the bottles in the tasting, and said “this is how I rate the terroirs of my properties” The new order had Montlandrie second only to l’脡glise Clinet itself, and above Cruzelles and even La Petite Eglise.
Also out today is the old traditionalist favourite Potensac, a wine which showed well in a fairly classical and austere M茅doc style, and Fombrauge, a good value solid modern聽Saint Emilion from the owner of Pape Clement, which is offered sensibly down a little on last year’s price.