CHÂTEAU MONTLANDRIE
2017 Côtes de Castillon
75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. 40% new oak. Established plummy nose. The fruit is less obvious on the palate. Hints of mineral stone and grainy wood. Tightly woven with powdery tannins. Bracing acidity adds tension and a linear feel. Giving nothing away yet. Rating: 89 L&S (Apr 2018)
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Denis Durantou's 2017 Montlandrie is bursting at the seams with the essence of blackberry jam, chocolate, cloves, new leather, licorice and menthol. Although not especially subtle, the 2017 packs a serious punch. I would prefer to drink it on the young side, while the fruit remains vibrant. Drinking range: 2019 - 2029 Rating: 91 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Mar 2020)
The 2017 Montlandrie was picked from 20 to 26 September for the Merlot and 28 September for the Cabernets, and matured in 40% new oak. It has a small reduction on the nose at the moment, but that will disappear with bottle age. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, very silky in texture with hints of Indian and brown spices towards the elegant finish. Approachable in style, drink this over the next decade. Drinking range: 2020 - 2030 Rating: 91 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Feb 2020)
The 2017 Montlandrie was picked from 13 to 28 September. It boasts an utterly charming bouquet with blackberry, raspberry and just a hint of crushed violet. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannin, dark fruit but fresh and lively, very precise with a welcome dash of black pepper towards the graphite-tinged finish. Denis Durantou described this as one of his favorite wines of 2017 and I can understand why. Drinking range: 2021 - 2035 Rating: 91-92 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2018)
A Denis Durantou wine. 75% Merlot (picked 20–26 September 2017), 20% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon (both Cabernets picked 28 September 2017). 40% new oak. Black core and dark purple crimson rim. Lovely dark cherry-chocolate aroma: both fruit and oak. Fine chalky texture is quite different from the Denis Durantou Lalande wines just tasted. More limestone? Tight and fresh, all still to come, finishing fresh. Drinking range: 2022 - 2030 Rating: 16.5 Julia Harding MW, www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2018)
This is very minerally with crushed stones and dark fruit. Medium body and tight and firm tannins. Excellent. Rating: 90-91 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2018)
On the overt side, with a blast of plum and blueberry fruit up front backed by just enough of a chalky spine to keep this honest. Offers a vanilla coating on the finish. Rating: 87-90 James Molesworth, The Wine Spectator (Apr 2018)
The blend this year is 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Merlot was picked from the 20th until the 26th of September, the two Cabernets on the 28th. The élevage will be in 40% new oak. This has very plush red and black cherry fruit on the nose, with a little touch of smoky praline and dark chocolate. The palate is elegant, reposed, with a silky integration of ripe tannins, tightly knit together, with a very fine grip to the middle and end of the palate. It is fresh, nicely focused, pure, with red cherry, red plum, tobacco and praline character. Poised, with a rich wrapping of tight and velvety tannins in the finish. Very good. Rating: 92-94 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2018)
Château Montlandrie
Among the brightest stars of the exalted Pomerol appellation is Denis Durantou at Château l’Eglise-Clinet. A little further south-east, across the boundary in the Côtes de Castillon is Château Montlandrie that Denis bought in 2009. Much renovation has taken place at the 12ha vineyard that includes, almost uniquely for the Right Bank, new plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon that now make up 15% of the vineyard alongside the usual 65% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc.