CHÂTEAU LES CRUZELLES
2018 Lalande de Pomerol
Grapes | Cab Franc, Merlot |
Colour | Red |
Origin | France, Bordeaux |
Sub-district | Pomerol & Lalande de Pomerol |
Village | Lalande de Pomerol |
ABV | 14.5% |
80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc. 40% new oak. Woody nose. Dark berry fruit with earth and brashy wood notes. Quite a big 'dark' feel to it. Should be approachable in its youth. Drinking range: 2021 - 2028 L&S (Apr 2019)
12 | ||
*Case price discount: Mix any 12 bottles of wine (or 9 litre equivalent) or 6 bottles of Champagne, Spirits, Sweet Wine or Fortified (4.5 litres) to get the discounted 'case price' for each bottle.
The 2018 Lés Cruzelles impressed from barrel. Now in bottle, it has developed quite a precocious, intense bouquet of blackberry and blueberry fruit, a light savory note and earthy scents emerging with time. The palate is just wonderful: exquisitely balanced, quite structured yet not unapproachable, the acidity perfectly judged, with a ferrous note toward the finish. This is as good a Lalande de Pomerol as you will find in this vintage. Drinking range: 2022 - 2040 Rating: 93 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Mar 2021)
The 2018 Les Cruzelles is another significant wine in this range from the Durantou family. It emerges from the oldest vines the family's Lalande de Pomerol property planted on clay/gravel soils. Dark fruit, graphite, sage, menthol, dried herbs and licorice add to an impression of virile intensity. The tannins are pretty serious, just as they were from barrel. A few years of patience will be hugely rewarded. Drinking range: 2025 - 2038 Rating: 93 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Mar 2021)
A pretty, soft wine, offering cherry, berry and lightly stewed-fruit character with chocolate and coffee undertones. It’s medium-bodied with round tannins and a juicy finish. Already delicious. Drink or hold. Rating: 91 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Jan 2021)
Château les Cruzelles
Among the brightest stars of the exalted Pomerol appellation is Denis Durantou at Château l’Eglise-Clinet. Little more than a kilometre to the north, near enough to see one from t’other, across the Barbanne stream in Lalande-de-Pomerol is Château les Cruzelles, also owned by Denis. The 10ha of vines boast the highest proportion of Cabernet Franc in the area – 40% - with the rest being the more usual Merlot. Aside from Château les Cruzelles proper Denis also produces here La Chenade, a Lalande-de-Pomerol cuvee he made with Cruzelles’ grapes even before he bought the estate in 2000. Denis also owns a small vineyard of 35 year old Merlot vines at Saint Etienne de Lisse at the eastern end of St Emilion that goes under the name of Saintayme. And, 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.
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