12 May 2022

Released yesterday afternoon, 2021 Les Cruzelles, La Chenade, Montlandrie and Saintayme from the Durantou family are right up amongst the best value wines we know of from Bordeaux.  This is the first year we have visited since Denis Durantou passed away in 2020 and we were delighted to see that his daughters Alix, Noemie and Constance, along with oenologist Oliver Gautrat, continue to run this as a family business. 

We tasted with Constance Durantou, who has recently returned to the domaine after working in the diplomatic service in London.   With hilarious wit and a command of English which extends to a 'Sarf London' accent (for comic effect), she also exuded an intense focus and impressive attention to detail when it came to the wines.  Constance's sister Noémie is the winemaker, working with Gautrat, who worked with Denis Durantou for two decades.

The style of all four wines in 2021 is less about power and offers more perfumed aroma and mineral, saline energy than recent vintages, which is no bad thing.  Once again, we suggest going 'deep' on all four estates, we doubt you will be anything other than delighted as you enjoy the wines over the coming decade.  

Landing in spring 2024.

Limited availability.  To order, e-mail us at sales@richardkihl.ltd.uk 

 

Producer Profile

Château Les Cruzelles, Lalande de Pomerol

Château Les Cruzelles is an estate in Lalande de Pomerol which was bought in 2000 by the late Denis Durantou, owner of L'Eglise Clinet in Pomerol.  He bought the 10.5-hectare vineyard having noticed the similarity with the terroir at L'Eglise Clinet, which is only 1km away.

Durantou passed away in 2020 and the wines are now made by his daughters.  La Chenade also comes from the same estate and is effectively its second wine. The fruit for Les Cruzelles is grown on soils with a higher clay content than La Chenade, with slightly more Merlot in the blend, giving darker, more intense wines.