Château Montlandrie 2015

Tasting notes and advice for Château Montlandrie 2015

Tasting

Appearance
The color reveals a deep garnet hue with purple highlights.

Nose
The nose shows beautiful aromatic complexity with floral notes of violet and dried rose, alongside black fruits (blackberry, blueberry) and black licorice. Mineral nuances of crushed stone and chalk bring freshness, while hints of spice and new leather complete the bouquet.

Palate
On the palate, the wine offers a medium- to full-bodied profile, with a silky texture and fine, well-integrated tannins. The remarkable freshness is accompanied by a lovely concentration of candied black fruits and a lingering minerality. The balance between lively acidity and tannic structure is perfect. The long, opulent finish leaves a lasting mineral impression with notes of chocolate and sweet spices.

Food and wine pairings

This Château Montlandrie 2015 pairs ideally with roasted or braised red meats, herb-crusted lamb, game birds, as well as mushrooms in sauce. It also matches very well with aged hard cheeses.

Serving and cellaring

Château Montlandrie 2015 benefits from being decanted one hour before serving. It is ideally enjoyed at a temperature of 16°C. This wine can be enjoyed until around 2035.

An elegant, mineral Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux by Durantou

The estate

Founded in the late 19th century by an Italian family, Château Montlandrie is a Bordeaux estate located in Castillon, on clay-limestone soils overlooking the Dordogne. Acquired in 2009 by Denis Durantou, a visionary winegrower renowned for his work at L'Église-Clinet in Pomerol, the estate benefits from a due-south exposure and a breezy microclimate—key assets behind its success. Now owned by the Reilhac-Durantou family (Constance, Noémie, Alix and Marie), who carry on their father’s philosophy, the château stands out for a fresh, floral, intensely vibrant style, producing wines of remarkable quality at approachable prices.

The vineyard

The Château Montlandrie vineyard spans twelve hectares in a single block, planted on the limestone plateau of the Côtes de Castillon at nearly ninety meters of altitude. The clay-limestone soils, dotted with limestone rocks and flint, offer a terroir comparable to the best sectors of Saint-Émilion. The due-south exposure and the plateau’s natural airflow promote optimal ripening of the grapes. This Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux vineyard is predominantly planted with Merlot, complemented by Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, with massal selections sourced from L'Église-Clinet.

The vintage

The 2015 vintage in Bordeaux was exceptional, marked by ideal climatic conditions. After a mild winter, a chilly spring was followed by a prolonged heatwave from mid-May to mid-August, with remarkable sunshine and periods of drought. Timely rainfall at the end of August allowed the grapes to ripen optimally. Harvest took place between September 29 and October 8, in sunny conditions, making it possible to pick berries of remarkable generosity and balance, combining concentration and freshness.

Winemaking and aging

Château Montlandrie 2015 was vinified plot by plot in fifteen small-capacity temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks, allowing precise monitoring of each lot. Maceration lasted between twenty-two and twenty-five days depending on the grape varieties, with manual pump-overs. Malolactic fermentation took place in tank to preserve the wine’s freshness. Aging was carried out for around fourteen months in French oak barrels, 45% new oak, adding structure and complexity while respecting the expression of the terroir.

Grape varieties

Merlot (75%)
Cabernet Franc (20%)
Cabernet Sauvignon (5%)