Château Montlandrie 2015

The 2015 Montlandrie is another stellar wine from Denis Durantou. Dark, sumptuous and alluring, the 2015 is going to be virtually impossible to resist in its youth. The blackberry jam, graphite, savory herb, lavender, licorice and crushed rock flavors are remarkably rich and vivid in the glass. As good as the 2015 is today, it also has tons of underlying tannin that is going to need a bit of time to resolve itself. The blend is 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.

A warm, inviting style, with layers of plum sauce, cassis and boysenberry preserves gliding along. Fruitcake, licorice and roasted apple wood notes form the frame, with the fruit pushing through nicely on the finish. Best from 2019 through 2025. 4,150 cases made.

The Durantou stable is always reliable, but soars in 2015, and this Castillon shows what can be achieved outside of the usual top-line appellations. The difference here is the quality of the fruit extraction – what you get is juicy and intense fruit that is extremely poised and well held together, with a lick of salinity on the finish; persistent without being overpowering. Prices have risen recently, but it remains great value considering the quality. Not a blockbuster Castillon, but it has a quiet power all of its own – what a brilliant wine.

Flowers, black licorice, blackberries and minerals all rise to the surface. Transparent. Medium to full bodied, polished and ultra-fine. This is a wine guided for a long time by the owner of Pomerol’s l’Eglise Clinet. Regal. Drink now or hold.

This would have been €13 en primeur. Tasted blind. Bright shaded garnet. Interesting, quite complex nose. Gentle texture. Sensitively handled and – just – not too extracted. Although there’s a note of meat extract on the finish. (JR)

Black cherry liqueur, licorice and spice sensations pair perfectly with the plush, round, lush-textured and long, fruit-filled finish. This wine has real character. I would not be surprised to see this get better in the bottle. A blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine reached 14.7% ABV with a pH of 3.62.

The 2015 Château Montlandrie is another gem in this terrific vintage. Made from mostly Merlot blended with 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and brought up in just under 50% new barrels, it offers lots of black cherries, forest floor, toasted spice and dried earth aromas and flavors. Deep, rich, beautifully concentrated and with plenty of tannins, it shows the sexier side to the vintage, yet has structure, acidity, and terrific purity. It's hard to resist today, but will be even better in 2-3 years and have 10-15 years or more of overall longevity.

Deep purple. The bouquet seems a bit reserved, showing very dark-berry contours, black bread crust. On the palate, quite strict, with a demanding astringency. Absolutely not a charmer, but Castillons generally aren’t.

Deep purple, dense at the core, with garnet glints at the rim. The bouquet seems a bit reticent, showing very dark-berry contours and dark bread crust. On the palate, rather strict, with demanding astringency. Absolutely not a charmer, but that’s generally not the case with Castillons.

(75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon) Silky, finely structured bouquet, red berries, cherries, wood, subtle rubber note. Fine, fresh palate with good fruit, fine tannins, silky structure, powerful aromatics, dry finish. 17/20 2020 - 2034

A blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2015 Montlandrie is deep garnet-colored. It comes bounding out with ready-to-go, maturing notes of baked plums, boysenberry preserves, and unsmoked cigars, leading to touches of incense, fallen leaves, and crushed rocks. Medium to full-bodied, the palate offers wonderful freshness and firm, slightly chewy tannins, with mineral and black fruit preserve layers and an opulent finish.

Very fine, long, precise, unquestionably racy, with remarkable balance and great length, full of class.

Crafted by Denis Durantou of l'Eglise Clinet, the wine is all about roundness and charm, with fresh fruit and a pH of 3.61. The blend is 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. It was aged with 45% new oak, which is seamless on the palate, bringing charm and suppleness.

Garnet red with violet highlights. Complex bouquet with fruity and spicy notes. Pleasant hints of mint and eucalyptus. Notes of redcurrant. Fruity, slightly indulgent attack. On the palate, the wine is compact, dense, and well supported by an elegant tannic structure. The latter unfolds slowly and is in harmony with the acidity, which provides perfect backbone. A wine that reveals its power with elegance. Bravo.