Château Montlandrie 2016

Offers the combination of dark fruit and lively energy that is the hallmark of the vintage, with a core of plum and blackberry compote infused liberally with bramble and tobacco notes. The mouthfilling finish brings you back for more. Drink now through 2027. 3,400 cases made.

Dark and bold, with plenty of fruit extract. Full, intense, lots of drive; powerful, well-managed tannins. A condensed package, merits another year in bottle.

A wine with generosity yet, at the same time, structure with pretty, dusty tannins. Full body. Crushed stones and dried earth. Very consistent and long. Impressive. Hard to decide whether it’s better than 2015. Beautiful. Drink after 2021.

Tasted blind. Perfumed, floral nose. Sweet start and then tannin rather than acid dominates. Just a bit too tannic for the delicacy of the fruit, but I do like the nose. (JR)

The 2016 Montlandrie is laced with the essence of inky blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, menthol and licorice. Pliant and fruity, with striking depth, the 2016 is another gorgeous wine in this set of new releases from Denis Durantou. The 2016 is irresistibly beautiful, exotic and beguiling. It's as simple as that.

It is hard to find a better value Bordeaux than this. The wine is soft, forward, earthy, fresh and fruity, with lush textures and loads of sweet, ripe, lifted fruits in the finish. This is drinking great today and should remain at this level for at least 7-10 years.

Another one of those hidden gems from the Castillon region of Bordeaux, the 2016 Château Montlandrie is a rock star of a wine that readers should snatch up! From more clay soils (the region is mostly limestone) and with surprising power and richness, it offers a stacked bouquet of red and black currants, smoked earth, and chocolate. Full-bodied and concentrated, with ripe tannins and terrific balance, it’s a winner. Drink it over the coming 10-15 years.

Deep purple with garnet highlights. A blueberry-scented bouquet coupled with plenty of spice. On the palate, powerful, with a tightly knit body, a texture becoming finely mellow, and an explosion of blueberries. Long finish, subtly compote-like, with dark tobacco and black fruit.

Kunz barrel sample 17: (75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40 hl/ha) Fruity, broad, powerful bouquet, blackberries, fine rubber note, mocha. Velvety, powerful, aromatic palate with opulent, sweet fruit, plenty of fine tannin, dense, muscular structure, long, full finish. Can still improve.

(75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40 hl/ha) Fruity, broad, powerful bouquet, blackberries, a subtle rubber note, mocha. Velvety, powerful, aromatic palate with generous, sweet fruit, plenty of fine tannins, dense, muscular structure, long, full finish. Has room to improve further. 17/20 2024 - 2038

A blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2016 Montlandrie has a deep garnet color. After a swirl or two, notes of blueberry preserves, dark chocolate, stewed plums, and Chinese five spice erupt from the glass, with underlying suggestions of molten licorice and iron ore. The full-bodied palate is richly fruited with black fruit preserves and exotic spice layers, wonderfully offset by a lively line of freshness and beautifully plush tannins, finishing long and fragrant. Yum!

The vineyard area of Montlandrie is 8 ha. Harvest took place between October 3 and 17, 2016. Yield of 40 hl/ha. Aged in 60% new oak. 3,400 cases produced. Garnet-red with violet highlights. A delicate, complex bouquet marked by its terroir, with chalky notes. I also notice aromas of raspberries and tea leaves. On the palate, the terroir shows even more than on the nose. The wine has tension, fine-grained tannins, and a creamy touch. A beautiful ensemble that needs time to blossom and shows great promise. A little patience is in order.

The best wine ever made. The score is exceptionally high for a cru produced in the Côtes de Castillon. Dark, intense, purple, and beautiful color. Intense, delicate, fruity, pure, and ripe nose. Precise on the attack and immediately noble in texture and developing aromas, the wine evolves with complexity and vibrant energy. It soars on the finish without ever losing its richness. It’s superb. A wonderful outsider.

This dark wine has extracted tannins and dark-coffee flavors. Its hard edge is probably not going to soften enough.