Montlandrie 2015

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. 2020 - 2035

The fruit is ripe depth on the nose and the palate has the fleshy richness of ripe black plum. Brighter and firmer in the middle cherry and bramble but it fills out at the back with ripe fruits the finish fleshy and rich. 2020-30

There’s only 5% Cabernet Sauvignon in Denis Durantou’s wine, but it’s remarkable what itbrings to the blend. Violet-perfumed, with plum, cassis and blackcurrant leaf complementedby stylish oak and a chalky, minerally freshness. Drink: 2020-30

The aroma here is sublime with the oak is already fully integrated into the mass of red fruit. As always this is a tannic beast and it will require eight to ten years to soften but the perfume suggests that it will be beautiful when it gets there. I am normally a little sceptical about Montlandrie, but in 2015 it is a success.

A powerful, rich wine with a savoury, grainy, dry finish. This is dusty and rich with some polished blackberry and black cherry fruit. There’s some chalky character, but also grippy tannins that seize the finish, leaving a dry feeling in the mouth. Ambitious and quite impressive, but I am slightly wary of the overly dry finish.

The 2015 Montlandrie was precocious out of barrel but now it has learned some manners and blossomed into a more refined and sophisticated Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux, the 45% new oak beautifully assimilated. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, perfectly pitched acidity, a little savory and dried blood surfacing toward the finish to complete a glorious wine that fulfills its promise from barrel. I suspect this will be longer lasting than many will allow it. Anticipated maturity: 2019 - 2035.

The 2015 Montlandrie is a blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, picked between September 29 and October 8, and matured in 45% new oak. This is perhaps more precocious on the nose compared to Denis Durantou's La Chenade and Les Cruzelles 2015s, gradually revealing an attractive floral, dried rose petal/pot pourri scent as it opens in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, quite grippy in the mouth, the acidity nicely judged here and again, very harmonious and sensual on the finish. You could almost whisk this out of barrel and drink this now, but preferably, give it 4-5 years in bottle. Drink 2019-2032

A solid core of fruit here. It’s so sexy and exotic with juicy fruit, velvety tannins and a long finish. Bright acidity. Loving it.

Montlandrie 2015 is a blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and is deep garnet in color. It charges out of the glass with bold, maturing notes of plum preserves, Christmas cake and dried mulberries, plus touches of cigar box and new leather. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has bright acidity and chewy tannins supporting the concentrated, decadent black fruits, finishing long and lifted.

Dark healthy crimson. Sweet and open on the nose - charming even without great concentration. Very sweet start with marked acidity. Not, unlike some Castillons, like a St-Émilion. But competently made.Drink 2020-2026