Montlandrie 2021

Cloves and liqourice on the opening beats, with savoury blueberry and redcurrant fruits, and Cabernet Sauvignon tomato leaf and pencil lead making an impact. These wines are really proof of how good the Durantou stable is, standout 2021s for me, playing with finesse and drinkability. Harvest September 30 to October 8. 50% new oak.

The 2021 Montlandrie, a blend of 75% Merlot (picked between the 30th of September and the 8th of October), 20% Cabernet Franc (picked on the 4th of October), and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon (picked on the 7th of October), reveals a dark, somber character with aromas of spices, pencil lead, licorice and wild dark berries. Enrobing and structuring with a medium-bodied palate, it’s elegantly concentrated with a fleshy core of fruit and a mineral, saline finish. Recommended. Drink Date: 2024 - 2034

A blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2021 Montlandrie exhibits aromas of rich berries and cherries mingled with loamy soil, spices and potpourri. Medium to full-bodied, lively and incisive, it's nicely concentrated, with fine depth at the core and a bright, saline finish. Its Côtes de Castillon origins mark this out as the most tensile, mineral wine in the Durantou portfolio.

The 2021 Montlandrie, the Durantou family's Lalande de Pomerol, was picked between 30 September and 8 October, matured in 50% new oak. A mélange of red and black fruit on the nose, light liquorice and freshly-rolled tobacco scents surface with just a few swirls. The palate is well structured and focused, fresh and displays well-integrated oak, though perhaps Les Cruzelles as a little more panache at this early stage.