Denis Durantou
About Denis Durantou
Denis Durantou was a legendary figure across Bordeaux and the wider world of wine. Whilst he will be sorely missed, he is survived by his wife Marie Reilhac and daughters Alix, Noemie and Constance. Fortunately for the quality of the wines, Durantou’s right-hand man of many years, Olivier Gautrat, continues to craft the stunning range of wines leads by the formidable Château L’Eglise Client.
Of course, Durantou’s reputation as a genius winemaker was founded on the superb Grand Vin of Château L’Eglise Clinet. The estate, which thanks to his stewardship, finds itself alongside the likes of Pétrus and Lafleur, consistently challenges for the title of wine of the vintage from across the whole of Bordeaux.
However, what the Durantous have also become famed for are their incredibly good value wines from other properties within their holdings. Often regarded as some of the best value wines in Bordeaux, they are quite simply must-buy wines for their quality and value.
Viniculture
Château Les Cruzelles is a small property in Lalande de Pomerol just 1km from Pomerol itself. Sharing more than a few classic Pomerol characteristics, this wine always massively over-delivers given its price point. From the younger vines in Les Cruzelles’ vineyards, La Chenade is produced which again offers remarkable value for money and a different expression of the same terroir.
In Saint-Émilion, there is Saintayme found in the commune of Saint Etienne de Lisse with neighbours such as Ch. Valandraud just a stone’s throw away.
Located in the Côtes de Castillon and only added to the Durantou portfolio in 2009 is Château Montlandrie. Often besting a number of very serious St-Émilion wines in blind tastings amongst experts, it remains seriously well-priced in the line-up.
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Vinous - Neal Martin (91)
The 2014 La Chenade has a reserved but well defined bouquet with earthy red and black fruit, hints of truffle oil and sage, gaining a little intensity with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with firm and quite strict tannin. This is rather aloof and distant and yet it is undeniably well defined and fascinating, a Pomerol that clearly needs some bottle age. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.Inc. VAT£146.44 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92)
The 2017 La Chenade has blossomed into a truly fabulous wine. Rich, ample and explosive in the glass, the 2017 possesses tremendous density from start to finish. A rush of super-ripe dark red/purplish fruit, spice, rose petal, licorice and menthol builds as this potent, voluptuous Lalande de Pomerol shows off its racy curves and sultry, alluring personality. The 2017 is sure to be a crowd pleaser. I loved it. La Chenade is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc.Inc. VAT£191.44 -
Jeb Dunnuck (92+)
Brought up in 30% new French oak and based on an 80/20 split of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Château La Chenade has a classy, beautiful nose of crème de cassis, dried tobacco, lead pencil, and earth. This carries to a vibrant, medium-bodied Lalande de Pomerol with fine yet present tannins, a solid spine of acidity, and a great finish. It's another release from Denis Durantou that's going to benefit from just short-term cellaring and cruise for a decade.Inc. VAT£138.04 -
James Suckling (92-93)
Plenty of sweet berries with chocolate and smoke. Even coffee. It’s medium-bodied with ripe tannins. Cherries at the end.Inc. VAT£169.24 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92)
The 2020 La Chenade is rich, sumptuous and super-expressive right out of the gate. All of the exuberance of the year comes through loud and clear. A burst of black cherry, plum, mocha, licorice, lavender and spice infuses the Chenade with tons of complexity. Broad and creamy, with fine balance, the Chenade is showing so well today. The combination of fruit density and energy is compelling.Inc. VAT£239.63 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92)
The 2020 La Chenade is rich, sumptuous and super-expressive right out of the gate. All of the exuberance of the year comes through loud and clear. A burst of black cherry, plum, mocha, licorice, lavender and spice infuses the Chenade with tons of complexity. Broad and creamy, with fine balance, the Chenade is showing so well today. The combination of fruit density and energy is compelling.Inc. VAT£143.44 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (93)
The 2016 Les Cruzelles is every bit as captivating from bottle as it was from barrel. Dense, pliant and inviting, the 2016 has so much to offer. Black cherry, plum, menthol, licorice, new leather and lavender all run through this super-expressive, pliant Lalande de Pomerol from Denis Durantou. The 2016 offers a striking combination of fruit intensity and structure. I loved it.Inc. VAT£280.84 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (93)
Super-ripe dark cherry, blackberry, chocolate, spice, new leather and licorice are some of the many notes that run through the 2017 Les Cruzelles. Unctuous and flamboyantly ripe, with tons of intensity, the 2017 is another drop-dead gorgeous beauty in this range from Denis Durantou.Inc. VAT£213.04 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (93)
The 2018 Lés Cruzelles impressed from barrel. Now in bottle, it has developed quite a precocious, intense bouquet of blackberry and blueberry fruit, a light savory note and earthy scents emerging with time. The palate is just wonderful: exquisitely balanced, quite structured yet not unapproachable, the acidity perfectly judged, with a ferrous note toward the finish. This is as good a Lalande de Pomerol as you will find in this vintage.Inc. VAT£250.24 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (93)
The 2018 Lés Cruzelles impressed from barrel. Now in bottle, it has developed quite a precocious, intense bouquet of blackberry and blueberry fruit, a light savory note and earthy scents emerging with time. The palate is just wonderful: exquisitely balanced, quite structured yet not unapproachable, the acidity perfectly judged, with a ferrous note toward the finish. This is as good a Lalande de Pomerol as you will find in this vintage.Inc. VAT£250.24 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (93)
The 2019 Les Cruzelles is a very serious wine. Black cherry, gravel, graphite, cloves, leather and smoke confer a real feeling of gravitas. Inky and explosive, with tremendous resonance, the Cruzelles is a winner and without question one of the stars in this range from the Durantou family.Inc. VAT£163.24 -
Decanter (94)
Stands out from La Chenade in the vintage, with its velvet texture and a more serious sculpted feel overall. Tobacco and liquorice notes besides black cherry and raspberry fruits, good tension, serious but with Lalande-de-Pomerol unfussy appeal. 3.72pH. A yield of 38hl/ha.Inc. VAT£290.44 -
Decanter (94)
Stands out from La Chenade in the vintage, with its velvet texture and a more serious sculpted feel overall. Tobacco and liquorice notes besides black cherry and raspberry fruits, good tension, serious but with Lalande-de-Pomerol unfussy appeal. 3.72pH. A yield of 38hl/ha.Inc. VAT£287.44 -
(6x75cl) 2023
James Suckling (94-95)
This is one of the best young Lalande de Pomerols I have had. It is very deep and complex on the palate, with pure fruit, spice and chocolate. Lovely tannins, too. 80% merlot and 20% cabernet sauvignon.Expected Price Range£95 - £113 -
Wine Advocate (91-93)
A blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Montlandrie gives up notes of crushed black plums, red currants and black cherries with suggestions of cigar box, yeast extract, tapenade and underbrush. Medium-bodied with a solid backbone of firm, grainy tannins, it has beautiful freshness and a mineral-tinged finish.Inc. VAT£250.24 -
Wine Advocate (92-94)
Produced by Denis Durantou of Château L’Eglise Clinet, the 2018 Montlandrie is a blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon with 14.5% alcohol and is currently aging in 40% new oak. Deep purple-black in color, it features fragrant notes of lilacs, Morello cherries and blueberry compote over a core of plum preserves and woodsmoke plus a waft of underbrush. The medium to full-bodied palate is richly fruited with black and blue fruits, lifted by earthy accents and lovely freshness, finishing long and velvety textured.Inc. VAT£231.64 -
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (94)
This is an excellent vintage of Montlandrie, with smoked coffee and cocoa bean, a ton of salinity, powerful blue and red fruits, super juicy on the finish. Enticing curled woodsmoke as it comes out of the glass, slate finish with a scrape of minerality. 40% new oak. Harvest September 30 to October 10.Inc. VAT£213.04 -
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (94)
This is an excellent vintage of Montlandrie, with smoked coffee and cocoa bean, a ton of salinity, powerful blue and red fruits, super juicy on the finish. Enticing curled woodsmoke as it comes out of the glass, slate finish with a scrape of minerality. 40% new oak. Harvest September 30 to October 10.Inc. VAT£151.24 -
Wine Advocate (92-94)
The 2020 Montlandrie is a blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Merlot was picked between the 18th and the 22nd of September, and the Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon were picked from the 23rd to the 25th of September. It has an alcohol of 14.5% and is aging in French oak barrels, 40% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it bursts from the glass with vibrant notes of crushed blackberries, fresh, juicy black plums and mulberries, plus hints of bay leaves, cardamom, ground black pepper and black truffles. The medium to full-bodied palate possesses impressive freshness with a solid backbone of soft, rounded tannins and bags of ripe black fruits, finishing long with a peppery kick. 53,000 bottles are expected to be made.Inc. VAT£175.84 -
(6x75cl) 2023
Vinous - Neal Martin (92-94)
The 2023 Montlandrie sees a change in composition, as a plot of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon that Noëmie Durantou planted in 2021 enters the blend for the first time. She found the first-pressed wine for the Cabernet Sauvignon impressive, so she also added that to the blend. The result is 55% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, picked between September 18 and 30 and matured in 50% new oak. This new makeup certainly gives it a different aromatic profile than previous vintages: black cherries, cedar and pencil shavings, very focused, more Left-Bank-meets-Right-Bank in style. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins. It’s beautifully structured and judiciously spiced with gentle grip on the finish. Together with Les Cruzelles, these wines represent outstanding value for money. This will certainly age well in bottle.Expected Price Range£81 - £96 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (89)
The 2012 Santayme, Denis Durantou's 100% Merlot from clay and limestone soils in Saint-Emilion, is a soft, supple wine to drink now and over the next few years. Dark red cherry, plum, leather and tobacco flesh out nicely. The finish is a bit rustic, but this is otherwise a solid effort.Inc. VAT£415.27 -
James Suckling (90-91)
A fresh and clean wine with blackberry, blueberry and salty character. Medium body and firm and silky tannins.Inc. VAT£342.67 -
James Suckling (92-93)
This is very perfumed with a firm and solid, stony tannin structure. Lovely, linear line through this. Full and tight at the same time.Inc. VAT£254.47 -
James Suckling (92-93)
This is very perfumed with a firm and solid, stony tannin structure. Lovely, linear line through this. Full and tight at the same time.Inc. VAT£213.04 -
Decanter (94)
Black chocolate, baked earth, liquorice root and silky smooth tannins greet you on the first attack of this wine. I've never found this the easiest to love of the Durantou range but it is strikingly successful in 2019. Silky and yet slatey in texture, this both eases you through the palate and pulls you up short, slowing things down. Sparks of fresh minerality accompany the pulsing blueberry and raspberry fruits, and the juicy finish makes this one to look out for.Inc. VAT£136.84 -
James Suckling (94-95)
A gorgeous red with so much black fruit and salty, mineral character. It’s medium-to full-bodied with creamy, polished tannins and a long finish. The precision and fine texture is impressive. One of the best I have had for a while.Inc. VAT£247.27 -
(12x75cl) 2023
James Suckling (92-93)
Lovely freshness and balance with berries, orange peel and crushed stone. It's medium-bodied with nice, round tannins. Pure merlot.Expected Price Range£120 - £142
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Vinous - Neal Martin (91)
The 2014 La Chenade has a reserved but well defined bouquet with earthy red and black fruit, hints of truffle oil and sage, gaining a little intensity with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with firm and quite strict tannin. This is rather aloof and distant and yet it is undeniably well defined and fascinating, a Pomerol that clearly needs some bottle age. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.In Bond£106.00 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92)
The 2017 La Chenade has blossomed into a truly fabulous wine. Rich, ample and explosive in the glass, the 2017 possesses tremendous density from start to finish. A rush of super-ripe dark red/purplish fruit, spice, rose petal, licorice and menthol builds as this potent, voluptuous Lalande de Pomerol shows off its racy curves and sultry, alluring personality. The 2017 is sure to be a crowd pleaser. I loved it. La Chenade is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc.In Bond£143.50 -
Jeb Dunnuck (92+)
Brought up in 30% new French oak and based on an 80/20 split of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Château La Chenade has a classy, beautiful nose of crème de cassis, dried tobacco, lead pencil, and earth. This carries to a vibrant, medium-bodied Lalande de Pomerol with fine yet present tannins, a solid spine of acidity, and a great finish. It's another release from Denis Durantou that's going to benefit from just short-term cellaring and cruise for a decade.In Bond£99.00 -
James Suckling (92-93)
Plenty of sweet berries with chocolate and smoke. Even coffee. It’s medium-bodied with ripe tannins. Cherries at the end.In Bond£125.00 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92)
The 2020 La Chenade is rich, sumptuous and super-expressive right out of the gate. All of the exuberance of the year comes through loud and clear. A burst of black cherry, plum, mocha, licorice, lavender and spice infuses the Chenade with tons of complexity. Broad and creamy, with fine balance, the Chenade is showing so well today. The combination of fruit density and energy is compelling.In Bond£189.00 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92)
The 2020 La Chenade is rich, sumptuous and super-expressive right out of the gate. All of the exuberance of the year comes through loud and clear. A burst of black cherry, plum, mocha, licorice, lavender and spice infuses the Chenade with tons of complexity. Broad and creamy, with fine balance, the Chenade is showing so well today. The combination of fruit density and energy is compelling.In Bond£103.50 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (93)
The 2016 Les Cruzelles is every bit as captivating from bottle as it was from barrel. Dense, pliant and inviting, the 2016 has so much to offer. Black cherry, plum, menthol, licorice, new leather and lavender all run through this super-expressive, pliant Lalande de Pomerol from Denis Durantou. The 2016 offers a striking combination of fruit intensity and structure. I loved it.In Bond£218.00 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (93)
Super-ripe dark cherry, blackberry, chocolate, spice, new leather and licorice are some of the many notes that run through the 2017 Les Cruzelles. Unctuous and flamboyantly ripe, with tons of intensity, the 2017 is another drop-dead gorgeous beauty in this range from Denis Durantou.In Bond£161.50 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (93)
The 2018 Lés Cruzelles impressed from barrel. Now in bottle, it has developed quite a precocious, intense bouquet of blackberry and blueberry fruit, a light savory note and earthy scents emerging with time. The palate is just wonderful: exquisitely balanced, quite structured yet not unapproachable, the acidity perfectly judged, with a ferrous note toward the finish. This is as good a Lalande de Pomerol as you will find in this vintage.In Bond£192.50 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (93)
The 2018 Lés Cruzelles impressed from barrel. Now in bottle, it has developed quite a precocious, intense bouquet of blackberry and blueberry fruit, a light savory note and earthy scents emerging with time. The palate is just wonderful: exquisitely balanced, quite structured yet not unapproachable, the acidity perfectly judged, with a ferrous note toward the finish. This is as good a Lalande de Pomerol as you will find in this vintage.In Bond£192.50 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (93)
The 2019 Les Cruzelles is a very serious wine. Black cherry, gravel, graphite, cloves, leather and smoke confer a real feeling of gravitas. Inky and explosive, with tremendous resonance, the Cruzelles is a winner and without question one of the stars in this range from the Durantou family.In Bond£120.00 -
Decanter (94)
Stands out from La Chenade in the vintage, with its velvet texture and a more serious sculpted feel overall. Tobacco and liquorice notes besides black cherry and raspberry fruits, good tension, serious but with Lalande-de-Pomerol unfussy appeal. 3.72pH. A yield of 38hl/ha.In Bond£226.00 -
Decanter (94)
Stands out from La Chenade in the vintage, with its velvet texture and a more serious sculpted feel overall. Tobacco and liquorice notes besides black cherry and raspberry fruits, good tension, serious but with Lalande-de-Pomerol unfussy appeal. 3.72pH. A yield of 38hl/ha.In Bond£223.50 -
(6x75cl) 2023
James Suckling (94-95)
This is one of the best young Lalande de Pomerols I have had. It is very deep and complex on the palate, with pure fruit, spice and chocolate. Lovely tannins, too. 80% merlot and 20% cabernet sauvignon.Expected Price Range£95 - £113 -
Wine Advocate (91-93)
A blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Montlandrie gives up notes of crushed black plums, red currants and black cherries with suggestions of cigar box, yeast extract, tapenade and underbrush. Medium-bodied with a solid backbone of firm, grainy tannins, it has beautiful freshness and a mineral-tinged finish.In Bond£192.50 -
Wine Advocate (92-94)
Produced by Denis Durantou of Château L’Eglise Clinet, the 2018 Montlandrie is a blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon with 14.5% alcohol and is currently aging in 40% new oak. Deep purple-black in color, it features fragrant notes of lilacs, Morello cherries and blueberry compote over a core of plum preserves and woodsmoke plus a waft of underbrush. The medium to full-bodied palate is richly fruited with black and blue fruits, lifted by earthy accents and lovely freshness, finishing long and velvety textured.In Bond£177.00 -
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (94)
This is an excellent vintage of Montlandrie, with smoked coffee and cocoa bean, a ton of salinity, powerful blue and red fruits, super juicy on the finish. Enticing curled woodsmoke as it comes out of the glass, slate finish with a scrape of minerality. 40% new oak. Harvest September 30 to October 10.In Bond£161.50 -
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (94)
This is an excellent vintage of Montlandrie, with smoked coffee and cocoa bean, a ton of salinity, powerful blue and red fruits, super juicy on the finish. Enticing curled woodsmoke as it comes out of the glass, slate finish with a scrape of minerality. 40% new oak. Harvest September 30 to October 10.In Bond£110.00 -
Wine Advocate (92-94)
The 2020 Montlandrie is a blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Merlot was picked between the 18th and the 22nd of September, and the Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon were picked from the 23rd to the 25th of September. It has an alcohol of 14.5% and is aging in French oak barrels, 40% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it bursts from the glass with vibrant notes of crushed blackberries, fresh, juicy black plums and mulberries, plus hints of bay leaves, cardamom, ground black pepper and black truffles. The medium to full-bodied palate possesses impressive freshness with a solid backbone of soft, rounded tannins and bags of ripe black fruits, finishing long with a peppery kick. 53,000 bottles are expected to be made.In Bond£130.50 -
(6x75cl) 2023
Vinous - Neal Martin (92-94)
The 2023 Montlandrie sees a change in composition, as a plot of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon that Noëmie Durantou planted in 2021 enters the blend for the first time. She found the first-pressed wine for the Cabernet Sauvignon impressive, so she also added that to the blend. The result is 55% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, picked between September 18 and 30 and matured in 50% new oak. This new makeup certainly gives it a different aromatic profile than previous vintages: black cherries, cedar and pencil shavings, very focused, more Left-Bank-meets-Right-Bank in style. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins. It’s beautifully structured and judiciously spiced with gentle grip on the finish. Together with Les Cruzelles, these wines represent outstanding value for money. This will certainly age well in bottle.Expected Price Range£81 - £96 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (89)
The 2012 Santayme, Denis Durantou's 100% Merlot from clay and limestone soils in Saint-Emilion, is a soft, supple wine to drink now and over the next few years. Dark red cherry, plum, leather and tobacco flesh out nicely. The finish is a bit rustic, but this is otherwise a solid effort.In Bond£314.00 -
James Suckling (90-91)
A fresh and clean wine with blackberry, blueberry and salty character. Medium body and firm and silky tannins.In Bond£253.50 -
James Suckling (92-93)
This is very perfumed with a firm and solid, stony tannin structure. Lovely, linear line through this. Full and tight at the same time.In Bond£180.00 -
James Suckling (92-93)
This is very perfumed with a firm and solid, stony tannin structure. Lovely, linear line through this. Full and tight at the same time.In Bond£161.50 -
Decanter (94)
Black chocolate, baked earth, liquorice root and silky smooth tannins greet you on the first attack of this wine. I've never found this the easiest to love of the Durantou range but it is strikingly successful in 2019. Silky and yet slatey in texture, this both eases you through the palate and pulls you up short, slowing things down. Sparks of fresh minerality accompany the pulsing blueberry and raspberry fruits, and the juicy finish makes this one to look out for.In Bond£98.00 -
James Suckling (94-95)
A gorgeous red with so much black fruit and salty, mineral character. It’s medium-to full-bodied with creamy, polished tannins and a long finish. The precision and fine texture is impressive. One of the best I have had for a while.In Bond£174.00 -
(12x75cl) 2023
James Suckling (92-93)
Lovely freshness and balance with berries, orange peel and crushed stone. It's medium-bodied with nice, round tannins. Pure merlot.Expected Price Range£120 - £142