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.
Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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Bordeaux | 1 | 91 (VN (NM)) |
Inc. VAT
£146.44 |
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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. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 92+ (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£154.84 |
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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. |
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Bordeaux | 2 | 93 (VN (AG)) |
Inc. VAT
£163.24 |
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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. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 92-94 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£231.64 |
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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. |
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|
Bordeaux | 2 | 94 (JA) |
Inc. VAT
£151.24 |
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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. |
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Bordeaux | 2 | 92-93 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£254.47 |
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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. |
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|
Bordeaux | 2 | 94 (DC) |
Inc. VAT
£136.84 |
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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. |
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|
Bordeaux | 1 | 94-95 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£247.27 |
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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. |
Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 91 (VN (NM)) |
In Bond
£106.00 |
|||||
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. |
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|
Bordeaux | 1 | 92+ (JD) |
In Bond
£113.00 |
|||||
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. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 2 | 93 (VN (AG)) |
In Bond
£120.00 |
|||||
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. |
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|
Bordeaux | 1 | 92-94 (WA) |
In Bond
£177.00 |
|||||
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. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 2 | 94 (JA) |
In Bond
£110.00 |
|||||
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. |
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|
Bordeaux | 2 | 92-93 (JS) |
In Bond
£180.00 |
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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. |
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|
Bordeaux | 2 | 94 (DC) |
In Bond
£98.00 |
|||||
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. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 94-95 (JS) |
In Bond
£174.00 |
|||||
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. |