Chateau Montlandrie, Cotes de Castillon, 2020
This is the first vintage since the untimely death of Denis Durantou. His daughters, Noémie and Constance have taken the reins, ably assisted by Denis’ long standing collaborator Olivier Gautrat. Noémie sums up the vintage as “Green buds in February, constant rain in spring, the aridity of summer and a mid-September harvest: wines of freshness and brightness, like a dense and colorful garden, vivacity, fruits and flowers in the rain.” Her first full vintage in charge has been a huge success. Montlandrie was very much a labour of love for Denis. He planted the vineyards high up above Castillon himself. We remember being impressed by early vintages, but it wasn’t until the 2015 that this started to get recognition from critics. The “Ferrari” Cabernet clones that Denis planted lend this an extra aromatic quality as well as lift and energy on the palate. Lots of beautiful, sweet, Cabernet fruit: crème de cassis, flowers and graphite. Pure and long, yet fresh and bright, bursting with crunchy berries wrapped up in fruit laced tannins. A really charming and refreshing Montlandrie, full of lift and energy.
critic reviews
The 2020 Montlandrie has an intense spearmint-scented bouquet that feels just a bit one-dimensional at the moment. Perhaps it is going through a dumb phase? The palate is medium-bodied with slightly rustic tannins, a bit dry and stolid toward the finish. I wonder if the fruit might fade before the tannins polymerize? I gave this a tentative reception before, and this seems to vindicate that it's not the best Montlandrie in recent years. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.
The 2020 Montlandrie is a promising wine for aficionados who can keep it for a few years in the cellar. It has aromas of blackberries, iris, spring flowers, blackcurrant and blueberry, followed by a medium-bodied, concentrated and layered texture on the palate with a denser character than previous vintages. Its harmonious with a clean and precise finish.
The 2020 Montlandrie is a blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep garnet-purple in color, it features powerful notes of crushed red and black currants, boysenberries, and garrigue, plus suggestions of fallen leaves, Sichuan pepper, and iron ore. The medium to full-bodied palate is taut with mouth-coating black fruit, supported by firm, grainy tannins, finishing with a refreshing lift.
Intense and concentrated, blueberry and blackberry fruits lifted by strands of saffron and oyster shell, austere on the finish, good stuff. 40% new oak, harvest September 18 to 25, 45hl/ha yield, 3.6ph. Noemie Durantou winemaker alongside Olivier Gautrat.
product details
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