Château Les Cruzelles, Lalande de Pomerol, 2024
Les Cruzelles offers a distinctly high-toned aromatic profile, leading with sweet cherry and vibrant blackcurrants, accented by delicate touches of violet and rosemary. The core reveals plenty of juicy blue fruit and concentrated cassis, flowing into a succulent and refreshing dark mineral finish. Subtle hints of coal and spice mingle with a whisper of dark chocolate, underlined by a flinty minerality with suggestions of gravel and damp earth. Excellent. 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc.
critic reviews
Deep garnet-purple colored. Pops out of the glass with notes of juicy plums and Morello cherries, giving way to hints of garrigue and tilled soil. The medium-bodied palate delivers lightly chewy tannins and a good amount of expressive black and red fruit flavors, finishing earthy.
The 2024 Les Cruzelles was picked on September 20 and 22 with the Cabernet Franc picked on September 28, and matured in 57% new oak. This has more harmony and sensuality on the nose with a mixture of very pure black cherry and blueberry fruit. The palate is medium-bodied and very well balanced, with supple ripe tannins and real delineation and poise on the finish. This surpasses many Pomerols in this vintage and, given its potential price, comes highly recommended.
There is austerity here, as is classic in the vintage, but beautifully handled and balanced, with muscles, touch of cloves and again this white pepper character, with white plum, fine tannins, mouth-watering salinity on the finish. No chaptilisation, 57% new oak for ageing.
The 2024 Les Cruzelles is shy and introverted, offering up aromas of pepper, oak and incense. Moderately weighted, supple and lively, it's built around tangy acids and powdery tannins.