Château Les Cruzelles, Lalande de Pomerol, 2025
The Durantous' 'entry-level' wines, that is to say, the wines not produced at their flagship Pomerol estate Chateau L'Eglise Clinet, always rank amongst our 'best value' buys. Saintayme, Chenade, Cruzelles and Montlandrie offer exceptional value for money. Noémie Durantou describes the 2025s as "wines like harmonics, of exceptional purity and intensity". Les Cruzelles feels like quite a big step up from La Chenade. Opening with a really attractive, fragrant bouquet of bright red cherry, damsons and flowers. Packed with mulberry, blackberry and dark mineral notes interspersed with hints of coffee bean and menthol. The tannins are sleek and coat the mouth with salty dark berries and suggestions of tilled earth.
critic reviews
The 2025 Les Cruzelles was picked on August 29 for the Merlot, and September 8 and 12 for the Cabernet Franc, and was raised in 55% new oak. This is neat and tidy on the nose, brisk blackberry, blueberry and violet scents that gain vigour in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with rounded tannins that seem to make this Lalande-de-Pomerol just "glide". Precise and delivering perfect acidity, this is a beautifully crafted Les Cruzelles that lingers in the mouth, white pepper on the aftertaste.
Bright violet and floral, even chamomile, character in Les Cruzelles, with cloves and toasted grilled herbs. 55% new oak. Harvest August 29 to September 12. Needs some time in the glass to totally kick into action but this is luscious. Noémie Durantou winemaker.