Chateau Montlandrie, Cotes de Castillon, 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". Of all the Durantou satellite wines, Montlandrie is perhaps the most consistently high-performing. The blend of 60% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon planted on Castillon clay and limestone soils has produced wonderful aromas of morello cherry, orange rind and rose petals leading to a core of mineral-soaked fruit. The Cabernet gives this real lift and definition with a limestone freshness at its core cosseted by a fine tannic architecture laced with salted cherries. A serious Montlandrie.
critic reviews
The 2025 Montlandrie was picked between September 9 and 20 and includes 20% each of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon, raised in 60% new oak. (Did you know that they have 400 olive trees and produce virgin oil from the estate? I didn't.) This is more reticent on the nose compared to the Les Cruzelles, displaying a subtle marine tincture tucked behind the black plum and raspberry fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with very pliant, fluid tannins, a crisp line of acidity, overtly peppery towards the vivacious finish, which disguises the backbone of this Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux. Great length, there can be few wines from that appellation better than this.
Pumice stone, grilled bright fruits, so much character, a deliciously slow crawl across the palate, and so juicy at the same time, blood orange, pomegranate, moreish. 60% new oak. Harvest September 9 to 20, low ph of course on this high limestone plateau, love the energy that this wine gives you. 3.2ph (at harvest, now 3.4ph), Noémie Durantou winemaker.