La Chenade, Lalande de Pomerol, 2021
The 'entry level' wines, that is to say the wines not produced at the Durantou flagship Pomerol estate, Chateau L'Eglise Client, always rank amongst our 'best value' buys. Saintayme, Chenade, Cruzelles and Montlandrie offer excellent value for money. Since Denis' death, his long term collaborator, Olivier Gautrat has stepped up to assist Noémie and Constance. He describes 2021 as "Equilibre", a vintage of perfect balance. Slightly wild, with a herbal, medicinal hedgerow quality to the fruit. A touch of eucalyptus, good mid weight flavours of creme de mûre and raspberry on the palate. This just needs to knit together during élevage and it will be a good little drinker. 100% Merlot.
critic reviews
2021 is the first time La Chenade is 100% Merlot. It has a deep garnet-purple color and the nose pops with scents of redcurrant jelly, kirsch, and juicy plums, followed by a touch of dried lavender. The medium-bodied palate is taut and crunchy, with herbal sparks and a light chewiness to the texture, finishing earthy.
Rich plum colour and core of fruit, light tannins. Soft and supple, and winemaker Noëmie Durantou has done skilful work over ageing to make the structure fully integrated and charming. 30% new oak, sandy gravel soils. First time for La Chenade to be 100% Merlot, keeping the Cabernet Franc for Les Cruzelles.
The 2021 La Chenade, which does not contain Cabernet Franc this year, has a more complex bouquet than the Saintayme, with touches of blackberry, pine needles and just a whiff of tobacco. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly dry tannins on the entry, but there is a core of ripe black fruit here laced with white pepper and clove. The finish is cohesive with commendable length. No, this is not the best La Chenade I have ever tasted, but it will give pleasure over the next six to eight years.
The 2021 La Chenade, a 100% Merlot, evokes a fresh, fruity bouquet with aromas of flowers, dark wild berries, raspberry and violet, followed by a moderately weighted palate, a juicy, gourmand and round texture with velvety tannins and a fresh, penetrating finish. In the context of the vintage, this is worth hunting down.