2021 La Chenade En Primeur
Released yesterday afternoon, 2021 Les Cruzelles, La Chenade, Montlandrie and Saintayme from the Durantou family are right up amongst the best value wines we know of from Bordeaux. This is the first year we have visited since Denis Durantou passed away in 2020 and we were delighted to see that his daughters Alix, Noemie and Constance, along with oenologist Oliver Gautrat, continue to run this as a family business.
We tasted with Constance Durantou, who has recently returned to the domaine after working in the diplomatic service in London. With hilarious wit and a command of English which extends to a 'Sarf London' accent (for comic effect), she also exuded an intense focus and impressive attention to detail when it came to the wines. Constance's sister Noémie is the winemaker, working with Gautrat, who worked with Denis Durantou for two decades.
The style of all four wines in 2021 is less about power and offers more perfumed aroma and mineral, saline energy than recent vintages, which is no bad thing. Once again, we suggest going 'deep' on all four estates, we doubt you will be anything other than delighted as you enjoy the wines over the coming decade.
Landing in spring 2024.
Limited availability. To order, e-mail us at sales@richardkihl.ltd.uk
Producer Profile
La Chenade, Lalande de Pomerol
La Chenade is effectively the second wine of Château Les Cruzelles, an estate in Lalande de Pomerol which was bought in 2000 by the late Denis Durantou, owner of L'Eglise Clinet in Pomerol. He bought the 10.5-hectare vineyard having noticed the similarity with the terroir at L'Eglise Clinet, which is only 1km away.
Durantou passed away in 2020 and the wines are now made by his daughters. The fruit for Les Cruzelles is grown on soils with a higher clay content than La Chenade, with slightly more Merlot in the blend, giving darker, more intense wines.
| RED | 2021 | Château La Chenade | 75cl | £156 per case of 12 | Château La Chenade 2021 / / 75cl £156 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"100% Merlot. Cask sample. Meaty and savoury with a touch of hedgerow fruit. Some leafiness on the palate, otherwise supple, succulent and round. Slight bitter edge and sandy tannins on the finish. 15.5 points" jancisrobinson.com (JL)------"The precision that you find so often in the Durantou family estates is fully on display here, with carefully placed redcurrant and raspberry fruit and gentle waves of campfire smoke. A little soft through the mid palate, but all in balance. No frost or mildew, giving yields of 45hl/h. Sandy gravel soils, harvest September 23 to October 1. Noémie Durantou winemaker. 88 points" janeanson.com------"The 2021 La Chenade was picked between September 24 and October 1 and this year is pure Merlot. Again, it is simple but clean and well-defined on the nose of brassy red cherries and crushed strawberry fruit. The palate is balanced with vivacious red fruit. It pulls up a tad short, but there is still plenty of flavor and freshness here. Fine. 87-89 points" Neal Martin, RobertParker.com------"The 2021 La Chenade, from vineyards in Lalande de Pomerol that were saved from the frost, offers up rich aromas of berries and plums mingled with loamy soil and spices. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and seamless, it's built around powdery tannins and lively acids. 89-90 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2021 La Chenade is a soft, supple Lalande de Pomerol loaded with charm. Succulent dark cherry, plum, mocha, chocolate and spice are nicely pushed forward in this attractive, easygoing 2021. La Chenade is all Merlot this year, as the Franc was used for the Cruzelles. 90-92 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com |
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