2021 Chateau Montlandrie, Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux

Up until 2019 the late great Denis Durantou was the winemaker here. Denis took over his family property Eglise Clinet in the early 1980s and turned it into one of Pomerol’s superstars before turning his hand to making wines in the surrounding appellations. These are now some of the best value wines in all of Bordeaux with incredibly consistent quality, plush ripe fruit and very smooth tannins.

One of the best wines from Castillon, from its highest slope, Montlandrie gets better every year.  Production is small and the wine is 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.

"The 2021 Montlandrie, a blend of 75% Merlot (picked between the 30th of September and the 8th of October), 20% Cabernet Franc (picked on the 4th of October), and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon (picked on the 7th of October), reveals a dark, somber character with aromas of spices, pencil lead, licorice and wild dark berries. Enrobing and structuring with a medium-bodied palate, it’s elegantly concentrated with a fleshy core of fruit and a mineral, saline finish. Recommended. Drink 2024-2034."  The Wine Advocate