CHÂTEAU MONTLANDRIE

The 2015 Montlandrie is a blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, picked between September 29 and October 8, and matured in 45% new oak. This is perhaps more precocious on the nose compared to Denis Durantou's La Chenade and Les Cruzelles 2015s, gradually revealing an attractive floral, dried rose petal/pot pourri scent as it opens in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, quite grippy in the mouth, the acidity nicely judged here and again, very harmonious and sensual on the finish. You could almost whisk this out of barrel and drink this now, but preferably, give it 4-5 years in bottle. Drinking range: 2019 - 2032 Rating: 90-93 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Apr 2016)

Denis Durantou. 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. 45% new oak. Dark healthy crimson. Sweet and open on the nose - charming even without great concentration. Very sweet start with marked acidity. Not, unlike some Castillons, like a St-Émilion. But competently made. Drinking range: 2020 - 2026 Rating: 16 Jancis Robinson OBE MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2016)

Owned by Denis Durantou’s (L’Eglise-Clinet). Vineyard restructured since 2009. Beautiful Merlot expression: berry fruit with a hint of chocolate. Lovely depth of fruit and tannins. Energy and depth on the palate then tannins build to a long finish. Drinking range: 2020 - 2030 Rating: 91 James Lawther MW, decanter.com (Apr 2016)

The 2015 Montlandrie shows just how appealing and delicious the wines of Castillon are this year. Plump, juicy and giving, the 2015 wraps around the palate with striking depth and creaminess. There is plenty of tannin lurking beneath, but it is nearly buried by the intensity of the fruit. Far from an easygoing wine, the 2015 Montlandrie is going to need a few years to be at its best. This is an impressive showing. Montandrie is 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon brought in between September 5 and October 6. Rating: 90-93 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 2016)

The blend is 75% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, with 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. The fruit was picked between September 29th and October 8th, with a yield of 45 hl/ha. A really singing nose, you can sense the limestone of the hill here, with a dark, taut, spicy intensity to the fruit, a mix of the Cabernet Sauvignon and the stony terroir surely. This is really characterful on the palate, with a tense, stony frame to the palate, with really serious structure to it belying its appellation, and a spicy energy to the fruit. This is delicious, but firm and reserved, and it will need a lot of time to come around. Magic stuff, really impressive, serious and set to be great value. Rating: 16.5-17.5/20 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2016)

There's some zing to this, with black currant, cherry and plum fruit laced with a mouthwatering note of dried anise. This gets a floral lift through the finish, with a graphite note building as well. Rating: 90—93 James Molesworth, The Wine Spectator (Apr 2016)

A solid core of fruit here. It’s so sexy and exotic with juicy fruit, velvety tannins and a long finish. Bright acidity. Loving it. Rating: 92-93 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Mar 2016)