CHÂTEAU MONTLANDRIE

The 2016 Montlandrie is laced with the essence of inky blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, menthol and licorice. Pliant and fruity, with striking depth, the 2016 is another gorgeous wine in this set of new releases from Denis Durantou. The 2016 is irresistibly beautiful, exotic and beguiling. It's as simple as that. Drinking range: 2021 - 2031 Rating: 92 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Jan 2019)

The 2016 Montlandrie is a blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon picked between 3-17 October. It was picked at 40 hectoliters per hectare and raised in 60% new oak (although my sample was from a one-year-old barrel). It is the first vintage to include more than 80% of the vines that were planted by Denis Durantou after 2008. This has a more broody bouquet than the two Lalande-de-Pomerols, just a touch of leafiness originating from the Cabernet Sauvignon that enhances the complexity. The palate is medium-bodied with fine structure, more saline than the Les Cruzelles, backward at the moment, but the Cabernets impart some lovely graphite notes on the saline finish. Superb. Expect this to land towards the top of my banded score once in bottle. Drinking range: 2021 - 2036 Rating: 91-93 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Apr 2017)

Fresh and engaging, with lovely raspberry and plum fruit, backed by a pronounced minerally edge. Shows a slightly firm spine through the spice-tinged finish. Rating: 89-92 James Molesworth, The Wine Spectator (Apr 2017)

Very fine and polished with pretty tannins, balance and fruit. Medium-bodied, fresh and clean. All about clarity. Rating: 92-93 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2017)

The 2016 Montlandrie is powerful and bold to its core. Layers of dense, dark fruit, chocolate, lavender spice and sweet oak saturate the palate. Dense and voluptuous, this racy wine from Denis Durantou is packed and ready to deliver maximum pleasure upon release. Rating: 88-91 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 2017)

Generally the most tannic of Denis Duranotu’s impressive range, this is the one where he says “thanks” to Cabernet Sauvignon for providing extra backbone and tannin. Dark fruits, some orange zest and considerable underlying structure make this a wine that will reward patience. Drinking range: 2025 - 2032 Rating: 93 Tim Atkin MW, www.timatkin.com (Apr 2017)

The 2016 Montlandrie has an attractive, well-defined bouquet of blackberry, raspberry, cedar and subtle figgy aromas, the oak neatly integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent tannins, and quite tarry in style, with a gentle grip on the saline, almost Left Bank-inspired finish. Fine, but a bit broody at present. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. Drinking range: 2021 - 2034 Rating: 90 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Dec 1899)