2023 CHÂTEAU LES CRUZELLES Lalande de Pomerol, Lea & Sandeman

CHÂTEAU LES CRUZELLES

2023 Lalande de Pomerol

Grapes Cab Franc, Merlot
Colour Red
Origin France, Bordeaux
Sub-district Pomerol & Lalande de Pomerol
Village Lalande de Pomerol
ABV 14.5%

A vintage where the gap between Cruzelles and La Chenade is wide, and even on the nose it is clear that there are more depths and density to this wine. Love the texture, the depth of raspberry and damson fruits, shot through with black tea, sage and fennel. This is really a brilliant Cruzelles, 55% new oak. Harvest September 1 to 18. 42hl/h yield. Noëmie Durantou winemaker. Drinking range: 2027 - 2040 Rating: 93 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2024)


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The 2023 Les Cruzelles is a potent, deep wine. The 2023 has all the Cabernet Francs from the Lalande-de-Pomerol estate blended with Merlots that were particularly abundant. Pretty floral and savory notes from the Franc give this mid-weight, dynamic, vibrant Lalande-de-Pomerol tons of charm. I especially admire its energy. Readers will want to give this a few years in bottle. Drinking range: 2028 - 2043 Rating: 91-94 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (May 2024)

The blend is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc; this takes all the Cabernet Franc this year, as well as more Merlot to match. The Merlot was picked from September 11th until the 16th, the Cabernets immediately afterwards. The aromatics here have an expressive Cabernet Franc richness, with perfumed violets, toast and red pepper. This translates onto a palate with a finely polished core of griottes and blackcurrants, with black pepper and toast, over a frame of ripe tannins which provide a firm structure for the fruit. This is a convincing Les Cruzelles this year, perhaps one of the best I have tasted. Well done. The alcohol is 14.5% on analysis. Rating: 92-94 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2024)

The 2023 Les Cruzelles is the same blend as last year. Though it includes fruit that went into La Chenade in 2022, the volume of Merlot was higher, so it remains 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. When Noemie Durantou tasted through the tanks, she found it easy to pick out the wines from Les Cruzelles. Harvested between September 11 and 18 and matured in 52% new oak, this has a delineated and focused bouquet. A hint of incense infuses the black fruit, while a subtle citric element tucks in underneath. The palate is wonderful, certainly more complex and mineral-driven than the La Chenade, possessing gentle grip and perfectly pitched acidity. it fans out with chutzpah on the peppery finish. Excellent. Drinking range: 2029 - 2045 Rating: 91-93 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Apr 2024)

Château les Cruzelles

Among the brightest stars of the exalted Pomerol appellation is Denis Durantou at Château l’Eglise-Clinet. Little more than a kilometre to the north, near enough to see one from t’other, across the Barbanne stream in Lalande-de-Pomerol is Château les Cruzelles, also owned by Denis. The 10ha of vines boast the highest proportion of Cabernet Franc in the area – 40% - with the rest being the more usual Merlot. Aside from Château les Cruzelles proper Denis also produces here La Chenade, a Lalande-de-Pomerol cuvee he made with Cruzelles’ grapes even before he bought the estate in 2000. Denis also owns a small vineyard of 35 year old Merlot vines at Saint Etienne de Lisse at the eastern end of St Emilion that goes under the name of Saintayme. And, a little further south-east, across the boundary in the Côtes de Castillon is Château Montlandrie that Denis bought in 2009. Much renovation has taken place at the 12ha vineyard that includes, almost uniquely for the Right Bank, new plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon that now make up 15% of the vineyard alongside the usual 65% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc.

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