2021 Château Montlandrie

The 2021 Montlandrie is a powerful, brooding wine. Black cherry, plum, gravel, incense, scorched earth, tobacco, menthol and clove are dialed up. En primeur, Montlandrie was on the lighter side, but it has gained quite a bit of volume in the mid-palate with aging. It will be interesting to see if this softens. The 2021 is an intriguing wine that may well surprise in time.

- Antonio Galloni (12/2023)

Plenty of clarity and freshness in this one, with raspberries, light toast, chocolate and dried flowers. Medium body. Salty. Crunchy and lightly chewy, with limestone firmness. 75% merlot, 20% cabernet franc and 5% cabernet sauvignon. Drink or hold. (07/2024)

One of the standouts of the Durantou family releases is the 2021 Château Montlandrie, which is 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon coming from the limestone soils in the Castillon region, just east of Saint-Emilion. Ripe black cherries, bay leaf, spice, spring flowers, and a kiss of classic limestone chalky minerality all define the aromatics, and it's medium-bodied on the palate, with a layered, balanced, nicely concentrated style that will evolve for at least 8-10 years. This soft, supple, already delicious 2021 is well worth your time and money. (04/2024)

A blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2021 Montlandrie is deep garnet-purple in color. It needs swirling to coax out notes of fresh black cherries, black raspberries, and red plums, leading to touches of charcoal, lilacs, and forest floor. The medium-bodied palate is vibrant, perfumed, and refreshing with soft, rounded tannins and a long ferrous finish. Nice! (04/2024)

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.

- Yohan Castaing (02/2024)