Château les Cruzelles
Lalande de Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend
Lalande de Pomerol, Libournais, Bordeaux, France
My second time with one of the late Denis Durantou’s wines from the 2019 vintage, this time Les Cruzelles from Lalande-de-Pomerol. This is absolutely stunning from the get-go, open for business and leaping from the glass with dense, polished black fruit, plum, fig, liquorice and pencil shavings. I’m sniffing this for ages, and it reminds me of Glenelly’s Lady May, one of South Africa’s finest Bordeaux blends - such is its utter purity, glossy fruit and dense aromatics. The palate is saturated, large but balanced, with immaculate tannins and great length, and a wonderful medley of savoury cherry fruit with sweet tinges of toffee.This is astoundingly good, complex stuff, especially for the region and price point. I can’t wait to see how this ages. My best experience to date with Durantou, may he rest in peace.
94+
My second time with one of the late Denis Durantou’s wines from the 2019 vintage, this time Les Cruzelles from Lalande-de-Pomerol. This is absolutely stunning from the get-go, open for business and leaping from the glass with dense, polished black fruit, plum, fig, liquorice and pencil shavings. I’m sniffing this for ages, and it reminds me of Glenelly’s Lady May, one of South Africa’s finest Bordeaux blends - such is its utter purity, glossy fruit and dense aromatics. The palate is saturated, large but balanced, with immaculate tannins and great length, and a wonderful medley of savoury cherry fruit with sweet tinges of toffee.This is astoundingly good, complex stuff, especially for the region and price point. I can’t wait to see how this ages. My best experience to date with Durantou, may he rest in peace.
94+
My first time trying one of the late Denis Durantou’s wines from Lalande de Pomerol, Les Cruzelles, and another great experience with this great winemaker’s portfolio.
The 2015 Cruzelles has a fresh, floral bouquet of bright red cherry, kirsch, blackcurrant and cedar, alongside swathes of graphite. The palate is direct, saturated with at once sweet black fruit and a savoury cherry quality. Bright acidity holds it all together with supple tannins, and there’s a glint of vanilla through the finish.
Maybe not built for the long haul, but it’s hard not to love this.
My first time trying one of the late Denis Durantou’s wines from Lalande de Pomerol, Les Cruzelles, and another great experience with this great winemaker’s portfolio.
The 2015 Cruzelles has a fresh, floral bouquet of bright red cherry, kirsch, blackcurrant and cedar, alongside swathes of graphite. The palate is direct, saturated with at once sweet black fruit and a savoury cherry quality. Bright acidity holds it all together with supple tannins, and there’s a glint of vanilla through the finish.
Maybe not built for the long haul, but it’s hard not to love this.
Les Cruzelles, Denis Durantou's Lalande de Pomerol, is once again impressive in 2015. There is notable volume and unctuousness to the super-ripe red cherry, espresso and mocha flavors. The 2015 needs another year or two to come together, but it is super-impressive. Les Cruzelles is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc from gravelly soils. The 2015 spent one year in French oak, 45% new. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, Feb 2018)
Les Cruzelles, Denis Durantou's Lalande de Pomerol, is once again impressive in 2015. There is notable volume and unctuousness to the super-ripe red cherry, espresso and mocha flavors. The 2015 needs another year or two to come together, but it is super-impressive. Les Cruzelles is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc from gravelly soils. The 2015 spent one year in French oak, 45% new. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, Feb 2018)
Mar 5th, 2018
Tonight is Saturday night and I have opened the 2015 Château Les Cruzelles Lalande de Pomerol. A blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc.
On the nose there is black cherry, raspberry, plum, fig, anise, tobacco leaf, violet, bay leaf and herbs.
On the palate there is black cherry, blackberry, plum, fig, green bell pepper, herbs, allspice, licorice, chocolate and soft oak.
This wine is medium to full body that is well balanced with medium + acidity and medium + supple tannins that leads to a medium to long dark fruit finish. A beautiful wine that is vibrant and fresh. Let's all have a great weekend and please be healthy and safe in these trying times. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷
Tonight is Saturday night and I have opened the 2015 Château Les Cruzelles Lalande de Pomerol. A blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc.
On the nose there is black cherry, raspberry, plum, fig, anise, tobacco leaf, violet, bay leaf and herbs.
On the palate there is black cherry, blackberry, plum, fig, green bell pepper, herbs, allspice, licorice, chocolate and soft oak.
This wine is medium to full body that is well balanced with medium + acidity and medium + supple tannins that leads to a medium to long dark fruit finish. A beautiful wine that is vibrant and fresh. Let's all have a great weekend and please be healthy and safe in these trying times. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷
Great nose. Extremely fleshy. Oaky, but in a cedary way and heavy in dark pruned fruit. Took a lot of swishing, but tobacco eventually made a quick appearance. Sad thing is that after you get hit with the hard grainy tannin, it falls a bit flat.
Great nose. Extremely fleshy. Oaky, but in a cedary way and heavy in dark pruned fruit. Took a lot of swishing, but tobacco eventually made a quick appearance. Sad thing is that after you get hit with the hard grainy tannin, it falls a bit flat.
Jul 23rd, 2015
Awesome, tasting with Denis the winemaker and Antonio Galloni
Awesome, tasting with Denis the winemaker and Antonio Galloni
Apr 3rd, 2014
Better on day two, needs 5+ years. Good qpr
Better on day two, needs 5+ years. Good qpr
Feb 23rd, 2024
Upon opening the delightful fruit was immediate and pleasing to the nose… and on the palate the soft cherry with hints of raspberry made this wine one of the very best 2015s to drink now. It is certainly not a long-lived wine but it is delicious in the present!
Upon opening the delightful fruit was immediate and pleasing to the nose… and on the palate the soft cherry with hints of raspberry made this wine one of the very best 2015s to drink now. It is certainly not a long-lived wine but it is delicious in the present!
May 3rd, 2023
EP purchase drinking well now after long decanter, plush plumbs
EP purchase drinking well now after long decanter, plush plumbs
Nov 14th, 2020