Château Montlandrie 2019

Château Montlandrie is a truly stunning value-driven wine in the satellite appellation of the Côtes de Castillon.  This wonderful producer was the legendary vigneron Denis Durantou’s first purchase within this far-east reaching appellation of the Right Bank. Denis Durantou was a forward thinking visionary, who produced stunning wines at accessible price points in a region with some of the most exorbitantly priced wines in the entire world.  If one could describe the way Denis Durantou approached his properties, it would be with a tremendous sense of integrity.  Château Montlandrie is no exception, and easily one of the best values within the Right Bank.  Accessible when young, yet perfect with just a few years of bottle age, Château Montlandrie is truly a hidden gem for bargain hunters.

Château Montlandrie has a longer history that dates back to the 1800s when it was founded by an Italian family.  The property remained relatively obscure until the 21st Century, when Denis Durantou purchased Château Montlandrie in 2009.  The Côtes de Castillon was an exciting region and considered the most promising out of all the satellite appellations in Bordeaux.  It’s no wonder Denis Durantou saw so much potential here.   With its rich soils, high elevation, and gently sloping vineyards, Château Montlandrie was a diamond hidden in the rough. Shortly after the estate was added to the already prestigious list of Durantou properties including L’Eglise Clinet, Saintayme, and Les Cruzelles to name a few, Denis began implementing his magic touch in the vineyards.  Denis Durantou had a wonderful understanding of the often dismissed varietal, Merlot, and was no stranger to planting it in more mineral driven soils.  He often said, “Merlot can be a rich, heavy wine.  You can treat it with elegance and make a lovely wine.”  This was his approach to working with the varietal, treating it with finesse and respect.  The results of his work speak for themselves, and all his wines featuring Merlot have that light and pretty touch.  At Château Montlandrie, Denis Durantou began using Cabernet Sauvignon in the wine merely four years after acquiring the property, as before it was only Merlot and Cabernet Franc. 

The promise of the terroir at Château Montlandrie is undeniable and comparable to some of the better terroir in Saint-Émilion.  This 12-hectare vineyard sits on the plateau of the Côtes de Castillon.  The terroir is a mixture of clay and limestone soils and Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon thrive here.  The vineyard is planted in one single block and production here is relatively small.  After the vines are harvested, they are vinified in 15 small temperature controlled stainless steel vats that range in size from 24 hectoliters to 82 hectoliters.  The wine is versatile enough to be enjoyed in its youth yet can age up to fifteen years. Château Montlandrie has a beautiful mineral-driven quality to it.  For those who love the freshness of Saint-Émilion wine, coupled with the sensuous textures of Merlot, Château Montlandrie is the perfect wine that overdelivers for the price tag. 

"The 2019 Montlandrie is a blend of 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. It comes bounding out of the glass with bright, cheerful scents of warm redcurrants, Morello cherries, wild blueberries and boysenberries with touches of lavender, red roses, cinnamon stick and cast-iron pan. Wow. I LOVE this energy on the elegantly styled, medium-bodied palate. The red and black fruit layers practically dance, intermingled with grainy (Cabernet-like) tannins and tons of freshness. It has a satisfyingly long, fragrant finish. Truly impressive!"  - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate, (06/14/2020, Bordeaux 2019 Issue), Ratings: 93-95

''A perennial no-brainer, the 2019 Château Montlandrie sports a vivid purple hue as well as a gorgeous bouquet of juicy black cherries, blueberries, tobacco, and cedarwood, with some classic chalky minerality in the background. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has terrific purity of fruit, silky tannins, and a great finish. I’d be thrilled to have bottles in the cellar, and it should have 10-15 years of longevity.'' - Jeb Dunnuck, Bordeaux 2019 From Bottle, (04/11/2022), Ratings: 94, Drink: 2022-2037

''This is an excellent vintage of Montlandrie, with smoked coffee and cocoa bean, a ton of salinity, powerful blue and red fruits, super juicy on the finish. Enticing curled woodsmoke as it comes out of the glass, slate finish with a scrape of minerality. 40% new oak. Harvest September 30 to October 10.'' - Jane Anson, Best Pomerol 2020 Wines Tasted En Primeur, (12/06/2021) Ratings: 94, Drink: 2023-2036

''The 2019 Montlandrie was one of the hidden gems of Durantou’s lineup this vintage. Now in bottle, it retains a wonderful, expressive, vivacious bouquet of black and red fruit and hints of violet and crushed stone. The palate is medium-bodied, with pliant, very fine tannins and a perfect line of acidity. Intense yet finessed, leading to a silky-smooth finish. Make sure you have some of this excellent Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux in your cellar, or it will never forgive you.'' - Neal Martin, Vinous, (02/17/2022), Ratings: 93