Château Montlandrie 2020

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 21^st 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 2020 Montlandrie is a blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Merlot was picked between the 18th and the 22nd of September, and the Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon were picked from the 23rd to the 25th of September. It has an alcohol of 14.5% and is aging in French oak barrels, 40% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it bursts from the glass with vibrant notes of crushed blackberries, fresh, juicy black plums and mulberries, plus hints of bay leaves, cardamom, ground black pepper and black truffles. The medium to full-bodied palate possesses impressive freshness with a solid backbone of soft, rounded tannins and bags of ripe black fruits, finishing long with a peppery kick. 53,000 bottles are expected to be made."  - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate (5/20/2021), Rating: 92-94, Drink: 2025-2039

"Denis Durantou estate up on the limestone plateau of Castillon, now vinified by his daughter Noémie Durantou. Deeply coloured, ruby in colour with fleshy fruit, not giving a whole lot away right now, but this is a fairly discreet vintage in many ways. The dominant impression is of a rough linen and wet stone texture that reflects its limestone soils. Width and depth as it opens in the palate, serious for now but with plenty to give. A yield of 45hl/ha. 3.6pH." Jane Anson, Best Smaller Appellation Wines Tasted 2020 En Primeur, (04/30/2021) Rating: 93 Drink: 2023-2035

"Coming from the talented Denis Durantou, the 2020 Château Montlandrie looks to be brilliant and should be snatched up by readers. Beautiful and ample red fruits, crushed stone, and floral notes define the nose, and it’s medium-bodied, with a pure, elegant texture and a great mix of freshness and richness. It’s going to put a smile on your face any time over the coming decade or so." Jeb Dunnuck, Bordeaux 2020: En Primeur - Part 1 (06/04/2021) Rating: 91-93