Wine of the Month - March 2022

Laguna Cellar Wine of the Month Selection for March 2022

• Château Dauzac 2016 Château Dauzac is a Margaux Fifth Growth estate that holds great promise.  With a long history that dates back to 1622, Château Dauzac has changed hands many times.  Yet with the present ownership and influence of Laurent Fourtin, one cannot help but be optimistic about what the future holds for this Left Bank estate.  The grand vin from Château Dauzac has a purity to it and a gentle freshness that encapsulates the nuance so often associated with great Margaux terroir.  With the increasing investments that have been put into the property, quality continues to increase yet prices remain affordable.  To all buyers who lover the elegant finesse of a great Margaux for a reasonable price, consider the offerings of Château Dauzac. 
• Château Montlandrie 2019  This wine is a legend in the making.  It is the last vintage produced by the legendary winemaker, Denis Durantou of Château L’Eglise Clinet, who unfortunately passed away in May 2020.  Denis Durantou was a colorful figure from the tiny village of Pomerol. For years, he refused to travel to meet customers or hold international tastings to promote his wine, famously saying "a chef should stay in the kitchen." His more famous wine, Château L’Eglise Clinet, is considered one of the top Pomerol stars.  It eventually led fans and wine buyers to his door. His remarks on Les Cruzelles in Lalande-de-Pomerol is very revealing: "if we were in Burgundy it would be called a monopole, as I have the entirety of the 0.5ha plot". Half a hectare (barely an acre) is a tiny plot!
• Château Villemaurine 2017  Mere steps away from the medieval village of Saint-Émilion lies the Grand Cru Classé, Château Villemaurine.  Here, a mixture of modernity and tradition govern the winemaking process and ethos at this estate.  The property has had some exciting changes since June 2007, when Château Villemaurine was purchased by Justin Onclin. Because of Justin’s passion and devotion to this property, the wines just keep getting better and better each year.  At under $100.00, the wines from this estate are a spectacular value from Saint-Émilion, making it a producer that should very much be on any oenophile’s radar.  
• Virginie de Valandraud 2017  Virginie de Valandraud is the second wine of the famed Premier Grand Cru Classé estate of Saint-Emilon - Château Valandraud, the home property of dynamic husband and wife duo, Jean-Luc Thunevin and Murielle Andraud.  Prior to becoming a vigneron Jean-Luc was a successful négociant.  In 1989, Jean-Luc and Murielle purchased a small 0.6 hectare plot close to Château Pavie Macquin.  They purchased an additional 1.2 hectares of vines a bit further east in Saint Sulpice.  The name, “Valandraud,” is an interesting one.  The “Val,” portion comes from the location where the grapes are planted, a place called Vallon de Fongaban.  The latter portion of the name, “Andraud,” is the last name of Jean-Luc’s wife, Murielle.  Murielle is currently the gifted individual who makes all the wine for Château Valandraud and Jean-Luc runs the business and is the face of the operation.

Château Dauzac 2016 - "The 2016 Dauzac is a blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon and 29% Merlot picked at 45 hectoliters per hectare, picked 13 September and over the next 21 days, which is the longest ever at the property according to estate manager Laurent Fortin. The bouquet is tightly wound at first, then gently unfolds to reveal blackberry, briary, pressed flowers and light minty aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannin on the entry, quite firm in the mouth at first, but there is plenty of fresh, predominantly black fruit locked into this Margaux. It is taut and linear with a grippy finish. This is a strong follow-up to the 2015, perhaps without the same flair as the previous vintage, but I am certain that it will "loosen its tie" during élevage." - Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate (4/28/2017, Issue 230), Ratings: 90-92, Drink: 2023-2040

Château Montlandrie 2019 - "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, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (6/14/2020, Bordeaux 2019 Issue), Rating: 93-95

Château Villemaurine 2017 -  "The 2017 Villemaurine has a refined and focused bouquet with blackberry, tar and cedar aromas, classic in style with impressive focus and control. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, very smooth in texture with blackberry, cedar and light sous-bois notes towards the finish. Excellent." - Neal Martin, vinous.com, (February, 2020), Rating: 92+, Drink: 2022-2040

"The current blend of the 2017 Villemaurine is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, it features wonderfully expressive black plums and warm blackberries notes with hints of truffles, damp soil and wood smoke. The palate is medium-bodied with a great core of ripe, rich fruit supported by rounded tannins and just enough freshness, finishing with lingering truffles and savory notes." - Lisa Perotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (4/27/2018, Issue 236), Ratings: 91-93

Virignie de Valandraud 2017 - "Black raspberries, forest floor, spring flowers, and a kiss of white chocolate all emerge from the medium to full-bodied 2017 Virginie De Valandraud, which has a lively, elegant texture, beautiful balance, and silky tannins. It's a classic, polished, fruit-forward Bordeaux that will offer loads of pleasure over the coming decade. The blend is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, brought up in new barrels. -Jeb Dunnuck, Jebdunnuck.com, Rating: 93, Drink: 2020-2030