Today we see the release of the stunning wines from the great Denis Durantou’s Pomerol based stable.
Denis’ estate lies at the heart of the Pomerol plateau; his jewel in the crown, L’Eglise Clinet, is a majestic wine this year. Other fine addresses, Trotanoy, Lafleur, Petrus and Le Pin surround this noble estate, but Eglise Clinet’s pedigree verses price will be hard to match in this campaign. At £1300.00 per 12/£650.00 per six ib we feel this offers outstanding value vs quality and is a right bank not to be missed. Only 7000 bottles where produced of this stunning wine
His second wine, La Petit Eglise, at a fraction of the price, is one of the unbeatable bargains in Pomerol. 100% Merlot from its own vineyard and that of L’Eglise Client, it is a deep coloured wine, with complex layers of violets and dark cherries. The fruit is sweet and ripe and it possesses concentration and elegant charm.
The star pick from Denis’ further gems was Les Cruzelles, which is a similar blend to the great Eglise Clinet itself, 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. This was one of our ‘recommended value wines’ of the vintage. Denis is creating magic with this vineyard, producing a wine that has elegant sweet fruit expression and beautiful concentration. Tim Atkin MW describes it as “One of the Gironde’s greatest bargains’, giving it 93 points, the same score he gave Ducru Beaucaillou and Montrose. For just £135 per 12/ £11.25 per bottle, this combines pedigree of terroir and winemaking.
La Chenade, at £100 per 12, will give early drinking pleasure. With masses of plums and cherries, while not a big wine it possesses lots of charm. It is often the most feminine wine in the portfolio reflecting the sandier soil on which it is grown.
All of these wines have wonderful integrity and are a beautiful reflection of why Pomerol (and its satellites) produces some of the most sought after red wines in Bordeaux.