Château Les Cruzelles 2018

The 2018 Les Cruzelles is composed of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, with 40% new oak and 14.5% alcohol. Deep garnet-purple colored, it comes bounding out of the glass with energetic scents of crushed blackberries, juicy black cherries and ripe plums, plus hints of menthol, dark chocolate and star anise. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers mouth-filling black fruits with a soft texture and bags of freshness, finishing long and lively.

A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc from the Lalande de Pomerol appellation, the 2018 Château Les Cruzelles offers a complex, almost Pomerol-like nose of ripe red and blue fruits, leafy tobacco, damp earth, and chocolate. With subtle background oak, medium to full body, and a concentrated, focused style on the palate, it's another head-turning wine from Denis Durantou that's well worth your time and money. it's going to benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and keep for over a decade.

A deeper and slightly more tannic expression than La Chenade, you can see the difference between the two more distinctly than in some vintages, as was clear during en primeur and for me this is the one that has improved the most over ageing. Expect darker blueberry and bilberry fruits, more of a clay-rich Pomerol feeling which closes in on the finish. This also means you get more chocolate notes, and grilled coffee bean coming through, and although it will need a few more years it has a rewardingly complex expression. 40% new oak. A yield of 40hl/ha. Drinking window 2023-2036.

A pretty, soft wine, offering cherry, berry and lightly stewed-fruit character with chocolate and coffee undertones. It’s medium-bodied with round tannins and a juicy finish. Already delicious. Drink or hold.