2009 Montlandrie, Côtes de Castillon

SKU #1095435 92 points Wine Spectator

This expressive red delivers floral, vanilla, red berry and licorice aromas and flavors that are bright and focused. Offers firm tannins and fresh acidity. Vivid and long, in the modern style. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2019. 2,080 cases made. (3/ 2012)

89-91 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Bright ruby-red. Very pretty, intense nose is redolent of spicy redcurrant and raspberry, minerals and violet. Suave, fine-grained and densely packed, with lovely violet lift to its concentrated red cherry, raspberry and mineral flavors. The wine's juicy acidity and smooth tannic backbone guarantee further development and solid aging potential. Really spreads out to saturate the palate on the long finish. Denis Durantou bought this property on high-quality clay in early 2009, and this has to be one of the most impressive maiden bottlings I've tasted from anywhere in quite a long time. (6/ 2010)

90 points James Suckling

A wine with dried berries such as strawberries and blueberries. Hints of dried lemon peel. Very vibrant. Full body, with chewy tannins that are polished and fine. From the same owner of L'Eglise Clinet. Better in 2014. (2/ 2012)

89 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

From the famed proprietor Denis Durantou, who is better known for his famous Pomerol, L-Eglise Clinet, this wine is a blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc. Dense purple in color, with a boatload of tannin but also impressive levels of extract and richness, for a 2009 this wine needs some patience from its purchaser. It was more hedonistic from barrel, but it actually seems even more seriously endowed from bottle, and I would hold off drinking it for a year or so, as it should keep for at least a decade or more. (2/ 2012)

K&L Notes

A great price for this high-scoring property, new to K&L.