Rhubarb, strawberries, raspberries and rose petals, a soft sweetness on the nose with herbal accents and milk chocolate. Supple and bouncy, this has energy and verve. Tannins are fine but grippy, slightly grainy in their texture which lingers as spice on the tongue, but this also delivers waves of flavour and texture on the palate with red and black fruits, high acidity, liquorice, clove and slate minerality. and saltiness. A stand out wine from Lalande with cool freshness and an appealing overall character.
On another level, the 2020 Château Les Cruzelles checks in as 80% Merlot and 20 %Cabernet Franc raised in 50% new French oak. It has terrific aromatics of black raspberries, plums, damp earth, and chocolate, and it would easily pass undetected in a lineup of top Pomerols. Medium to full-bodied, layered, and opulent, it's a no-brainer that readers will love. It’s every bit as good as the 2019 and will evolve for at least a decade.
92-93 Black earth and clay with dark-berry and violet character. It’s medium-to full- bodied with creamy tannins and a fresh finish. More opulent than the 2019.
The 2020 Les Cruzelles is a serious, potent Lalande de Pomerol that is going to need a few years to soften. I wouldn't think of touching a bottle any time soon. Firm yet well-balanced tannins lend energy and drive. Black cherry, graphite, sage, mint, tobacco and incense add to an impression of virile intensity that gains vigour over time. This is such a gorgeous and inviting wine.
Made from Merlot grapes picked between the 9th and the 15th of September and Cabernet Franc grapes picked on the 16th of September, the 2020 La Chenade expresses a vibrant and elegant bouquet with aromas of dark berries, violet, rose, dark cherries and graphite. Medium to full-bodied, it’s a juicy and elegant wine with a fleshy core of fruit and a fresh finish. As usual, this estate has produced excellent red wine from sandy-gravel soils.
TWI
90pts
The Wine Independent
A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, the 2020 La Chenade is deep garnet-purple in color. It needs a little swirling to release notes of baked raspberries, kirsch, and stewed red and black plums, leading to suggestions of lavender, tar, and sandalwood. The medium-bodied palate is elegantly styled with lovely purity and a pleasant chewiness to the texture, finishing long on a minerally note.