In Bond Fine Wine. 2020 La Chenade, Lalande de Pomerol, Bordeaux, France. Red Bordeaux in 6x75cl. Top critic score: 92/100 (NM). Drinking window: 2023–2040. Sold in bond by Albany Vintners, independent fine wine merchants.
Made by the talented Durantou family. La Chenade & Les Cruzelles are located in the Lalande de Pomerol appellation, a stone's throw from Eglise Clinet across the border in Pomerol. Les Cruzelles, from gravel and clay-rich soils, is more structured and ageworthy than La Chenade, which is juicy & expressive.
Neal Martin (NM) — 91–93/100 · Vinous, 27/05/2021 · Drink 2025 - 2038
The 2020 La Chenade is clean and precise on the nose, offering a mixture of red and black fruit, plus hints of licorice and light minty scents loitering in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins, veering more toward black fruit. An underlying salinity then encourages the saliva to flow on the finish. This is a beautiful Lalande de Pomerol ' elegance personified.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW (LPB) — 89–91/100 · Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com, 23/05/2021 · Drink 2024 - 2038
The 2020 La Chenade is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, coming from vines planted to a sandy-gravel soil at the Durantous's Lalande de Pomerol estate. The Merlot was picked between the 9th and the 15th of September and the Cabernet Franc on the 16th of September. It has an alcohol of 14% and is aging in French oak barrels, 30% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it comes skipping out of…
Antonio Galloni (AG) — 92/100 · Vinous, 23/02/2023 · Drink 2024-2035
The 2020 La Chenade is rich, sumptuous and super-expressive right out of the gate. All of the exuberance of the year comes through loud and clear. A burst of black cherry, plum, mocha, licorice, lavender and spice infuses the Chenade with tons of complexity. Broad and creamy, with fine balance, the Chenade is showing so well today. The combination of fruit density and energy is compelling.