The Les Cruzelles is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the former picked a little earlier than the La Chenade with 50% new oak. The nose is more extroverted, a little more flamboyant than the La Chenade with a tangible floral aspect and fine delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, slightly grainy tannins. It is more linear than the La Chenade, slightly more peppery at the moment but still with great freshness towards the finish. It will need a little bottle age to come round. Recommended. Tasted November 2012.

Chocolate, vanilla and blueberries. Some raspberry and cherry blossom with spicy white pepper. Full and dense on the palate with lovely fruit and velvet tannins. Juicy and round with a nice fruit-focused finish. Lots of ripe fruit under the chewy tannins. Drink from 2015.
-www.jamessuckling.com, 'Tasting Report: 2010's Greatness Across The Board in Bordeaux', 17 Feb 2013

Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Les Cruzelles gives up notes of baked plums, warm cassis and black cherry compote with hints of potpourri, rust and balsamic. Full-bodied, firmly texture and jam-packed with black fruit layers, it has a racy backbone and great length.

Medium red-ruby. Black fruits, caraway seed, bitter chocolate and a whiff of game on the nose. Plush and pliant in the mouth, with a lovely sugar/acid balance to the dark berry, mocha and enticing oak flavors. Very sexy merlot with a lot of early personality. Ripe tannins saturate the palate on the persistent, rich finish. A very strong vintage for this wine from Denis Durantou.

A very well-made wine from proprietor Denis Durantou, this estate in Lalande de Pomerol came up with a wine that has luscious black cherry, and black currant fruit along with hints of caramel candy, vanilla and spice. Medium-bodied, round, pure and very graceful, it should be drunk over the next 7-10 years. Drink: 2013 - 2023
-Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #205 Feb 2013

Tasted blind. Deep garnet. Dark and savoury on the nose with a touch of char but still showing some nice cassis fruit. More tertiary than fruity but the tannins are smooth as well as big. A rounded, rich, mature whole. (JH)