The 2013 Les Cruzelles has an expressive, open and generous bouquet, with vivacious red cherries and mulberry-scented bouquet that has impressive intensity given the vintage. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, more black rather than red fruit, good mineralité and tension, leading to the refined, saline finish that I remarked upon when I tasted this from barrel. It outperforms many other Right Bank 2013s with loftier reputations.

– eRobertParker.com, Oct 2016

This is really excellent for the vintage with berry and shaved chocolate character. Medium to full body, layered and delicious. Thoroughly enjoyable. Drink now. – jamessuckling.com, Feb 2016

The 2013 Les Cruzelles is rich, dense and generous on the palate, much of that coming from the significant presence of clay in these soils. Black stone fruits, licorice, spices, menthol and smoke all flesh out in the 2013 Les Cruzelles. Violets, lavender and sweet spices all add complexity on the pliant, generous finish. This is a strong showing from Les Cruzelles and proprietor Denis Durantou.

Delicious wine from proprietor Denis Durantou, who is better known as the magician behind the great Pomerols of L-Eglise Clinet. This relatively nearby vineyard in Lalande has turned out a nice, ripe, rich, medium-bodied, opulent style of wine with lovely mulberry and black cherry fruit, as well as hints of new saddle leather and spice. It is medium-bodied, easygoing and doesn-t have the substance or power to last more than 4 or 5 years, but so what? Drink it up. - 87-88 points - Robert Parker (Wine Advocate #214 - August 2014)

(90% merlot and 10% cabernet franc): Dark ruby. Intense, deeply pitched aromas of blueberry pie, fresh black cherry and candied violet on the captivating nose. Then austere on the palate, with mouthcoating flavors of dark berries, grape jelly and violet leading to a mountingly tannic finish. Mainly from clay and gravel soils.

Features a slightly firm sandalwood frame around a core of gentle damson plum and lightly steeped cherry fruit. The sandalwood edge pinches the finish slightly. – James Molesworth (WineSpectator.com, 2014)

90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc. Vibrant perfume, black cherry, wood smoke that dominates the finish. Modern, sleek, juicy. I find this really attractive, though the oak is teetering on being overdone. Drink 2016 - 2023 – Richard Hemming (jancisrobinson.com, April 2014)

Tasted blind. Very dark. Dark and savoury on the nose too. Quite different from most. Chalky, dry texture but with some fruit sweetness. Just finishes a bit hard but started well and the savoury character lasts. (JH)