Another one of those hidden gems from the Castillon region of Bordeaux, the 2016 Château Montlandrie is a rock star of a wine that readers should snatch up! From more clay soils (the region is mostly limestone) and with surprising power and richness, it offers a stacked bouquet of red and black currants, smoked earth, and chocolate. Full-bodied and concentrated, with ripe tannins and terrific balance, it’s a winner. Drink it over the coming 10-15 years. - jebdunnuck.com, February 2019

Very fine and polished with pretty tannins, balance and fruit. Medium-bodied, fresh and clean. All about clarity.

The 2016 Montlandrie is a blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon picked between 3-17 October. It was picked at 40 hectoliters per hectare and raised in 60% new oak (although my sample was from a one-year-old barrel). It is the first vintage to include more than 80% of the vines that were planted by Denis Durantou after 2008. This has a more broody bouquet than the two Lalande-de-Pomerols, just a touch of leafiness originating from the Cabernet Sauvignon that enhances the complexity. The palate is medium-bodied with fine structure, more saline than the Les Cruzelles, backward at the moment, but the Cabernets impart some lovely graphite notes on the saline finish. Superb. Expect this to land towards the top of my banded score once in bottle. - Wine Advocate #230, April 2017

Although it has the same qualitative style as Les Cruzelles or La Chenade, the 2016 Montlandrie, offers aromas of flowers, plum, graphite and menthol, as well as a more chalky texture. It’s pure, clean, long and fleshy with powdery tannins and a long, saline finish. There’s no reason to wait.

Medium garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Montlandrie opens with pretty rose hip, lavender and cinnamon stick notes over a core of baked plums and spice cake plus a touch of tilled soil. Medium-bodied, it has a chewy texture and oodles of freshness framing the youthful spiced plums flavors, finishing on a lingering savory note. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, November 2018

Fresh and engaging, with lovely raspberry and plum fruit, backed by a pronounced minerally edge. Shows a slightly firm spine through the spice-tinged finish. - James Molesworth (WineSpectator.com, April 2017)

The 2016 Montlandrie is powerful and bold to its core. Layers of dense, dark fruit, chocolate, lavender spice and sweet oak saturate the palate. Dense and voluptuous, this racy wine from Denis Durantou is packed and ready to deliver maximum pleasure upon release. Tasted two times. - vinous.com, April 2017

Great-value estate in Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux run by Denis Durantou (L'Eglise Clinet). Funky, tropical and exotic, with a high toned white soil mineral edge to it. Sweet, ripe fruit on entry, quite dense and powerful tannic frame - tannins definitely driving this one. For the patient. - April 2017

Very deep crimson. Intense nose. Sweet start and very dramatic. This should be worth looking out for over the next few vintages. Real improvement this year! Drink 2021-2029. - jancisrobinson.com, April 2017