Château La Chenade - Lalande-de-Pomerol 2018 (750ml)

 

WA

90

JS

92

Price: $34.99

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92 Pts Jeb Dunnuck

Producer	Château La Chenade
Country	France
Varietal	Bordeaux Blend
Vintage	2018
Sku	210000001602
Size	750ml

2018 Chateau La Chenade - Lalande-de-Pomerol

Denis Darantou was a brilliant winemaker. He most notably produced L’Eglise Client, a wine that received a 100 pt. Robert Parker score in a less than favorable 2012 vintage. He was the only winemaker to receive a 100 pt. score from parker in this vintage. This fact alone is an extreme testament to Mr Darantou’s winemaking ability.

Chateau La Chenade was another one of Denis Darantou’s personal properties. The fruit for the wine is sourced from the “Les Cruzelle’s” vineyard in Lalande de Pomerol. This vineyard is only 1 kilometer from L’Eglise Client, and you can actually see the vineyard from the L’Eglise Client estate.

Lalande de Pomerol is situated to the north-west of the Dordogne River north of Pomerol. Similar to the great Pomerol appellation the wines are Merlot dominated but sold at a fraction of the price. Some great value wines can be found to the south of the Lalande de Pomerol region as only the Barbanne River separates the two appellations.

We do not push vintage too hard here @ DB, but it is important to note that 2018 was what some refer to as a “legendary” vintage.  The 2018 vintage in Pomerol was awarded a huge 95 Pt Score by Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. The laws regarding winemaking are far more strict in Bordeaux than California, so we do see Mother Nature playing a more critical role in Bordeaux. Truth be told, as we previously mentioned, Denis Durantou can make great wine in any vintage. 2012 was far from a key vintage release, and he produced a 100 Pt wine in that vintage.

92+ Pts Jeb Dunnuck - Brought up in 30% new French oak and based on an 80/20 split of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Château La Chenade has a classy, beautiful nose of crème de cassis, dried tobacco, lead pencil, and earth. This carries to a vibrant, medium-bodied Lalande de Pomerol with fine yet present tannins, a solid spine of acidity, and a great finish. It's another release from Denis Durantou that's going to benefit from just short-term cellaring and cruise for a decade.

- A pleasing wine with plum, chocolate and walnut character. Medium body, nice integration of fine tannins and a savory finish. Try after 2022.

The 2018 La Chenade is composed of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc with 30% new oak. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, it opens with notes of tar, licorice and cracked black pepper, leading to a core of baked black plums, boysenberries and blackberry pie, plus a waft of woodsmoke. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers loads of earth-laced blackberry flavors with a frame of ripe, rounded tannins and bags of freshness, finishing savory. 2022 - 2035.