Les Cruzelles 2023

The 2023 Les Cruzelles is a total knockout. Strong savory and herbal notes soar from the glass. Inky and deeply pitched, Les Cruzelles is seriously impressive right out of the gate. Its purity, persistence and saline-drenched drive make for a truly exceptional wine. Readers who own the 2023 should be thrilled.

This is one of the best young Lalande de Pomerols I have had. It is very deep and complex on the palate, with pure fruit, spice and chocolate. Lovely tannins, too. 80% merlot and 20% cabernet sauvignon.

Smoky black fruits, spring flowers, violets, graphite, and chocolaty oak all emerge from the 2023 Château Les Cruzelles, a deeper ruby-hued, slightly more serious and age-worthy effort based on 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc that was aged in 55% new French oak. It would do just fine in a lineup of impressive Pomerol! Medium to full-bodied, it has nicely integrated oak, a balanced, layered mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's going to have 15+ years of prime drinking. Drink 2026-2041.

A vintage where the gap between Cruzelles and La Chenade is wide, and even on the nose it is clear that there are more depths and density to this wine. Love the texture, the depth of raspberry and damson fruits, shot through with black tea, sage and fennel. This is really a brilliant Cruzelles, 55% new oak. Harvest September 1 to 18. 42hl/h yield. Noëmie Durantou winemaker.

A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, Les Cruzelles 2023 is deep garnet-purple in color. After a couple of swirls, vibrant notes of plum preserves, blackberry pie, and boysenberry preserves leap from the glass, followed by nuances of red roses, licorice, and tapenade. The medium to full-bodied palate is charged with energetic black fruit and mineral flavors, supported by nice, ripe, rounded tannins and seamless acidity, finishing long and wonderfully pure.

The 2023 Les Cruzelles, the Lalande de Pomerol from the Durantou family, aged in 50% new oak, has a more mineral-driven bouquet compared to La Chenade. Here, 20% Cabernet Franc lends another dimension. The palate is medium-bodied with very supple tannins, fleshy with gentle grip. Black pepper and sage emerge toward the finish that has real intent and purpose. As such, I might afford this two or three years in bottle.

The 2023 Les Cruzelles initially presents a slightly oaky aroma, which transitions to a more floral essence upon aeration. Then it evokes aromas of dark wild berries, spices and mulberries. Medium-bodied, round and charming, it has velvety tannins and a dense, elegant mid-palate, with a long, rich and fruity finish. It's a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc matured in 55% new oak.