Chateau Les Cruzelles, Lalande de Pomerol (Bordeaux, France) 2019

 This wine was made during the last year of winemaker and Chateau-owner Denis Durantou’s life.  He is famous for the excellent wine he produced at Clos L’Eglise in Pomerol, but he also bought lesser known vineyards and upgraded the farming and winemaking to produce some world-class value in Lalande-de-Pomerol, here at Les Cruzelles as well as at Le Chanade.  I understand that his daughters have taken over daily operations and winemaking duties.  This is a blend of mostly Merlot with 20% Cabernet Franc which was aged in about 1/3 new oak.  Intense black raspberry aromas subsume the oak at this point in time.  I have had younger bottles closer to release where the plush fruit intensity might lull one into thinking that this was a plump, early drinking example showcasing the generosity of the 2019 vintage.  With another year of bottle age this is more overt with its inherent structure.  Its combination of dark, plush fruit and superb structure declare this an excellently balanced wine which is both accessible now and which should age well for decades.