Château Les Cruzelles Lalande de Pomerol Rouge 2023

Château Les Cruzelles 2022 / Lalande-de-Pomerol, Bordeaux, France

Dark, silky and impressively polished, Château Les Cruzelles 2022 shows why this Denis Durantou estate is so often treated as one of the reference points for Lalande-de-Pomerol. It opens with black cherry, plum and black raspberry, layered with liquorice, cocoa, rose petal, spice and a subtle mineral edge. The palate is medium to full-bodied, plush and concentrated, with ripe Merlot fruit wrapped around finely grained tannins and a fresh, lifted finish. There’s plenty of 2022 generosity here, but also precision and poise, giving the wine a distinctly Pomerol-like sense of texture and depth.

Made from 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, the wine was aged in 50% new oak, bringing polish and structure without overwhelming the fruit. The Durantou family’s work in Lalande-de-Pomerol has long shown how serious these “satellite” appellations can be, and Les Cruzelles sits firmly in that sweet spot: more depth and grip than many everyday Right Bank reds, but still offering real value compared with neighbouring Pomerol.

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Grape Variety: Merlot, Cabernet Franc

Style: Red – Medium to full-bodied, polished, structured Bordeaux

Drink Window: 2027 – 2045

Perfect For: Roast lamb, beef tenderloin, duck, mushroom dishes, aged cheeses

Critic Scores:

94 points - James Suckling
94 points - The Wine Cellar Insider
93 points - Chris Kissack / The Wine Independent
91-93 points - Neal Martin / Vinous

A superb Right Bank Bordeaux with serious pedigree - dark, supple and beautifully textured, offering a generous taste of Pomerol-style luxury without quite the Pomerol price tag.