Holy Bacchus, that 1990 Pomerol went POOF on us now, did it not?!

Don’t fret, we have a Double Agent WIA the very last of our #2 favorite Bordeaux we imported this year exclusively for you, and it too is a well-cellared Right Bank…

Agent Noir prefers his Bordeaux aged. A decade is just enough for those telltale signs of maturity, a little tertiary character that can make this King of French wine regions so compelling.

Jeb Dunnuck calls it “A perennial no-brainer! One of those hidden gems from the Castillon region of Bordeaux, Château Montlandrie is a rock star of a wine that readers should snatch up!”

Those who are familiar with Bordeaux know of Pomerol’s L’Eglise-Clinet well. Same ownership as this, and the same school of winemaking, while the same vintage goes for about 10 TIMES what we got you this down to today. Under $30 for such pedigree, for a 2012 with impeccable provenance, is unheard of.

A Wine Spectator article on ‘Impressive Bordeaux Values’ declares “Montlandrie is a consistently delicious value from vigneron Denis Durantou, owner of L’Église Clinet in Pomerol. His wines brim with vivid raspberry fruit laced with enticing spice notes, but don’t rely on an overabundance of toasty oak.” Castillon is essentially a secret address within the Right Bank’s Côtes de Bordeaux appellations for such insane values like this that have strong ownership ties to top properties in Saint-Émilion and Pomerol.

Once again, being in the know matters in Bordeaux, Wine Spies eliminates the guesswork of finding such hidden gems in this vast region.

Déjà vu! Going, going…

92 Points – Tim Atkin MW

“Denis Durantou says he works as hard on his lesser wines as he does on L’Eglise-Clinet, and it shows. This is a dense wine for the price, with plump, sweet fruit, a hint of firmness on the finish, scented oak and the concentration to age. If you can’t afford L’Eglise-Clinet, this isn’t a bad alternative. Drink: 2018-2025.”

90 Points – Antonio Galloni’s Vinous

“The 2012 Montlandrie has an open and expressive bouquet with a mixture of red and black fruit, tobacco and light earthy scents; this is a little more floral than its peers which adds another layer of complexity. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins and a fine bead of acidity, lightly spiced with savory/dried iron notes filtering through on the granular finish. This has character. Drink 2022-2030.”