A perennial no-brainer, the 2019 Château Montlandrie sports a vivid purple hue as well as a gorgeous bouquet of juicy black cherries, blueberries, tobacco, and cedarwood, with some classic chalky minerality in the background. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has terrific purity of fruit, silky tannins, and a great finish. I’d be thrilled to have bottles in the cellar, and it should have 10-15 years of longevity.

Blueberries and dark cherries with walnuts and hazelnuts. Some nutmeg, too. Medium-bodied with firm, polished tannins and a flavorful finish. Very fine tannins. Drink after 2025, but already gorgeous.

The 2019 Montlandrie is composed of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, it gallops out with energetic notes of juicy black plums and black cherries followed by wafts of clove oil, lavender, and espresso. The full-bodied palate is chock full of black fruits with a firm, grainy texture and earth-laced finish.

The 2019 Montlandrie has quite an intense nose with blackberry, briary and desiccated orange peel scents, nicely delineated and focused. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, cedar-infused black fruit, fresh and nicely structured with a quasi-Médoc finish that conveys a sense of energy. Very fine. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. Drink 2025-2042.