94

Antonio Galloni

Vinous

The 2022 Les Cruzelles is ample, rich and explosive, just as it was en primeur. Dark-toned fruit, gravel, incense, crushed rocks, lavender and dried herbs soar out of the glass. The long, sustained finish suggests the 2022 will enjoy a long and rewarding life. A wine of substance and heft, Les Cruzelles is seriously impressive. Readers should expect a potent, brooding red. 01/2025

93

Neal Martin

Vinous

As I wrote during primeur, the 2022 Les Cruzelles has plenty of fruit on the nose, especially following the more tightly coiled La Chenade. A black cherry note, a touch of cassis and a sprig of wild mint come through with time. This is quite exuberant and captivating. The palate is medium-bodied with a powerful entry that lacquers the mouth. Saturated tannins and fine acidity create a luxuriant Lalande-de-Pomerol with immense purity toward the finish. This delightful, slightly hedonistic wine from the Durantou stable should be tempered by time. 01/2025

90-92

William Kelley

Robert Parker/Wine Advocate

More serious and structured than La Chenade, the 2022 Les Cruzelles unwinds in the glass with aromas of cherries and blackberries mingled with hints of licorice and mint. Medium to full-bodied, lively and layered, it's built around powdery structuring tannins that gently assert themselves on the finish. 06/2023

95

Jeb Dunnuck

Jeb Dunnuck

Cut from the same cloth as the La Chenade, the 2022 Château Les Cruzelles is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc raised in 50% new French oak. It's beautifully textured and medium to full-bodied on the palate, with a beautiful sense of freshness in its juicy black cherries, cassis, chocolaty herbs, and graphite driven-aromatics. This beautifully layered, pure, seamless 2022 will be a giant killer in a blind lineup. 02/2025

93

Jean-Marc Quarin

Jean-Marc Quarin

Couleur très sombre. Nez intense, subtil, au fruité mûr, se développant sur des nuances de fruits rouges et de fleurs à l'agitation du verre. Minutieux à l'attaque, subtil et soyeux en milieu de bouche, avec un beau toucher, le vin monte vers une longue finale à la saveur de fruits noirs et au grain fin. C'est riche, profond et long. 02/2025

94

James Suckling

James Suckling

A dense and flavorful Lalande de Pomerol with plums and opulence as well as firm and velvety tannins that give it length and intensity. Medium- to full-bodied with plenty of fruit and creamy texture. Merlot-driven. 80% merlot and 20% cabernet franc. Drink after 2027. 01/2025