List of products by brand CHÂTEAU LA CHENADE
Château la Chenade is a red wine from Lalande-de-Pomerol, produced by the Durantou family. Its name pays direct homage to Denis Durantou's great-grandparents, who farmed vines near the lieu-dit la Chênaie. Sourced from the young vines of Château Les Cruzelles, it represents a rigorous and personal approach to this Bordeaux appellation on the Right Bank.
A family name rooted in Lalande-de-Pomerol
Lalande-de-Pomerol is a Gironde appellation that sits immediately north of Pomerol, separated from it by the Barbanne stream. It shares much of the same geological character — clay-gravel and sandy soils that favour Merlot above all — while offering wines of genuine depth at a more accessible level than its celebrated neighbour. Denis Durantou is one of the most respected names on the Right Bank, known principally for his work at Château L'Eglise-Clinet in Pomerol. Château la Chenade represents something more personal: a return to family roots, the name itself evoking the oak grove where his great-grandparents once tended their vines. That sense of continuity — between generations, between parcels, between appellations — gives this château a coherence that goes well beyond its position as a second wine.
Terroir: clay-gravel and sandy soils on the Right Bank
The vineyards of Château la Chenade sit on the characteristic soils of Lalande-de-Pomerol: a mix of argilo-graveleux (clay-gravel) and sandy ground that provides both good drainage and the moisture retention that Merlot requires to ripen evenly. These soils lend the wines their supple texture and rounded fruit, with the clay fraction contributing structure and the gravel adding a degree of freshness and mineral definition. The Cabernet Franc component, though secondary in the blend, plays an important role in shaping the aromatic profile — introducing floral lift and a fine herbal edge that prevents the wine from becoming too plush or one-dimensional.
Winemaking: young vines, careful selection
Château la Chenade is produced from the young vines of Château Les Cruzelles, the Durantou family's principal estate in Lalande-de-Pomerol. Rather than blending young-vine fruit into the grand vin, the family vinifies it separately under this label — a practice that reflects both rigour in the main wine and a commitment to quality across the range. The result is a wine that carries the hallmarks of the Durantou style: precise fruit, well-integrated structure, and a genuine sense of place.
The wines of Château la Chenade
- Château la Chenade Rouge — Lalande-de-Pomerol AOC: a Merlot-led blend with Cabernet Franc, grown on clay-gravel and sandy soils. Supple, fruit-forward, and true to its appellation, with the structure to reward a few years in the cellar.
Why we have selected Château la Chenade
At Halles Quercamps, we have followed the Durantou family's work across the Right Bank for many years. What drew us to Château la Chenade is the clarity of its purpose: this is not a négociant label or a commercial second wine in the pejorative sense, but a genuinely site-specific wine with a family story behind it. The connection to Château Les Cruzelles ensures a consistent level of winemaking care, while the Lalande-de-Pomerol appellation offers the kind of honest, terroir-driven character that we look for when building a cellar without over-extending the budget.
We recommend this château to enthusiasts who appreciate the Right Bank style — generous Merlot fruit, soft tannins, early approachability — but want something with a little more story and substance than a generic appellation wine. At the table, it pairs well with magret de canard, roast lamb with herbs, or a well-aged Comté. It can be enjoyed from release but will reward two to four years of patience.
Discover all wines from Château la Chenade
Browse our full selection of bottles from this château in the listings below, and find the vintage that suits your cellar or your next occasion.
