Château Montrose
AOC Saint-Estèphe
2nd Growth
Five kilometres north of Pauillac in Saint-Estèphe, the northernmost appellation in the Médoc, Château Montrose is situated on a very well-drained and ideally exposed gravelly outcrop which runs for over a kilometre along the Gironde estuary.
After two centuries of history and three families of owners, Chateau Montrose was acquired in 2006 by Martin and Olivier Bouygues. In 7 years, Montrose was submit to spectacular reconstruction, combined both dimension – architectural and environmental. Today Chateau has a High Environmental Quality approach.
Situation
Covers 95-hectares
Grape varieties
60 % cabernet sauvignon, 32 % merlot, 6 % cabernet franc, 2% Petit Verdot
Soil
Gravel mixed with sand on the surface over a clay-rich subsoil
Ageing
Matured for 18 months in 60% new French oak barrels
Available Vintages
Alcohol
12,5°
Blending
Cabernet-Sauvignon 73%, Merlot 24%, Cabernet franc 3%
Description
Crimson and dense color. Complex nose: leather, black fruits, brown tobacco. Fresh and silky on the palate: dark chocolate, cocoa, blackberries, and blackcurrant. Nice wine, clean, classic, gourmet, elegant, complex, open. Fine, elegant, melted tannins.
Tasting
“For me, it is that loamy character that defines the nose freshly tilled, damp soil that tinctures the black fruit that takes you straight to this particular château. This is classic through and through and very well defined. The palate is wonderful with very fine delineation, pitch-perfect acidity, touches of graphite infusing the red and black fruit that dovetails into a very pretty, floral finish. This is clearly one of the great wines of the 1996 vintage and I would be stocking up as much as I could, because it will give 30-40 years of pleasure.” – Wine Advocate
Alcohol
12,5°
Blending
Cabernet-Sauvignon 63%, Merlot 31%, Cabernet franc 4%, Petit Verdot 2%
Description
Dense, almost black color. Complex and still closed nose: tobacco, black fruits, sour cherry. Long and ample on the palate: morello cherry, blackcurrant, liquorice. Very nice wine, clean, dense, powerful, full; still closed and complex. Tannins melted and dressed in a very pretty material. Nice long and powerful finish.
Tasting
“I afforded it a couple of hours in the glass and it responded with plenty of pure ripe blackberry and raspberry fruit, hints of cold slate and even charcoal emerging with time. The palate is not as complex as the aforementioned 2005, yet there is wonderful backbone and focus; towards the finish there is a sense of suppleness and refinement that might make this absolutely delicious in 5-7 years’ time. Perhaps the 2000 has been usurped by subsequent releases in 2005, 2009 and 2010, but do not be surprised if it evolves into a regal Montrose.” – Wine Advocate
Alcohol
13,5°
Blending
Cabernet-Sauvignon 68%, Merlot 25%, Cabernet franc 7%
Description
The color is dark and dense, almost ink-like. The nose is rich and complex with aromas of cedar, blackcurrant, crushed blackberries and a light note of liquorice. An extremely fresh aromatic profile. The mouth is ample and rich with incredibly smooth tannins. This Montrose is very refined and elegant. It has a remarkable length and finish. This majestic Montrose is fresh with a beautiful potential for ageing.
Tasting
“Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2016 Montrose is a little youthfully shy to begin, but with coaxing, it unfurls to reveal the most beguiling scents of wilted roses, oolong tea, crushed rocks, wild sage, star anise and candied violets over a wonderfully pristine, well-defined core of crushed blackcurrants, black raspberries and kirsch plus wafts of pencil lead and wood smoke. The taut, muscular, medium to full-bodied palate straddles jaw-dropping intensity and finesse superbly, featuring a solid backbone of ripe tannins and giving a firm frame right through the incredibly long, exquisitely nuanced finish.” – Wine Advocate
