Château Montrose, 2ème Cru Classé, St Estèphe, 2015
Herve Berland and his team are producing striking wines from one of the northern Medoc's finest terroirs. There has been such precision to the wine-making in recent wines, and 2015 is no exception. This is not a grand Montrose like 2009 or 2010, but it is beautifully poised, nuanced and subtle. Produced from 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc; aromas of damson liqueur, mulberry, fine herbs, crème de mûre and wonderfully perfumed fruit emerge from the bouquet. The palate is fleshy, with fine mineral infused dark cherry fruit and morello cherries; it is sweet and engaging and subtly long. In fact, the tannic quality is quite exceptional; clear, unbridled, haunting flavours linger, suggesting that this is grander than first impressions suggest. A very beautiful Montrose.
critic reviews
The 2015 Montrose was showing a little TCA on the nose. A second bottle was showing more fruit with high-toned black cherry and bilberry scents. The palate is very minty, youthful and primal on the entry. This is medium-bodied with dry tannins, but it feels stripped and simple on the finish. Tasted blind at the 2015 Bordeaux Ten-Year-On tasting.
Understated aromatics that need a good five minutes in the glass to open up, this goes long on brambled dark fruits, plenty of slate, graphite, crushed rocks and crayon, impressively slow release of flavours and textures, if not the deep dive through the mid palate of the 2014 or 2016 at this property. It is slowly but surely heading towards its drinking window, and can be drunk now with a long carafe. The smallest selection for the grand vin for 15 years. Hervé Berland technical director.
Only 36% of the production went into the 2015 Montrose, a wine that's reminiscent of a smaller-scaled, less profound version of the estate's 2009. Bursting with aromas of dark berries, cigar wrapper, loamy soil, incense and smoke, it's full-bodied, broad and ample, with a rich, enveloping profile and a long, expansive finish. The 2014 has more potential, but if you're looking for a Montrose vintage to drink young, this is it.
With a blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc, the 2015 Montrose has a deep garnet color. It comes bounding out of the glass with ready-to-play notes of crushed blackberries, Morello cherries, and blackcurrant cordial, plus wafts of lilacs, Chinese five spice, and tobacco leaf. Medium-bodied, the palate delivers a lively backbone and grainy tannins to successfully support the gregarious black and red berry flavors, finishing long with a spicy kick.