Château Montrose, 2ème Cru Classé, St Estèphe, 2019

2019 marked an important step in the progression of our environmental approach, which now concerns the entire vineyard. This year, the good climatic conditions combined with our "green" farming methods enabled us to obtain a beautiful harvest combining quality and quantity. A great vintage ending in "9" and one of the hottest of the past decade. The exceptionally mild and dry winter was marked by temperatures above average for the season. On 13 and 14 April, our vineyard, which benefits from the moderating influence of the estuary, was spared from frost. The rains in the two first weeks of June led us to fear the development of disease but the vines remained in very good health and we maintained our environmental course. During the two heatwaves in June and July, our clay soils and their great capacity to regulate water allowed the vines to avoid water stress. Full flowering, uniform and quick, took place during the first week of June. The first signs of colour change appeared from 30 July. A uniform veraison followed, slowed down by cool and rainy weather in August. Despite some intermittent rain harvest took place under good conditions from 19 September to 8 October. Our intra-plot picing followed by tailor-made vinification allowed us this year to obtain 77 batches of free-run wine and 7 batches of press wine for our blends. The high quality of the Merlot batches allowed us this year, as in 2009, to increase the proportion of this grape variety in the final blend to 30%. The first tastings suggest a vintage very close to the 2016 with a beautiful structure of ripe, precise, concentrated tannins placing it among the great vintages of Montrose. 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 1 % Petit Verdot