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

    Château Montrose, 2ème Cru Classé, St Estèphe,

    Destination

    Château Montrose, 2ème Cru Classé, St Estèphe, 2009

    Justerini & Brooks Tasting note
    Château Montrose, 2ème Cru Classé, St Estèphe, 2009

    When Montrose is good, it really is very good indeed and the 2009 Montrose is an absolute stunner. Montrose had the dubious honour of being our first tasting on Monday morning, but our team left lifted and enthused to taste more. The terroir here always benefits from the hotter, drier vintages and in 2009 Jean Delmas has crafted a wine of exquisite beauty, charm and power. 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and just 1% Petit Verdot. Notes of cassis, violets, spices, graphite, truffles, crushed rocks, liquorice and brambles are demurely released from the glass. This is a dense offering, packed with sensual blackberries and dark brooding fruit; however, there is an austerity and strictness, which makes this wine complete. Despite the enormous concentration, there is sleekness to the fruit and a satin texture that makes this wine handsome and true. Splendid!

    Maturity:
    Keep/Drink
    ABV:
    14%
    98/100
    Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
    Gorgeously dark and vibrant fruit, with gunsmoke and campfire, concentrated cassis and blackberry pastille, grilled almond, saffron and pomegrante, luscious but measured, showing the inky character that seems to be at the heart of the best Cabernets of this vintage, with their ripe but not overly exuberant classicism. Organic conversion, to be certified 2025. The first vintage this 1st wine of Montrose is coming only from the section of the vineyard located on Terrace 4 of the Médoc gravel banks that line the Garonne river along the peninsula. Following soil studies from Pierre Becheler, this comprises 35% of the overall production in 2023, or 45ha of vines, and is the historic heart of the property. Pierre Grafeuille director, Vincent Decup technical director.
    Date Reviewed:
    05/2024
    Drinking Window:
    2032 - 2048
    97-99/100
    Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent
    Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2023 Montrose gallops out of the glass with intense scents of crushed blackcurrants, fresh blackberries, and raspberries along with nuances of licorice, crushed rocks, and mossy tree bark plus a hint of iron ore. The medium-bodied palate has impressive tension and tight-knit black and red berry flavors intertwined with mineral accents, framed by fine-grained tannins, finishing long and sparkly. The first wine accounted for only 35% of the estate's production this year. The blend is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc, with pH 3.70.
    Date Reviewed:
    05/2024
    Drinking Window:
    2030 - 2060
    96-98/100
    Neal Martin, Vinous
    The 2023 Montrose is focused on the original terroir of the estate, known as Terrace 4, located in front of the river. It comprises 45 hectares, around 12 to 15 hectares less than previous vintages so as to capture the expression of Montrose classified in 1855. Picked from September 5 to 28 and matured in 60% new oak, this has a very intense and focused bouquet: pure black fruit with just a touch of strawberry, hints of violet petals developing in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-boned tannins—very pure, with pitch-perfect acidity. This gains depth toward the finish but maintains a sense of linearity that ensures it is one of the vintage’s finest contributions from the Left Bank. Magnificent.
    Date Reviewed:
    04/2024
    Drinking Window:
    2033 - 2075

    specifications

    country:
    France
    region:
    Bordeaux
    Appellation:
    St Estèphe
    Producer:
    Château Montrose
    style:
    Red Wine
    Grape Variety:
    Cab Sauvignon Merlot
    Allergen Information:
    This product may contain sulphites. Full allergen information is available upon request, please call our Customer Relations Team on +44 (0)20 7484 6430.