La Dame de Montrose, St Estèphe, 2014
Yet another second wine with grand vin pretentions. Very handsome and complete for a second label, this opens with aromas of earth, smoke, tobacco, flowers and fine hedgerow fruits. Ripe, bold and fluid, this is surprisingly complex and nuanced, with a lacy, wispy quality to the fruit; it fans out with sweet fruited tannins and finishes with a refreshing salinity and long noble flavours. 71% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc.
critic reviews
The 2014 La Dame de Montrose is more precocious than Lafon-Rochet on the nose, with hints of dried cherries and black olive compote infusing the black fruit, touches of humidor and red brick. The palate is medium-bodied with dusky black fruit, fine tannins and a little austerity towards the finish, though at least it does exude Saint-Estèphe DNA. Give it a year in bottle. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting.
The 2014 La Dame de Montrose is medium to deep garnet in color. Notes of leather sofa, cigar box, and dusty soil lead to a core of black cherry preserves and Christmas cake plus a hint of lavender oil. The medium-bodied palate is lively and ready to drink, offering lightly chewy tannins and a savory finish.
Intense, smoky, plenty of black fruit, who doesn't love this 2nd wine of Château Montrose? It's a vintage that is often overlooked, particularly after the run of great years Bordeaux has had recently, but it's at a great moment to open right now, and delivers a ton of St Estèphe and Left Bank typicity, with crayon and graphite. Harvest September 22 to October 16.
The 2014 La Dame de Montrose lagged a long way behind the superlative Grand Vin at primeur, but has since made up some ground. Now in bottle, it has a nicely poised bouquet with red cherries, bilberry and crushed violets. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity, tightly wound and linear, a conservative La Dame de Montrose that I suspect will age better than I originally thought.