La Dame de Montrose, St Estèphe, 2019
Re-tasted in November 2025, the glorious Dame de Montrose 2019 continues to improve and impress. This is drop dead gorgeous. Opening with a fabulous bouquet of cut flowers, sweet berries and gentle cedar, these aromas segue into a sumptuous core of floral accented cassis and raspberry, with notes of iris, lilac and graphite. The tannins are caressing and gentle, tantalising the palate with hints of sweet summer berries and minerals. A really impressive second wine with better precision and more refinement than many a Grand Vin!
critic reviews
The 2019 La Dame de Montrose is a touch richer and more giving than its 2016 counterpart, delivering aromas of dark berries, cherries and plum liqueur along with licorice and petals. Medium to full-bodied, supple and fleshy, it's velvety and expressive out of the gates, reflecting the dominant presence of ripe Merlot in the blend.
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2019 La Dame de Montrose features bright, evocative scents of black raspberries, boysenberries, and fragrant earth, plus nuances of star anise and unsmoked cigars. The medium to full-bodied palate has a fine-grained texture and just enough acidity to match the vibrant black berry and earthy layers, finishing long with a spicy lift.
The 2019 La Dame de Montrose has an open, fresh and energetic nose with blackberry and cedar scents, joined by black pepper and graphite with time. You might describe it as a "strapping" bouquet. The palate is medium-bodied with graphite-infused black fruit, pliant tannins, edgy with a persistent and satisfying finish. This is very promising and quite sophisticated - a Deuxième Vin that has improved since bottling. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.
Depth and power through the mid palate, good quality tannins, this is classically restrained St Estèphe power, with savoury yet juicy black fruits. Living up to its potential En Primeur, one to look out for, and a strong 2nd wine that beats out many 1st wines in the vintage. If you liked the Dame de Montrose 2010, get on board with this.