France

Cabernet Sauvignon

Merlot

Cabernet Franc

Petit Verdot

Ch. Montrose

Chateau Montrose 2eme Cru Classe Saint-Estephe

Bordeaux

Saint-Estephe

This was an extreme vintage, with very little water and very hot. The 2003 Montrose is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-brick in color, it is a little closed to start off, soon unfurling to deliver evocative creme de cassis, blackberry preserves, and fruitcake scents, giving way to hints of tobacco leaf, new leather, dusty soil, and fennel seed. The medium-bodied palate is completely coated with black fruit and savory layers, supported by firm, chewy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing earthy.

by Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW

Famously a successful 2003, due to the location of Montrose next to the river at a spot when the Estuary is opening up, around 3km wide at this point, bringing essential breezes in the heat. There are still some pretty tight tannins even at going on 20 years old, and overall this is just so spicy and yet juicy. Roasted plums and blackberries, liqourice root, pencil lead, spiced cinnamon and turmeric, with fresher bay leaf and saffron notes on the finish. Love it.

Inside Bordeaux

@LaTupina. Chateau Montrose 2003 magnum. Dekantert 3 timer. Sjokkerende fresh. Sex in a bottle. Frisk frukt herfra til evigheten. En gedigen opptur etter mange 2003 med svak friskhet. Hvordan har Montrose klart dette? Alt i perfekt balanse. Frisk og god å drikke nå, men frukt nok for de neste 50-60 år. Perfekt drikke til La Tupinas Cote de boeff. 99 poeng uten at jeg vet hva jeg trekker for.

Expert

Deep garnet-purple colored. Prances out with energetic notes of black raspberries, black currant jelly, and kirsch, leading to hints of wet slate, mossy tree bark, dried mint, and forest floor, with a touch of rose oil. The light to medium-bodied palate is like a tightly coiled string, revealing great tension and firm, fine-grained tannins to support, finishing very long and minerally. Nicely done!

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.

The 2022 Montrose is composed of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, aging in 60% new oak. Deep garnet-purple in color, it slowly unfurls to offer a gorgeous perfume of violets, star anise, wilted roses, cumin seed, and garrigue, giving way to a core of blackcurrant pastilles, boysenberry preserves, and kirsch. The full-bodied palate is a firework display of graceful, highly nuanced fruit, featuring mineral, floral, black fruit, and red berry sparks, supported by very firm, super-ripe tannins and incredible freshness, finishing very long, vibrant, and shimmery. The yield was 31 hl/ha and the First Wine represents 50% of the 2022 production. The quality of the press wine was high this year, and 13% was included in the blend. pH 3.78, TPI 85.

A blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, the 2021 Montrose is deep garnet-purple in color. It needs some patient swirling to reveal notes of iron ore, mossy tree bark, and chalk dust, leading to a core of fresh blackcurrants, kirsch, and lilacs, plus a hint of pencil shavings. The light to medium-bodied palate is tightly coiled, offering shimmery layers of minerals, black and red berries, and fragrant earth-inspired flavors, supported by a fine-grained texture, finishing with great freshness and length. Impactful!

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2020 Montrose strides confidently out of the glass with classic scents of cassis, pencil shavings, and plum preserves followed by wafts of violets, tilled soil, and tapenade with a touch of wood smoke. The medium-bodied palate is tightly wound with loads of black fruit and savory layers and a firm, grainy texture, finishing with epic length and a refreshing lift.

The 2019 Montrose is a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, it bursts with bold notes of stewed black plums, boysenberry preserves, blackcurrant jelly, and kirsch, plus touches of garrigue, lavender oil, and anise. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers a lot of energy, with vibrant black fruits, firm, grainy tannins, and great tension, finishing very long and fragrant.

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Montrose comes bounding out with powerful notes of blackcurrant cordial, chocolate-covered cherries, blueberry compote, and red roses, followed by scents of Indian spices, graphite, and dusty soil. The medium to full-bodied palate is full-on concentrated and decadent, yet has a beautifully crafted structure of firm, fine-grained tannins and balancing freshness, finishing long and spicy.

Ruby red. Dark and intense with vanilla, spice, blueberries, blackcurrant and minerals. Fresh acidity. Delicate and powerful. Crisp and refreshing. Cherry stones, blackcurrant, blueberries and some red currant. Balanced and very young. Powerful grippy, but polished tannins. Very long.

Drink from 2035-2070

One of the greatest Montrose of the new millennium, this is a stunning wine that will give pleasure for decades to come. The richness of the texture is clear from the first pour, as is the depth of concentration in its plum colour. Powerful, balanced, cocoa bean, liqourice, espresso, slate, cassis, bilberry, damson. Slow progress thorugh the palate, feels supple yet restrained, and only just beginning its progress - one that you can without a shadow of a doubt wait another decade or more before opening. Harvest September 22 to October 17. Hervé Berland director, owned by the Bouygues family.

A wall of tannins on the opening beats makes it feel a little stricter at this point than the 2014, but as it opens you get a rollout of blueberry, raspberry, redcurrant and cassis fruits. There is charm here although it needs another few years to come out of itself, and remains knitted down right now. Serious potential that has deepened and gained complexity since its initial showing En Primeur; but it still shows that the 2015 vintage was less successful than 2016 in this particular appellation. The smallest selection for the grand vin for 15 years.

Aroma av lakris, plomme, vanilje, moreller, solbær, sjokolade,

elegant tanninstruktur, imponerende til årgangen, clean frukt

Smakt på slottet

Poeng 94

WSET 2

Underwhelming for such a sterling 2nd wine, and one that is known to do well in challenging years. You will find the memory of blackcherry fruits, and it retains fine tannins, and an upward kick of acidity and freshness, but is very much in its drinking window, and those tobacco and undergrowth notes are only going one way.

Muscular tannins, bitter chocolate shavings. Feels upright and military, the polar opposite to Cos d'Estournel, in the way that Mouton is so different to Lafite. It's enjoyable, has a long life ahead, still austere at 10 years old, tobacco, cigar, you feel the architecture and the confidence as it sretches out through the palate, successful but reserved. Harvest September 24 to October 20.

Solbær, blåbær, pepper, nellik, aske, jernbanesviller, kanel og vanilje. Kompleks, dyp  og passe utviklet. Blomstret godt etter 2-3 timer. Drikker godt nå. Ettersmaken sitter veldig lenge.
93-94p

This is up there with the best of the tastings, just nods past the 2009. Less generous perhaps but here you see the beauty and precision of the construction, and the ability to just knock the fruit and tannins out of the park - I love both, but this has the edge in terms of juice, and the Left Bank classicism of bilberry, cassis, olive, mint leaf, graphite, scraping texture and vertical lift on the finish. Jean-Bernard Delmas director.

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2009 Montrose prances out with showy notes of blackcurrant preserves, blackberry pie, dark chocolate, anise, and violets with touches of menthol and fallen leaves. The medium to full-bodied is jam packed with impactful black fruit preserves, supported by firm, ripe, grainy tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing with epic length and wonderfully fragrant.

There was rain in September this year, and then a lot more rain in October. Veraison was late and uneven, resulting in a late harvest from 29 September to 15 October. "We had to wait until October for the Cabernet Sauvignon to reach good phenolic maturity." The 2008 Montrose is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, and is deep garnet in color with a touch of brick at the rim. After a swirl or two, a classic nose of creme de cassis and cigar box emerges, fanning out to offer notes of dried roses, incense, star anise, and pencil shavings. The medium-bodied palate has a sturdy structure of chewy tannins and plenty of freshness to support the maturing black fruit and mineral layers, finishing on a ferrous note.

Ruby red. Delicate nose with exotic spice, blackcurrant, cassis, leather and light tobacco. Fresh acidity. Blueberries, blackcurrant, leather and minerals. Structured. Long.

The 2007 vintage was wet and cold. Were it not for the warm September the whole vintage might have been lost. Some years ago I am guessing that several Châteaus would not even have made wine.

The 2007 Montrose is quite nice now, but no rush. Drink now or over the next 15 years or so?

A high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon is reflected in the flavour profile, and this remains a young wine at 15 years old, but like many 2006s lacks a little generosity right now. Plenty of classic St Estephe character that is likely to follow the same ageing pattern as the 2000 - remaining stubborn for another few years, but giving great pleasure when it finally opens up. Blue and black fruits, tobacco leaf, firm tannins, black peppery, juice and slate minerality on the finish. Harvest September 18 to October 3. First year that Jean-Bernard Delmas, ex-Haut-Brion, was in charge (the Bouygues had taken over in January 2006, and he was immediately appointed CEO).

The last year for Montrose under the Charmolüe family, before the Bouygues bought in 2006. Inky plum in colour, moreish from the very first sip. So juicy, such well controlled extraction, balanced but intense and concentrated, with layers of still-vibrant cassis, bilberry, eucalyptus and cocoa bean. You can now clearly see where this is heading, but it will continue to build over the next few years, and then stay on the plateau for decades. Proof that whatever the Bouygues paid for it the following year, they were getting one of the greatest estates in the Médoc. 60% new oak.

The nose is fruity with black currants and there is cedar and tobacco. It is nicely balanced. The palate is fruity and a bit rustic. This is a very good 2004. 93 points.

Ruby red. Spice, leather, tobacco, blackcurrant and minerals. Fresh acidity. Playful. Dark berries, leather and cedar wood. Balanced. Nice integrated tannins. Very long.

Drink from 2021-2050

Bjørnebær, mørke solbær, tobakk, sedertre, trekrydder, sopp, hint av vanilje, lakris, eukalyptus, egentlig en ganske rød elegant frukt- parfymert stil, med en dyp lukt på nesen. 

Mørk frukt på smak, med preg av solbær, blåbær, jordlig mørke bjørnebær, sedertre, og lakris. Medium syre, med god kosentrasjon. Bra lengde, og lekker finesse. 

Rett fra flasken gir vinen brente kaffebønner, lær og ikke mye frukt på nesen. I munnen fin balanse, med høy syre og en fin ettersmak av samme kaffen som var på nesen. Bra tanningrep, og høy bitende syre. Mangler litt frukt for å være balansert. Fortsatt en strålende vin som vil gjøre seg bra til mat. Etter 10 timer i åpen flaske blir det tydelig at vinen mangler frukt.

Sommelier

Fin nese på den jordlige siden, masse stall, og litt volatil. I munnen overraskende ren, åpen givende frukt mot sol- og blåbær. Ikke en svært intens vin, men rund og svært sjarmerende. Fine og markante tanniner som holder vinen sammen. Bedre i munnen enn på nesen. Etter 10 timer i åpen flaske er nesen fortsatt på samme spor, men nå med mer brett. I munnen flott konsentrert frukt. Bra lengde.

drukket blindt på smaking. 

Identifiserer lett at dette er bdx-blendt, men kjennes vesentlig yngre ut enn 1996. 
Gir både litt blyant, solbær, lær, og litt kjøtt på nesen, litt vanilje med varmen og litt rosépepper. I munnen er dette ganske så primært med mest frukt og litt vanilje med lær og skogbunn. God syre og fortsatt gode tanniner på denne. Høy konsentrasjon og lang ettersmak. Ville foretrukket et stykke tørrhengt kjøtt til dette, litt krevende for u.t å drikke alene. Men en vellaget og digg vin.

The nose is fruity with black currants. There is also cedar, tobacco and graphite. It is clean and incredibly elegant. The palate is intensely fruity and structured with fine-grained, ripe and elegant tannins. It is complex and beautifully balanced. The finish is very long and complex. This one is perfectly mature now. I have had 5 bottles of this over the last 10 years and this is by far the best. It paired also nicely with Cote de Boeuf from Jæren. 95 points.

Ganske lukket rett fra flasken, minner om 96 og 95 men med et lite mer grønt preg. I munnen fin frukt som er tettere og mørkere enn de to forrige, en mer balansert vin enn 96, 95 med fin syrlighet mot den mørke og sødmefulle frukten. Mangler litt kompleksitet. Masse blyantkvess, hylle- og skogsbær, hvit pepper, i munnen syrlige hyllebær.

Svært stum på nesen, tørr papp og Cognac konfekt. I munnen ganske vandig og mangler frukten.

Nesen er floral mot det grønne, samt jordlig. Ingen mørk frukt eller dybde i denne nesen. I munnen røde syrlige bær, oppleves lett og litt vandig. Grei syre.

Nesen gir melkesjokolade og bjørnebær. Med luft litt aske og Sigar. I munnen litt volatil syre, fin fruktmodning som de øvrige 90. Bedre konsentrasjon en 92. Bra syre. Merker fortsatt at det ikke er topp fruktkvalitet eller konsentrasjon fra en god årgang.

Så utrolig elegant nese, lagvis og vanskelig å ta noe konkret da nesen utvikler seg løpende. Men klar ren solbærsfrukt, litt søt tobakk, aske og brett er å finne i aromabilde. Svært ren og ungdommelig nese, selv om det er en del brett på nesen. I munnen en ekstremt fyldig vin som har en perfekt balanse, strålende syrlighet som møter moden søt solbærsfrukt. Rå lengde. En stor vin på alle måter, men en flott sømløshet gjør dette til en fantastisk vin. Stor men ikke tung. Intens.

Mørk og rustikk nese med innslag av tobakk og hengt kjøtt. I munnen intens, fokusert, bra balanse med strålende syrlige og sødmefulle bær. Strukturert og deilig taningrep. Jeg synes vinen manglet litt friskhet.

Svært ungdommelig nese, med masse dyp mørk primærfrukt og nybrent kaffe. Nesten en burgundsk eleganse over nesen. I munnen svært dyp, konsentrert og mørk frukt. Flott syre og fine tanniner som er markante men ikke tørrende. Kompleks. Strukturert og intens.

Bright ruby with a garnet rim. Leather, tobacco, cigar, figs and dates. Fresh acidity. Playful with tobacco, cigar case, some cassis, figs and minerals. Balanced with a nice structure. Very long

Drink from 2021-2035(+)

Nesen starter litt volatilt. Det er også mye nydelig svart te, trebenk og hyllebær. Med luft søt tobakk. I munnen bedre balanse enn forventet ift nesen. Flott syrlig grep gjennom hele smakskurven, blå og solbær på smak, med en fin mineralsk finish. Jordlig og rustikk vin. Litt jern i finish.

Mye friskere frukt enn flaske 1 og hvor frukten går mot solbær. Noe brett, stall og høy. I munnen følger den rene frukten opp. Solbær. Topp syre og flotte tanniner, mineralsk, balansert.

Dag to, etter en natt i åpen flaske med ca 1 dl igjen i flasken, var denne vinen fortsatt svært flott, brett aromaene har roet seg ned, men det er fortsatt noe stall og lær på nesen. Syrlig kaffe og syrligere frukt mot nype. Balansert. Deilige tanniner som legger seg som et slør i munnen. Forsvarer poengsummen fra dagen før.

Klassisk bordeaux, mot det stramme. Ikke særlig fruktdreven, og noe sedertre og teak benk. I munnen en stor vin, masse pepper, mocca, kaffe og strålende kjølig solbærsfrukt. Bra lengde, fin syre, og slør tanniner.

ungdommelig nese, skogsbær, sutikk og jordlig, i munnen et strålende munngrep, ekstremt flott og intens syre som er helt gripende, fortsatt en flott og overraskende primær mørk frukt som holder balansen, medium + tanniner som er svært delikate selv om gripende. Strålende vin. Rustikk og kraftig.

På nesen kjeller og melkesjokolade. Litt uren nese hvor det også er noe støvete. Askebeger og gamle skinnsko, På smak mangler vinen frukt og fremstår litt inntørket, fin syre, men ubalansert.

På nesen gir vinen fløtekaramell og støvete kjeller. I munnen mangler det meste unntatt syre. Masse tanniner.

En nese som gir jern, skogbunn, tobakk o noe jordlig. Flott vin i munnen, luftig med strålende frukt. Dag to og vinen gir ingen strålende nese, litt volatil og har tapt seg. Imponerende hvordan frukten fortsatt holder stan i munnen. På alle måter en bedre vin den første dagen, men imponerende hvordan denne holder seg neste dag. Bekrefter at “strålende frukt” betegnelsen den første dagen nok ikke var helt off. 93p første dag.

Elegant nese, mørk frukt, kaffe, slipte tanniner, strålende lengde

servert blindt. Støvete og litt off på nesen. Aske, hengt kjøtt, kaffe og mocca. I munnen syrlige røde bær, fin syre, mangler lengde og fruktkvalitet.

servert blindt. Aske og hengt kjøtt, i munnen en fin middels konsentrasjon hvor frukten går mot gule frukter og hyllebær. Fin syre, men vinen er totalt sett ganske sliten.

Stor vin - rødfrukt - normal vin mot 1870 - saltaktig - murstein - lakris - perfekt balanse - støvete tanniner - meget lang 

veldig fin nese med Earl Gray te og nyper. Litt volatilitet i aromabilde, men ikke for mye. I munnen masse jern, fortsatt tilstedeværende frukt, blitt litt gammel, men frukten var virkelig bra. Ga den umiddelbart 91p, men er nok mer en 85er.

En bemerkelsesverdig vin - viser ikke «normal» frukt - mer som en konsentrert te med snev av kirsebær, ørlite gammelt skap, balansert, null oksidasjon, usedvanlig lang med noe edeltre på finish - sært og utfordrende

2024	No priceNot available	Extraordinary
2023	No priceNot available	Extraordinary
2022	No priceNot available	Extraordinary
2021	kr 2 290,00Not available	Extraordinary
2020	kr 1 962,30Available	Extraordinary

Category	Red wine
Vinmonopolet no.
Producer	Ch. Montrose
Vintages	2003
Country	France, Bordeaux, Saint-Estephe
Bottle	75 cl

Alcohol	13 %
Acid	4 %
Sugar	< 3 g/l

Packaging
Cork type
Selection
Wholesaler
Carrier