CHATEAU MONTROSE 2eme Grand Cru Classe, Saint-Estephe 2010 Bottle

Description

The 2010 Château Montrose has garnered exceptional acclaim, receiving 99 points from Vinous for its stunning bouquet of black fruit, cedar, and tobacco, which develop further complexity over time. The palate showcases medium-bodied, supple tannins with a grainy texture, combined with fine acidity, resulting in impressive structure and density. Decanter awarded it 98 points, praising its intensity and intellectual quality, featuring autumnal black fruit along with hints of dark chocolate and pepper spice. The Wine Advocate rated it 97+ points, highlighting its youthful power and rich core of concentrated fruit framed by powerful tannins. James Suckling awarded it 97 points for its perfumed character and clean, vibrant finish, while Wine Enthusiast noted its elegance and long-term aging potential, solidifying Montrose's status as a standout vintage.

*****

Château Montrose is one of the leading wine properties of St.Estéphe, and produces some of the longest-lived wines in the Médoc. Montrose had been owned by Jean-Louis Charmolue from 1962 until 2006, when it was sold to Martin and Olivier Bouygues, owner of the eponymously named construction firm Bouygues, is located in the east of the appellation, just north of the hamlet of Marbuzet, on a gravel knoll only 800 metres from the Gironde estuary. The proximity of the estuary ensures a microclimate that protects against frost, and the vines, which lie on deep clay-gravel soils, benefit from a south-easterly aspect.

Montrose's wine is typically a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc and is matured in oak barriques (30% new) for 18 months.

Montrose wines are traditionally deeply coloured, austere and powerful when young, yet possess superb ageing potential, and when mature are quintessential St.Estèphe clarets.

VINOUS 99 points
The 2010 Montrose boasts a killer bouquet with beautifully delineated black fruit laced with cedar and tobacco. With time its sous-bois scents become more prominent. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a little grainy in texture with fine acidity. This is a masculine and broody Saint-Estèphe that will need another decade in bottle to shave its edges. But what immense structure and density. Fantastic. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the BI Wines & Spirits 10-Year On tasting. - Neal Martin

DECANTER 98 points
Tasted by: Jane Anson
(at Decanter's Bordeaux Fine Wine Encounter, The Landmark Hotel, 30 Mar 2017)
Part of Bordeaux 2010: Reappraising the grands crus of the Médoc
Drinking Window: 2022 - 2050
And on to the tighter, more intellectual vintage of the two sparring partners of 2009 and 2010. You can feel the quality, the intensity, the more cerebral aspect of 2010 where the tannins are matched step for step by acidity and fruit. A wonderful wine, it will run and run and even now it floats somewhere on your palate, keeping itself hidden from view. If you want to understand why acidity can be a good thing, get to know Montrose 2010. There is an abundance of autumnal black fruit, certainly, even touches of bitter dark chocolate and dark pepper spicing, but this is going to unfurl at its own pace. 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot.

THE WINE ADVOCATE 97+ points
Reviewed by: William Kelley
Drink Date: 2030 - 2100
One of the most youthful and powerful wines in this tasting is the 2010 Montrose, a year when only 52% of the estate's production went into the grand vin. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of crème de cassis, cigar wrapper, black truffle and loamy soil, it's full-bodied, deep and layered, with a rich core of concentrated fruit that's framed by a muscular tannic chassis. Some 2010s are beginning to show their cards, but this Montrose will still require patience.

JAMES SUCKLING 97 points
A perfumed and pure Montrose, with lots of currants, berries and spices that evolve to chocolate and light coffee. Full body, with super racy tannins and bright and clean finish. Very fine and structured. A balance and freshness to it all as well as beautiful form and tension. Try in 2018.

WINE ENTHUSIAST 96 points
This is such an elegant wine that has all the structure of the vintage. Surrounding the tannins, the wine is sweet and ripe, with smokiness from the wood. It's powerful, elegant and sophisticated with a strong sense of poise. The tannins promise long-term aging. — Roger Voss