CHATEAU MONTROSE 2eme Grand Cru Classe, Saint-Estephe 2021 Bottle

Description

Château Montrose is a prestigious winery situated in Saint-Estèphe, renowned for producing some of the longest-lived wines in the Médoc. Previously owned by Jean-Louis Charmolue until 2006, it was subsequently acquired by Martin and Olivier Bouygues. The estate is located on a gravel knoll near the Gironde estuary, benefiting from a microclimate that helps protect the vines from frost. The vineyards predominantly feature a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc, aged in oak barriques for 18 months. The 2021 Montrose has received high praise, achieving 97 points from The Wine Advocate and 96-97 points from James Suckling. Both Vinous and Wine Enthusiast awarded it 96 points, highlighting its finesse, complexity, and excellent aging potential.

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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.

THE WINE ADVOCATE 97 points
Reviewed by: William Kelley
Drink Date: 2031 - 2065
The remarkable 2021 Montrose gets my nomination for the title of "wine of the vintage" in the Médoc. Wafting from the glass with a deep bouquet of cassis and dark berries mingled with subtle hints of mint, orange, pencil shavings and spices, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a layered and multidimensional core of fruit underpinned by beautifully ripe, refined tannins. Concluding with a long, resonant finish, it entirely transcends the limitations of the year. This young classic, reminiscent of the estate's 1996 but far better, is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot.

JAMES SUCKLING 96-97 points
This shows finesse and elegance as well as plenty of subtle red currant and blackcurrant character. Medium-bodied with refinement and length. Tender, vivid and pure. Extremely well done in a difficult year. 80% cabernet sauvignon, 17% merlot and 3% cabernet franc.

VINOUS 96+ points

The 2021 Montrose is an inward, brooding wine—classic Montrose, in other words, just attenuated in its intensity by the cool growing season. Spice, tobacco, cedar, menthol, scorched earth, gravel and a touch of new oak open over time, but the 2021 is really a wine that requires considerable cellaring to reach its potential. Then again, it is Montrose. Elegance meets power here. - Antonio Galloni

WINE ENTHUSIAST 96 points
Leather and black-spice aromas are a prelude to the richness and power of this wine. It is concentrated and full of ripe black-plum flavors, and acidity. Drink this massive wine from 2028. — Roger Voss

DECANTER 95 points
Beautiful perfume on the nose, really fragrant and seductive, deep and heady but beguiling too. You get chunky, chewy fruit here - this is round, plump and filling a consequence of the slightly more Merlot in the blend than usual - opposed to more Cabernet seen elsewhere. It has a luscious appealing fruitiness then the austerity kicks in, with a vein of salinity and minerality, such a linear, quite strict middle where you get severity in the texture giving it some rigidity but you also have such great depth on the mid palate, the layers of fruit and spice that linger giving such a core of flavour. A sense of power, intensity and concentration but also with acidity keeping everything lifted. A stately wine with lots of potential. Pierre Graffeuille replaces Hervé Berland here, having arrived in March and taking over fully in October. 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 39% grand vin. Drinking Window 2026 - 2058 - Tasted by Georgina Hindle(at Bordeaux, 01 Apr 2022)