LA DAME DE MONTROSE 2nd wine of Ch. Montrose, Saint-Estephe 2012 Bottle

Description

The 2012 La Dame de Montrose, the second wine of Château Montrose, has received considerable acclaim, earning 92 points from Wine Enthusiast for its ripe and structured profile. Comprising 29% of the estate's total production that year, it features firm tannins that transform into ripe blackberry flavours as the wine opens up. Vinous awarded it 91 points, praising its classy nose filled with vibrant blackberry, wild strawberry, and cedar, complemented by a well-defined palate with a fresh saline entry. While the finish may lack a touch of precision, it remains a fine effort. Decanter scored it 90 points, describing it as an accessible, elegant wine with smoky, charred cherry notes and a silky texture, representing excellent value from a blend of 76% Merlot and 24% Cabernet Sauvignon.

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WINE ENTHUSIAST 92 points
This second wine of Château Montrose is ripe and structured. In 2012, it formed 29% of total production at Montrose. It opens with severe tannins that transform into ripe blackberry as the wine opens out. Solidly structured and darkly tannic, it needs to age. Drink from 2018. — Roger Voss

VINOUS 91 points
The 2012 La Dame de Montrose has a very classy, well-defined nose with vigorous blackberry, wild strawberry and cedar scents bursting from the glass. The oak is neatly enmeshed. The palate is well-defined with a fresh saline entry (more so than its peers). Ripe and generous, perhaps it tries too hard on the finish and loses some of its precision, but this is a fine effort. Tasted blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting. - Neal Martin

DECANTER 90 points
Tasted by: Jane Anson
Drinking Window: 2017 - 2028
A textbook example of how a second wine should be – a more accessible, joyful echo of the first wine. I loved this at en primeur and still love it now, in contrast to many second wines in this sometimes challenging vintage. Plenty of finesse, with smoky, charred cherries, silky smooth texture and heady perfume. Great value also. From a blend of 76% Merlot and 24% Cabernet Sauvignon

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ABOUT CHATEAU MONTROSE
Château Montrose, classified as a 2ème Grand Cru Classé in the 1855 ranking, is a landmark Saint-Estèphe estate renowned for producing powerful, structured wines that combine impressive concentration with finesse and longterm ageing potential. The property sits on deep, well drained gravelly soils interspersed with clay, benefiting from optimal exposure and the cooling influence of the Gironde estuary, conditions that favour Cabernet Sauvignon while allowing Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot to contribute richness and aromatic nuance. Vineyards are managed with meticulous parcel-level attention, careful rootstock and clonal selection, and strict yield control to ensure intensity and purity of fruit, with sustainable and progressive viticultural practices increasingly guiding soil health and vine longevity.

Winemaking at Montrose blends traditional rigour with modern precision, grapes undergoing rigorous sorting and gentle handling before fermentation in temperature controlled vats, where extraction is tailored to the character of each plot to achieve balance between ripe tannin and aromatic lift. Ageing takes place in French oak, a measured proportion of which is new, adding structure, spice and textural complexity while preserving varietal clarity. The château’s cellars and facilities have benefited from continuous investment, enabling meticulous élevage and careful parcel selection that reflect the estate’s ambition for quality and consistency.

The Grand Vin of Montrose is typically marked by concentrated black and blue fruit, cassis and plum, layered with graphite, cedar and a saline mineral thread, framed by dense, finely grained tannins and vibrant acidity that support prolonged development. With cellaring, the wine evolves towards complex tertiary notes, revealing greater silkiness and nuance. Second and reserve cuvées offer earlier approachability while maintaining the estate’s hallmark of power allied with balance. Through careful stewardship and a steadfast focus on terroir expression, Château Montrose remains a defining example of Saint-Estèphe strength and longevity.