LA DAME DE MONTROSE 2nd wine of Chateau Montrose, Saint-Estephe 2023 Bottle

Description

IN BRIEF
La Dame de Montrose 2023 opens with composed freshness: red and black cherry, Morello cherry and bramble, pressed violet and rose petal, set against cedar, damp slate and pencil-lead savouriness. Gentle aeration adds crushed bay, olive tapenade and smoked meat. Medium-bodied, it has a smooth, inviting start, bright acidity and finely judged tannins that provide poise without weight. Pure red-berry and blackcurrant fruit is framed by black olive and a discreet liquorice thread; the mid-palate unfurls toasted cedar, dark chocolate and warm baking spice, while a stony mineral seam and saline thread drive a long, focused finish. Texture is polished and tactile. Drink now with light decanting or cellar five–ten years. Top scores: JS 94–95; Vinous 92–94; Decanter 92. Recommended.

ABOUT THIS WINE
La Dame de Montrose, second wine of Château Montrose, Saint Estèphe 2023 opens with composed freshness, a supple and refined expression carrying the estate’s classic saline and graphite signature. The bouquet shows red and black cherry, Morello cherry and bramble, lifted by pressed violet and a hint of rose petal, while cedar, damp slate and a faint pencil lead note provide a savoury backbone. With gentle aeration, crushed bay, olive tapenade and subtle smoked meat emerge, adding depth and a clear sense of terroir without weight.

On the palate the 2023 is medium bodied, with a smooth, inviting entry, bright natural acidity and finely judged tannins that give structure and poise. Primary fruit is pure and focused, red berry and blackcurrant framed by black olive and a discreet thread of liquorice. The mid palate builds with layered interest, offering toasted cedar, dark chocolate and a warm baking spice that complement the fruit core, while a stony mineral seam and saline thread drive the architecture into a long, focused finish. Oak is measured and supportive, lending gentle vanilla and spice that enhance rather than dominate.

Texture is polished and tactile, balancing silk and grip, the wine evolving in the glass to reveal savoury strata of leather, graphite and leafy undergrowth. Secondary notes of dried herb, cedar chest and subtle mushroom nuance add complexity as the wine opens. The finish is persistent, returning to ripe cherry, bittersweet cocoa and a chalky mineral echo that lifts the close and invites another sip.

La Dame de Montrose benefits from Montrose’s meticulous vineyard work and precise élevage, offering immediate charm yet clear ability to mature. Drink now with light decanting for immediate appeal, or cellar for five to ten years to allow tertiary layers to integrate. Serve at 16 to 18°C with roast lamb, slow cooked beef, grilled game or mature cheeses to complement its savoury depth and refined structure.

JAMES SUCKLING 94-95 points
The blackberries and blackcurrants show through beautifully, together with very integrated tannins. Dense and textured. Transparent. Graphite coming through. Second wine of Montrose. 61% merlot, 32% cabernet sauvignon, 5% petit verdot and 2% cabernet franc.
James Suckling

VINOUS 92 - 94 points
Drinking window: 2027 - 2043
The 2023 La Dame de Montrose is a rich, heady wine. Succulent dark cherry, plum, new leather, spice, menthol, licorice and mocha are beautifully amplified. Explosive to the core, the 2023 possesses tons of aromatic intensity and pure volume. This showy, Merlot-based Dame is quite alluring. - Antonio Galloni. Tasting date: April 2024

DECANTER 92 points
Tasted by: Georgina Hindle (at Bordeaux, 08 Apr 2024) Part of Best St-Estèphe 2023 wines tasted en primeur
Drinking Window: 2028 - 2045
Crisp and crunchy cranberry aromas on the nose, fresh and vibrant - herbal, floral, fruity. Smooth and supple, so lively, bright and acidic, really lifted and almost verging on tart. I love it though, manages to be fresh yet with ripeness of tannins that slowly expand in the mouth while also giving structure and a well-defined outline. Streamlined and straight. Polished and characterful with lovely purity of fruit. Ageing 12 months, using 5% foudre 5% amphora, 10% new oak and the rest aged barrels. 2% Cabernet Franc completes the blend.

THE WINE ADVOCATE (91-93) points
Reviewed by: William Kelley
Another strong performance from this bottling, which dependably numbers among Bordeaux's top three or four second wines, the 2023 La Dame de Montrose reveals aromas of cassis, pencil shavings and licorice, followed by a medium to full-bodied, deep and dense palate that's polished, pure and layered, with sweet tannins, lively acids and a saline finish. It's a blend of 61% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc.

JANCIS ROBINSON 16 points/20
61% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc. Cask sample.
Touch of sweetness from the Merlot then acidity and tension. Perhaps a bit lean on the mid palate. Usually improves in the bottle so could warrant a higher score. (JL)

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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.