Chateau Montrose 2019

Delightfully complex, fruity-spicy aromatics; a silky attack, dense yet distinctly elegant development over first-class, fine-grained tannins; a very long, fruity finish; outstanding Montrose.

As I wrote last year, the 2019 Montrose is performing very well, wafting from the glass with a dramatic, perfumed bouquet of wild berries and cassis mingled with notions of lilac, violets, pencil shavings and licorice, framed by nicely integrated new oak. Full-bodied, layered and seamless, it's deep and multidimensional, with lively acids, beautifully refined tannins and a long, resonant finish. While analytically it's almost as powerful as the 2018, the 2019 is much more suave, sensual and polished, its tannic structure and alcohol more harmoniously integrated into its sweet core of fruit.

Lush and lovely, showing a mix of creamed loganberry, plum, boysenberry and mulberry flavors that borders on exotic, but everything stays harnessed by sleek floral and iron notes through the finish. This has ample structure for balance that's well-embedded in the fruit, making this seemingly approachable now but there's absolutely no rush. A beauty. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2023 through 2040.

Another triumph from Montrose. Dense, rich and powerful, with plenty of new oak evident at the moment (60% used). A beautifully sculpted wine that combines power and structure with huge reserves of plush, refined tannins. Violets permeate the nose, together with an inky, opaque hue, all pointing to a very long future. Finishes a little dry at the moment, but this will resolve with several years of careful cellaring. A great St-Estèphe with masses of class and concentration.

Blueberries, cracked white and black pepper with dried flowers. Some crushed stone and slate, too. Full-bodied with tannins that build on the palate and carry on. It’s polished and very fine with lovely length. Drink after 2027.

The 2019 Montrose is very clearly one of the wines of the vintage. Rich, inky and towering in concentration, the 2019 possesses off-the-charts intensity and tons of structure to back it up. Succulent black cherry, plum, tobacco, gravel and licorice infuse the 2019 with striking depth. The 2019 is not quite as opulent as some recent vintages, and that's a good thing. Readers will find a regal wine that marries elegance with power. Unforgettable. Tasted two times.

One of a handful of wines I did not taste in barrel. However, it was worth waiting for as the wine hits all the right notes. Deep in color, the nose offers a spice-tinged array of dark red and black fruits, herbs, espresso, tobacco leaf, and black currants. The wine is full-bodied, intense, dense, long, and concentrated. There is a solid depth of flavor that resonates on the palate and in the finish, which leaves you with an earthy display of dark red pit fruits and a touch of peppery spice. Like all the great vintages of Montrose, this is built to age and evolve for decades. Drink from 2030-2060.

Dark ruby in colour with an opaque core, purple reflections, and subtle brightening on the rim. On the nose, aromas of fine oak, dark berry fruit, a hint of dark cherry and orange zest. The palate is juicy, complex and tightly meshed, with fine sweetness, ripe, powerful tannins, relatively pronounced acidity, mineral and persistent, some nougat on the finish, salty, full-bodied and at the same time a food wine full of finesse and cool charm, with certain ageing potential.

Very deep and profound with great purity, inky dark fruit, layers of finely tuned oak, tobacco, cassis and gravelly notes. The structure is rather massive yet so polished, with no hard edges, multi-layered and digest, with great freshness lifting the ripe and digest fruit, a nuanced spiciness and tremendous length.

The flagship 2019 Château Montrose is also brilliant, although it's not going to match the all-time greats from this estate. Gorgeous cassis, graphite, damp earth, cedar pencil, and tobacco are just some of the nuances here, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a pure, graceful, layered mouthfeel, building tannins, and a great finish. It doesn't have the overall density or mid-palate of the 2018 or 2016, but it’s flawlessly balanced and just incredibly impressive. Showing more and more tannins with time in the glass, it will need a decade of bottle age and will evolve for 30+ years.

Gorgeous rich colour here, a lovely wine full of pleasure. Chocolate, mocha, cappuccino, lots of toasted oak, great quality, with concentrated black fruits along with slate, crushed stone, smoked earth – measured, confident, delicious. I have tasted this a few times this year, and it has consistently been punching at the very top of its game. A no-brainer to recommend. 12% press wine, 47hl/ha yield, 60% new oak.

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.

A beautiful colour, a full and perfectly typical nose already showing the subtle saline and mineral notes that define the terroir, with a superb balance between alcohol and freshness. It is long, complex and refined, fully worthy of the wait and of the estate’s standing. Still an approachable price for a well-off enthusiast. Wait ten years or more.

The wine has undeniable pedigree and class, with plenty of depth and a finish where the tannins still show a slightly strict edge. Montrose asserts its grandeur and definition; it might benefit from relaxing just a touch.

An aristocratic, aquiline nose, pure and fragrant, with floral notes of peony and hawthorn. Aromas of crisp fruit, picked at perfect ripeness, gently caress the senses. On the palate, this refined wine has the subtle power and vibrant energy of a black panther. The finish reveals sumptuous fruit and perfectly judged oak, leaving no trace except a shimmering texture on the tongue.

What finesse and subtlety in this bouquet. It reveals itself with great precision, clarity, and shows many facets. The freshness of Cabernet is highlighted through nuances of eucalyptus. Inviting fruity notes with aromas of redcurrants, blackberries, and raspberries. More than ever, the identity of Montrose is emphasized. Finally, the bouquet also displays delicate notes from the élevage, namely mocha. On the palate, the wine mirrors the olfactory characteristics. It is fruity, powerful, and endowed with precise, composed tannins that brilliantly embody the notion of quiet strength. So much power combined with finesse. A refreshing energy also comes into play, ideally enhancing the temperament and aromatic expression of the finish.

Logo on the cork: DF Intense, beautiful color, purple and very young. A great, highly aromatic nose, refined, fruity, pure, subtle and noble. Broad on the attack, silky at mid-palate, yet also very dense and powerful, the wine delivers floral and fruity flavors in a very long, structured yet creamy finish. A superb and complex whole. It’s superb.

The wine has a massive structure, great concentration. It now really shows the results of the massive investment of the owners, the telecom magnate Bouygues family. The powerful tannins mask the impressive black fruits and the wine's rich berry flavors. This magnificent wine will develop slowly over many years. Drink from 2027.