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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 96.5 pts. and median of 97 pts. in 684 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by PANYC on 4/8/2024 & rated 96 points: Drinking beautifully now with lots of life, the balance is impressive. (812 views) | | | Tasted by Jmrobotics on 3/16/2024 flawed bottle: Bummed, was sour. (1181 views) | | | Tasted by oxwombat on 3/9/2024 & rated 97 points: Opened at Noble Rot in London. P&P and enjoyed slowly.
This was absolutely wonderful. Perfect condition bottle and it showed, performing better than the one I had in HK a few months ago as well. So fresh, so vibrant - you never would have guessed the age on this.
Initially opening up with darker fruits on the nose, but with some air the entire spectrum started coming to the fore, with more sweet red fruits (almost like top Sangiovese) alongside floral notes coming out too. On the palate this was complete finesse, not tired at all, everything so perfectly integrated. Slight hints - just teasing really - of more tertiary notes, but not prominent and just adding to the complexity of the flavours coming through.
Overall, just wow. This showing solidifies this wine as one of the best Bordeauxs I've ever had, and probably the wine of the vintage for me on the left bank. Always a pleasure to try this and cheers to reunions with old friends - a treat to share with A! (1494 views) | | | Tasted by Fatty Cat on 3/2/2024 & rated 97 points: Early Mar 2024, Rheingau Gourmet Festival, rarity diner “25 vintages of Chateau Montrose”: according to the sommelier double decanted for up to 3 hours; deep crimson color; lavish aromas and flavors of cassis, cherries, mint, and herbs in nose and mouth; on the palate a lush and smooth texture, balanced with a juicy acidity. 96-97/100
Best scored wine of the whole tasting .
Vintages of flight II:
1975 - 1986 - 1989 - 1990 - 1991 - 1994 - 1996 (1439 views) | | | Tasted by nywine68 on 2/29/2024 & rated 98 points: Vinous Icons of Bordeaux with Neal Martin (Legacy Records, New York City): WOTN for me (and others around my table). Spectacular nose with smoke and charcoal exploding from the glass. Beautifully delineated tannins. Lots of tar and wet earth. Lots of complexity. Our host described it as "controversial" but I don't see how any Bordeaux fan would not love this? (1549 views) | | | Tasted by essenceofreal on 2/2/2024 & rated 96 points: Loved this. 90 Montrose has always delivered. Have had the good fortune to drink this a dozen or so times and every bottle has been superb.
Opened at 3pm. Decanted 4:45 for an hour. Decanted again at the restaurant, Bear in Napa. Wine was open and expressive but I could feel still could give more. Indeed I was right as the last glass 2 hours later tickled my sphincter! Yeah, felt like I was back in Thailand! Ha.
Hence, one flaw of all these tasting notes is the lack of details on decant time. I see this time after time for most reviews. I gotta say so disappointing when on a great wine how irresponsible to not give it the respect it deserves w a proper 2-4 hr decant .....
So this was sooooo much better after a 3 hr decant. What a decadent finish. Very much in its peak. Can easily have had a 4 hr decant. I should have known as last time I had this a few years ago I decanted 4 hours and that was ideal.
Drank next to 96 Margaux and 86 Las Cases. 90 Montrose, my bottle, was the star and bested both.
Drink as often as possible and repeat with Pete (me!!). Thanks ))) (1728 views) | | | Tasted by rocknroller on 1/15/2024 & rated 96 points: Heidi's Gang: Wind Chill & Frostbite (Maison Margaux, Mpls): Very dark red/purple color. Unsure of prep on this. Drank a glass over 45 minutes plus. This was high toned, with oodles of pencil, cassis and black cherry notes, leather and more subtle soil notes. The palate really shows the minerality with that dense dark fruit, cassis and blackberry pie, leather, more pencil, layered and powerful, shows some red raspberry over time. The tannins are polished and there's a soft texture here. The wood was showing some and this drank younger than it's 34 years. Interestingly, I had about 10 or 15mls that I forgot about in my glass overnight. It was singing the next morning. Who says you can't start day with wine. (1815 views) | | | Tasted by chablis28 on 1/15/2024 & rated 96 points: Heidis Group in the Minneapolis "Warehouse District". Jim's btl and our last wine of the night and it did not disappoint! I sensed Jim may have parting regrets about bringing his one & only legendary '90 Montrose? Yes it has lots of gas still in the tank but, is there ever a wrong time to drink a great red? Even if, it's only 34yrs old :). Of course, this will likely be even more awesome when Jim & I are in long-term care facilities but, if you're in your late 60s like us, I say go for it while our olfactory & tasting equip are still on thier game :). Yes, it youthful but there's plenty of both tertiary & pristine fruit to enjoy now. Jim, you had a great career, go get 3 more! These are worth backfilling! Loved it! A case for ROTN could apply here too. Too bad the food situation at our venue was so screwed up. Kind of messed with my wine karma but I'll still savor fond memories of all our wines and the laughs. Thanks Jim, I loved it! (2008 views) | | | Tasted by Verb on 1/14/2024 & rated 98 points: consistent with my previous tasting notes - black cassis fruit just bursts out of the glass without any coaxing - some tertiary aromas of graphite and tobacco, but not very prominent in the nose - beautiful mouthful of dense black fruit with superb fruit-acid balance - ripe velvety tannins still very much in presence - long 30-45 sec finish - drinking beautifully now, but can easily last another 10 years - much bigger body than the 1990 Margaux tasted alongside, but not as elegant in the nose and mouth - very different styles of two equally superb fully mature Bordeaux (1731 views) | | | Tasted by sdr on 1/6/2024 & rated 95 points: A fair amount of Brett had me concerned when I opened the bottle. But miraculously it vanished with some time and air to reveal a classic masculine super concentrated Montrose at its peak. The fruit is lively and dark but not all black, perhaps lifted by its Merlot. Tannins are civilized and support the wine admirably. Clearly First Growth quality in this vintage. (1815 views) | | | Tasted by Caruso on 1/1/2024 & rated 82 points: Ruby to garnet with slight orange hue in thin layers. Affected by Brett, but not totally destroyed. One could argue if this should be scored as a faulty wine. If so it should get 70 points or so. But that is not my point of view. Still some fruit shining through, though it is quite simplified by the horsy notes. 5/9/12/6. As this seems to be a common phenomenon and not a fault by a particular bottle as it is the case with a corky bottle, I score this. Bottles like this, which are not to be identified without popping the cork, should be drunk up, as it is only getting worse. P.S. This bottle was stored under textbool conditions since release, bought in spring in Germany 1993 and so unlikely to be exposed to high temperatures. (1495 views) | | | Tasted by ShadowIII on 1/1/2024 & rated 94 points: Drinking beautifully, dark fruits, currants, blackberries, spice, long lingering finish, would have rated higher if it had not been paired at dinner with the 1990 Latour. (1308 views) | | | Tasted by apbru on 12/24/2023 & rated 98 points: It was time to drink my last bottle and it provided serene enjoyment. Perfect balance and cosseting tannins but it is indeed time to drink up. (1318 views) | | | Tasted by Lollipop on 12/20/2023 & rated 98 points: Spectacular. Opened about 30 minutes before drinking and then enjoyed the evolution through the night. Showing some tertiary flavours but still dense and powerful. Black fruit and leather with a beautiful mineral backbone. (1436 views) | | | Tasted by ttchan2024 on 12/15/2023 & rated 98 points: Brought in and drank in a restaurant.
Pop and pour. Much alive after 3 hours in bottle.
Excellent, very expressive nose, silky tannin, still has some good acid - one of the best wines I had.
Only down side is that it was slightly past peak. Drink up. (504 views) | | | Tasted by oxwombat on 12/15/2023 & rated 96 points: Opened at Otto e Mezzo in HK. Decanted and was shared a small glass after 30 minutes of breathing.
The legend shows its class again. Absolutely amazing Bordeaux that is arguably the wine of the vintage, especially from the Left Bank. Everything was there, and I was very happy.
Not quite as fresh as my previous bottle (which I gave 96) but still extremely good. Thanks as always to T and M for sharing! (1585 views) | | | Tasted by Vinvir on 12/9/2023: Drank at Jeff’s loft wine group party and toasted Bill. I was not present as I was out with Mike, Bobbi, and Doc at an Irish
Dance event at the SORAYA and sushi dinner at Yamaha (previous engagement). I am sure it was good. (1187 views) | | | Tasted by Papies on 12/9/2023 & rated 99 points: 2023 Athens Wine Event; 12/8/2023-12/9/2023 (Athens, Greece): Tasted blind.
There was no doubt what this was nor how exceptional of a wine this was. We actually said thank you to our friend that offered it ahead of even posting our guess. We went with Lynch Bages 1990 as we did feel some of the austerity of Pauillac.
The wine is simply stunning , soft, almost feminine but with a lot of presence and this has another 20 years to go but ever so subtle and magnificent . Pointless to rumble on. 99
Interestingly a few weeks ago when crossing paths with the magical 1990 Margaux ( Papies 99) we made the comment that that was the ballerina in the Chinese theatre’s production on Swan lake where the ever stoic ballerina just mesmerises all while balancing on the guy’s shoulders. The 1990 Margaux was the Ballerino. This 1990 Montrose was the Ballerina Ever so magical scene, And here is the link - https://youtu.be/O6CRB_dLTYo?si=isMcz985UMNWUc0R (1877 views) | | | Tasted by Rbhan12 on 12/3/2023 & rated 96 points: Fully mature. Gorgeous nose with fallen dried leaves and tart red fruits. Little bit of grip from tannins still with a nice bite from acidity. Palate showed lovely lighter fruits with plenty of elegance. Little bit of leather and earth play to the medium body. Just a gorgeous wine—exactly what you want from aged BDX. 96 for me. (1661 views) | | | Tasted by zimmy07 on 11/17/2023 & rated 94 points: This was not a perfect bottle, but held together great. I decanted 45 minutes and it needed longer, I was scared to go too long. Fruit to tannin profile was very good. Not as great as I hoped for, but still good. (1868 views) | | | Tasted by Dionysos55 on 11/13/2023 & rated 95 points: Robe encore bien grenat....Bouquet complexe de cuir,menthol,terre,cassis,prune,tabac,viande mais manquant d'intensité.La bouche est étonnamment légère pour un St Estèphe:certes,la bouteille a 33 ans mais je m'attendais à davantage à de puissance.Tanins complètement fondus d'où un grand velouté,une élégance magnifique.Longueur finale correcte mais pas extravagante non plus.En résumé,légère déception...Peut-être attente démesurée vu la cotation maximale de Parker.Cela reste néanmoins succulent. (1926 views) | | | Tasted by mike410 on 10/19/2023 & rated 89 points: Slight bricking. Muted fruits and medium finish. I suspect that this bottle wasn't stored very well for the condition that it was in. (2164 views) | | | Tasted by Benoit Hardy on 10/18/2023 & rated 99 points: Drunk for the first time 3 years ago, the wine does not seem to have changed.
Masterful nose of tobacco, menthol, black fruits in quantity, earthy aromas and coffee beans. It’s crazy elegant and has a rare intensity.
The mouth is velvety. There is enormous intensity in this wine, but everything is just velvet, it is a caress. Juice of rare depth, still very young for its 33 years! Complex and refined, the flavors follow one another in majestic harmony, the fruit is still bright, then the tobacco, undergrowth and menthol follow one another or sometimes mingle. We keep coming back to it, each time with a different caress, a breeze full of freshness or a dip in a cigar box. Majestic, silky finish on mocha, cedar and dried flowers.
This Montrose is impressive. (2074 views) | | | Tasted by ElAzul on 10/8/2023 & rated 88 points: Jeff Leve you are right about this wine, and Brett mostly murdered it. It recovered from the horsey nose and musty flavors after 48 hours open but not enough to give it even a 90 score. Out of a case of 12 I have had 2 100 pointers and 4 bretty losers. I guess I should be glad of the 2. (2125 views) | | | Tasted by Jeff Leve on 9/27/2023 & rated 100 points: Bacchus was shining on us today because 1990 is either murdered by brett, or if it's clean, the bottle can be majestic. This bottle was majestic and more. The wealth of palate-staining, perfectly ripe, sweet, regal fruit is something to behold. The finish hits the 60-second mark, crosses it with ease, and keeps right on going. However, it is imperative to keep in mind the wine is Jekyll or Hyde and there is no way to know without popping a cork. Drink from 2023-2055. (3949 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By John Gilman
View From the Cellar, Mar/Apr 2019, Issue #80, Another Look At the 1989 and 1990 Bordeaux - Twin Vintages Have Taken Different Paths With Age
(Château Montrose) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (11/3/2016)
(Ch Montrose St-Estèphe Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By John Gilman
View From the Cellar, Jul/Aug 2012, Issue #40, The Annual Champagne and Sparkling Wine Report
(Château Montrose) Login and sign up and see review text. | By John Kapon
Vintage Tastings, Hong Kong Killers (2/5/2010)
(Montrose) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (9/17/2009)
(Ch Montrose St-Estèphe Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (9/20/2005)
(Ch Montrose St-Estèphe Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By John Kapon
Vintage Tastings, Paris a la Mode with Dr. Desai (9/19/2005)
(Montrose) Login and sign up and see review text. | By John Kapon
Vintage Tastings, A Mega 1990 Bordeaux Tasting with Clive (3/21/2005)
(Montrose) Login and sign up and see review text. | By John Kapon
Vintage Tastings, Hanging with Mr. Parker and Mr. Squires in Baltimore and D.C (2/21/2005)
(Montrose.) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, July/August 2002, IWC Issue #103
(Chateau Montrose Saint Estephe) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (6/28/2002)
(Ch Montrose St-Estèphe Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, The 1990 Clarets...To Have and To Hold (Nov 1993) (11/1/1993)
(Montrose Montrose) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (3/22/2008)
(Château Montrose) Great tart currant, roast beef and horseradish nose; lovely, still youthful, tart cassis, plum palate with firm tannins; medium finish 93+ pts. 93 points | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (6/29/2007)
(Château Montrose) Dark garnet red color; truffle, dried cherry and dried mushroom nose; intriguing, plush, tart plum, tar, coffee palate, young yet; long finish 93+ pts. 93 points | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (1/7/2007)
(Château Montrose) "Great!" (see what I mean about my notes?) |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of View From the Cellar and JancisRobinson.com and Vintage Tastings and Vinous and RJonWine.com. (manage subscription channels) |
| Château Montrose Producer website – Read more about Chateau Montrose
This was acquired In 1778 as part of the Calon estate, by Etienne Théodore Dumoulin. After his death, his son, (also Etienne Théodore Dumoulin) cleared the vegetation and discovered the soil beneath was gravelly and suitable for the vine. Planting was completed by 1815 with good results. By 1820, Dumoulin had expanded the vineyard and built a small chateau. This vineyard has changed hands many times over the years. New equipment in 1975, and again in 1985, and a new barrel cellar helped sow the seeds for Montrose's renovation, which reached a peak in about 2000 with some excellent wines. The estate and the wines were enjoying a great reputation when, in 2006, it changed hands once more when Martin & Oliver Bouygues bought the vineyard. The vineyard is currently 65 hectares with 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. The wines go into oak, 70% new for eighteen months for the Grand Vin Chateau Montrose (typically 19,000 cases per annum). Red Bordeaux BlendRed Bordeaux is generally made from a blend of grapes. Permitted grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and rarely Carménère.Today Carménère is rarely used, with Château Clerc Milon, a fifth growth Bordeaux, being one of the few to still retain Carménère vines. As of July 2019, Bordeaux wineries authorized the use of four new red grapes to combat temperature increases in Bordeaux. These newly approved grapes are Marselan, Touriga Nacional, Castets, and Arinarnoa.
Wineries all over the world aspire to making wines in a Bordeaux style. In 1988, a group of American vintners formed The Meritage Association to identify wines made in this way. Although most Meritage wines come from California, there are members of the Meritage Association in 18 states and five other countries, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Israel, and Mexico.France Vins de France (Office National Interprofessionnel des Vins ) | Pages Vins, Directory of French Winegrowers | French Wine (Wikipedia)
Wine Scholar Guild vintage ratings
2018 vintage: "marked by a wet spring, a superb summer and a good harvest"
2019 vintage reports
2021: "From a general standpoint, whether for white, rosé or red wines, 2021 is a year marked by quality in the Rhône Valley Vineyards. Structured, elegant, fresh and fruity will be the main keywords for this new vintage."
2022 harvest: idealwine.info | wine-searcher.comBordeaux Bordeaux Wine Guide
Vins Bordeaux (Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux)
History of Bordeaux
History of 1855 Bordeaux Classification
"2009 is all about ripeness, with wines impressively packed with ripe fruit and high alcohol levels. They are showy, in-your-face, and full of pleasure. The 2010s have the fruit and alcohol levels of the 2009s, but with a compelling freshness on the finish that balances the fruit and provides a perfect sense of structure." - Ben Nelson
"2016 is a landmark vintage in certain spots of Bordeaux and it should be remembered as one of the most inspired campaigns of the last 40-50+ years." -Jon Rimmerman
"The quality of red Bordeaux in 2016 was universally lauded – although the response to the en primeur campaign was muted. Quantity was high too, with the equivalent of 770 million bottles of wine produced. An exceptionally dry summer with cool nights eventually, thanks to mid September rain, resulted in small, thick-skinned, ripe grapes, and the wines are marked by high tannin and acidity, with superb aromatic fragrance." - Jancis Robinson
"2017 was complicated, but there are some excellent wines. Expect plenty of freshness and drinkability from wines that will offer excellent value, and others that will rival 2016 in terms of ripeness and ageability. But they are likely to be the exception not the rule, making careful selection key." - Jane Anson
"In the past, a vintage such as 2022 may have been overripe, raisined and low in acidity but 2022 had a sneaky little reservoir in its back pocket - a near perfect marriage of cool/cold/rain the previous winter and the previous vintage that literally soaked the soils (a key to why 2022 is not 2003...or 1893)." - Jon RimmermanMédoc Vins du Médoc (Conseil des Vins du Médoc) - Read More about the Medoc
VdB
The eight precisely defined appellations of the whole of the Médoc (from Blanquefort Brook to the north of the Bordeaux built-up area, almost to the Pointe de Grave) may claim the Médoc appellation. But there is also a specific territory in the north of the peninsula which produces exclusively wines with this appellation. In the great majority, the Médocs come from the north of the peninsula. The great individuality of this region is that the number of vines has increased more recently here than elsewhere, apart from a few isolated spots where vines have grown for many years. Today, the size of the small estate has brought about the development of a powerful co-operative movement. Four co-operatives out of five belong to the group called Unimédoc which ensures aging, bottling and marketing a large proportion of their wines.St. Estèphe Read more about St. Estephe and its wines Whereas the first activity recorded in Saint-Estèphe goes back as far as the Middle Bronze Age, the first vines date from the Roman Occupation. But it was the Bordeaux merchants who by aging and selling Saint-Estèphe wines themselves were largely responsible for this appellation's fame. And in the nineteenth century, noted for its prosperity, the great estates of today were created. The movement continues today with the merging of small estates.
A land of great wines, Saint-Estèphe is situated almost in the centre of the Médoc, close to the Gironde Estuary. The appellation is equidistant from Bordeaux and the Pointe de Grave.
The beds of soil are characterized by their remarkable diversity, the result of their undulating relief and excellent drainage. Quartz and well-rounded pebbles mingled with light, sandy surface soil are found everywhere, giving the wines a distinctive finesse. And the subsoil is made up of the famous Saint-Estèphe limestone, which outcrops on the west of the commune.
Tasting
Thanks to ideal conditions of climate and geology, Saint-Estèphe wines are characterized by their sturdy qualities and robust constitution. Accordingly, they can be laid down for a very long time while yet preserving their youth and freshness. Distinguished by a subsoil which is more clayey than that in the other communal appellations which lie by the river, the wine here attains a distinctive individuality : a very rich tannic structure, a fine deep red colour and an exceptional backbone with aromas of great finesse.
Production conditions (Decree dated September 11, 1936):
In order to have the right to the Saint-Estèphe appellation of controlled origin, red wines must:
- come from the communes of Saint-Estèphe, "excluding any parcels in that area which are situated on recent alluvium and sand on impermeable subsoils",
- satisfy precise production conditions : grape-varieties (Cabernet-Sauvignon, Cabernet-Franc, Carmenère, Merlot Noir, Petit Verdot, Cot or Malbec), minimum of sugar (178 grammes - 6.27 oz. - per litre of must) degree (an acquired 10°5) base yield (45 hectolitres per hectare). |
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