Montrose Vertical and Others Dinner

It was very educational to compare different vintages of the same producer and also to drink some off vintages that were quite nice!

The G-L and the Tronquoy were served double blind. The '89, '91 and '94 Montrose were served without revealing the vintage.

• 1979 Domaine Touchais Coteaux du Layon Réserve de nos Vignobles 94 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Coteaux du Layon

  Sweet but not cloying, a wonderful alternative to sauternes and barsac. Slightly golden in color with a finish of orange marmalade. This is yummy stuff!

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1989 Domaine Touchais Coteaux du Layon Réserve de nos Vignobles 92 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Coteaux du Layon

  A great comparison to the 1979, this one has loads more petrol on the nose and finish, but not overtly so. Much lighter in color and tasting much younger, it has not developed the flavors of the '79, but is really beautiful. Again sweet but no cloying or flabby a good amount of acidity to keep things in balance.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2000 R. Dumont et Fils Champagne Brut Millésimé 93 Points

  France, Champagne

  Very very delicious - yeasty, creamy and earthy. A voluptous champagne that is like lightly sweetened whipped cream.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2003 Château Montrose 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  Opened and decanted for 8 hours and it was still singing when we finished the last drop. The nose is fantastic - moving in all directions from leather, chocolate, smores and spice. Super long finish with good tannic backbone and the right balance. No heat at all in the finish. I have only tasted a few of the greater older bordeaux's and the flavor profile is that of a young superstar. This can only get better and better.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2002 Château Montrose 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  Tannic but creamy and with a lead pencil, tobacco nose. This one has a lot of potential to improve and age well. The fruit is there and not overwhelmed by the tannins. Great balance and mouthfeel.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2000 Château Tronquoy-Lalande 87 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  Soft berries and some graphite. Very balanced but without a whole lot of depth.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1990 Château Gruaud Larose 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  Loads of currant and leather in this one. Seems pretty young still and I think could continue to improve. Color did not look like a 15 year old wine.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1989 Château Montrose 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  Slightly funky maybe bretty but in a good way. Really still young, spicy and delicious. Dense but great saddleback, sweet tobacco and sasparilla.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1991 Château Montrose 88 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  A little alcohol on the finish and showing signs of aging, but a great drinker right now. Not as dense as the other Montose we tasted, but showing for me Montose's great richness of flavor and spice.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1994 Château Montrose 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  This is just a beautiful wine. Maybe this is what I have heard described as classic claret. Whatever, it is a suberb drinker and has some life left for the foreseeable future. More dense than the '91 and more open than the '89, it was jammy without being overipe, spicy and perfect amount of leather and tobacco. More secondary flavors than the '91 for sure.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Thanks to everyone for a great time!