Montrose tasting with Herve Berland

HK Wine Vault
Tasted Thursday, February 27, 2014 by Cheungtp with 759 views

Introduction

Tasting from 1998, 2005, 2008, 2010 and 2011 vintages, brought straight from the chateau by CEO Herve Berland. Excellent wines from one of my favorite wineries, Herve is extremely friendly explaining Montrose's new winery development and expansion reach in Asia.

Flight 1 (6 Notes)

  • 2010 Château Montrose 95 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

    This is a baby, but a handsome one, and one day it will blossom into a star. But its with immense pleasure to getting a chance to taste such a splendid wine at this stage of its journey. Dark, opaque, and with some time in the glass, clean and focused aromatics of cassis, rose, crushed stone and licorice hit your nose with stride. Rich, creamy palate is packed with black cherry, plum and earth. All these goodies are masked by the tannic backbone at this stage, but the tannins are very fine and not overpowering, because you will be indulged in the long after taste while the tannins are melting away. Outstanding wine, leaving the score at 95 only to leave some room for future add on.

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  • 2005 Château Montrose 95 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

    Young and likely still in the resting phase, but opened rather nicely and a pleasure to try at the tasting. The dark purple gem opened up with energetic cassis, earth, cedar and mesmerizing note of rose petal, a soothing touch to a wine that's sharp and deep. Excellently balanced palate, rich texture, packed with black cherry, wood, truffle and spice. Structured tannic spine, all elements pointing towards a great wine in the future.

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  • 2008 Château Montrose 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

    The 2008 Montrose is a very good one, but trying it after the 2010 and 2005 vintages certainly make it appear a notch below. Dark ruby, aromatics of fresh red fruits, spice, licorice, hint of mint and floral. Not as complex or deep as the other two vintages, but most approachable among the three and very pleasant. Medium mouth feel, red fruit dominated palate with notes of tobacco and orange zest. Tannins are not intruding, but carries a slight greenish note. Alcohol note seems a bit disjointed and can use some time to integrate.

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  • 2011 Château Montrose 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

    First try on the newly bottled 2011 vintage, dark and bright in profile but not opaque. Nose is filled with fresh berries, flowers, licorice, and minerals. Palate appears concentrated and acidic at the moment, texture is light and smooth, lacking a velvety touch and weight. Tannins are ample, yet not as polished as in the greater vintage. Not bad, yet far behind the shadows of 2010 and 2005.

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  • 1998 Château Montrose 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

    After trying the recent vintages, an older vintage is on the offer. Very different in style, yet this difference is interesting and graceful. Ruby in color with light browning on the rim. A relatively more mature bouquet fills up your nose, with burnt leather, plum, mushroom, earth and white flower. Palate is soft, not as acidic versus the young vintages, notes of black cherry, wood and some coffee. From Ex Chateau stock, very well preserved and can still go for some distance. A delicious Montrose in its drinking window.

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  • 2010 La Dame de Montrose 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

    The 2010 La Dame de Montrose is a solid wine. Primary in color, a bit tight on the aromatics, but with effort, notes of cassis, minerals, cedar, floral and licorice are not hard to detect. Rich mouth feel, close to full bodied, dense and tannic. A style that's reminiscent of its big brother, the 2010 Montrose. Very good value, give it a few years in the cellar, enjoy it while waiting for the Grand Vin to mature (it might take a long time, so load up on this one for the wait haha).

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