Not bad but there's no "wow"-effect on this one. Cigar box and tertiary aromas in the nose. Palate is not very complex. Maybe it needs another decade to devolope...today not more than 89 pts.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A youthful-looking concoction of leathery, earthy black fruits, dense and rich on the palate, strong earthy taste, a hint of sea salt, rather aromatic.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium red with hint of mahogany in the rim. Cedar, graphite, cassis bouquet. Medium-body with moderate fruit concentration, it’s an excellent Bordeaux with very good length. Delicious now, though will hold 3-4 more years easily.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
OK, just OK. Good deep colour and trace of a/c on the nose. The hard tannins are gone; it’s quite smooth and a very acceptable bdx; though very little 2nd development. Unclear if that will happen ; I mean we are 20 yrs in at this stage.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wonderful graphite nose. Muscular tannins, some black fruit in the background, a little bit hollow in the middle? "Classic" claret but not as good as my last bottle. The tannin and structure will last, but I think the remaining fruit will fade - drink soon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Au nez et en bouche ça manque drastiquement de fruit mais la structure est impressionnante ! Ayayaye jamais j'aurais dit qu'on était sur 2002 ! J'étais plutôt sur 2010. Un accord parfait avec le steak sauce au café mais sans nourriture je l'ai trouvé plus ou moins intéressant. Montrose est un Chateau coup de coeur pour moi mais ce millésime ma un peu déçu.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
2002 Bordeaux 20 years on tasting (Fribourg): 2002 Bordeaux 20 years on tasting. Key takeaways: 1/ 31 out of 32 wines were in flawless condition which indicates either luck or less bottle variation in the vintage, 2/ On average still early days with the fruit predominantly primary, 3/ solid hedonistic quality with only few laggards, but also no blow-outs, 4/ structures built on both tannin and acidity, but common mid-palate weakness, 5/ best wines were Valandrau, Palmer and a surprise underdog Lagrange (all 95), 6/ biggest disappointment was a cooked Figeac (87). More comments and full list of wines included in the tasting story.
Tasting note: Intense and dense with tangible weight to it. Mixed red and blue berries, nice aromas of spice, sweet notes, herbs, underwood and graphite. Good structure, young and athletic in a harmonious way. A solid Montrose that will benefit from another 5 years of cellaring.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
7th of 24, decanted 2 hours, perfect cork and level, still in funky phase and in line with last bottle in Dec 20, should clarify to its advantage in couple of years, upside, 15+ years. For now F (17.5)......01 to be preferred at present!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
My, this wine looks and tastes young. Beautiful nose of dark fruit, oak,cedar and smoke, spicebox, leather, flint and pencil lead. Medium to full bodied. Strong tannins, yet in balance with the fruit. Seems to have a long life ahead.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
5th bottle from a half case bought en primeur. Big cassis nose at first gives way to a slight earthiness followed by tobacco and blackcurrant. In the last couple of years the green tannins in the finish have fallen out however the body remains light despite good colour. Enjoyable and will continue to hold up for a number of years with plenty of well resolved tannins.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
My last bottle of this, and I am wishing I had waited to start drinking this. Now fully mature it is an enjoyable wine with a great nose and an average palate and finish. Black and red berry fruits and tobacco are prominent on a surprisingly elegant nose but there is an austerity about the rest of the experience. However, a good balance and integrated tannin elevates it from a rustic drinker to a decent food wine. Although drinking at its peak it should stay here for a good few more years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Private dinner (Nidau): Decanted an hour before dinner. Classical and elegant, not as much power as in other vintages of this wine but very balanced, good acidity, red and black berries, a hint of tertiary notes, long finish. Drink now or within the next eight to ten years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Surprisingly deep colour. Nose has a ripeness akin to a 2004 claret with a similarly diffuse character; not the precision which I expect, almost to a fault, in most 2002's. Quite grippy and not really gaining charm over 2 nights.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A pretty decent showing with classic at estephe nose of pencil lead, anise, peppery, blackberries and other black fruit. Slightly austere on palate with dryish tannins but not harsh. Structurally a bit light as well with a short plus finish.
A classic BdX maybe from another era and from a tough vintage; don’t think much upside from here but still a good wine and should remain nice for a while.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I haven’t had that many St Estephes, but my frame of reference always goes back to Cos D, and while this Montrose is smooth, black fruit, showing beautiful tertiary notes, it lacks greenness, minerality was a little light, and the finish was medium +, it’s a wine that “could have done better” in terms of intensity, but still very good all the same
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
13% alcohol. CS 62%, M 32%, CF 4%, 2PV %. The cork is above average in length, and it is not very dense at all, but on the other hand it is pretty elastic; wine penetration is about 8mm (uneven). Decanted 75mn ahead. The colour is dark with very limited thinning at the rim and some turbidity. Very vivid nose with wild red berries and some confectionery; recognisably Médoc, but not quite classical. The mouth adds a refreshing aspect, very good grip and leafy menthol in the finish; not hard but certainly firm. Incredibly young and with a great future ahead. I would never have guessed nearly a third of M in this wine. The repeat purchase status does not arise given the price escalation since the start of the Bouygues era, plus the relative ageing abilities of the wine and myself. Looking forward to following the evolution of the remaining bottles in the cellar in the years to come.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine remains a deep crimson colour with a classic nose of crushed blackcurrants, garnet plums, liquorice and cedar. The palate is medium weight with a lovely line of ripe fruits backed by cedar and tobacco. There is a touch of green and attenuation on the finish that tells of the origins of this vintage. Still it is a thoroughly classic Bordeaux that would have been well regarded in the 60s and 70s.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Quite a concentrated bouquet, with redcurrants, cranberries and tobacco. Fearsomely tannic at first, it needed a good three hours in the decanter to soften up, then gave a lean but reasonably intense mouthful of redcurrants, blackcurrants and cranberry, without ever really getting past second gear. I liked the neat precision but overall, slightly underwhelming and there are much better 2002s.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Needed a modest decant (perhaps an hour) to bloom, but was quite forthcoming and deep aromatically, a bit more stern on the palate, but nevertheless a very good and enjoyable showing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
6th of 24, decanted an hour, perfect cork and level, leaner and tad greener than May bottle but seemed to round out and put on weight by final glass having initially been quite hollow in mid palate, appearance remarkably youthful, more mature on nose and palate, probably worth more extended decanting. F (17.5).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wines says a lot about the 2002 Left bank Bordeaux vintage when made by a strong wine-making team and Sourced from excellent terroir. Therefore, I’ll expand comments much more than usual. I decanted this wine for an hour before tasting. As it turned out, I should have let it breathe for 2. First half of bottle: Medium-dark red color. Beautiful pencil lead, tobacco, smoke, cedar, gamey, and dark fruit bouquet. Mid-weight fruit entry which turn austerity tannic in the aftertaste. Not ready. 2nd half of bottle: After 1.5 hours, the tannins are significantly softened. Still a little austere but way more balanced. Bouquet continues to evolve. Just Beautiful. Pros: Beautiful bouquet that developed over 2 hours. Moderate, old Bordeaux style fruit extract. Elegant, at least for a St, Estèphe. Cons: Austere Harshly Tannic finish. Ripe fruit is not exhibited today. Summary: I should have let this breathe 2 hours before drinking. This wine reminds me of “pre-Parker” traditionally styled left-bank claret. It will live 4-8 more years. Probably will improve the first 4 and decline the later part. Interesting wine. I have 5 more bottles to drink. I think I’ll try one every two years to see how it develops.
,
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is a decent drink, but 2002 was not the greatest year for the estate. It is a very austere St. Estephe, and I personally think that this is as good as it's going to get. It actually has a beautiful nose packed full of ripe blackberry with tobacco notes. However, the palate is lean and lacking depth, and the finish is lengthy but leaves a residual bitterness. This had 4 hours in the decanter, but I don't think aeration or further age will address the weaker elements of the wine. However, that said it is an enjoyable wine with food. I'll try again in another couple of years, but I'm not holding my breath.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
4th bottle in 5 years. The nose has consistently had a touch of undergrowth with plenty of blackcurrant. The body has put on weight but still has a touch of green that slightly spoils the wine and is a characteristic of the vintage. Well balanced, the tannins have softened well and the finish is long.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine remains a deep crimson colour with a thoroughly classic nose of crushed blackcurrants, garnet plums, liquorice and cedar. The palate is medium weight with a lovely line of ripe fruits backed by cedar and tobacco. The palate is well balanced with a line of fine tannins that persists beautifully. Overall this is a juicy 2002 with plenty of classic character.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
5th of 24, opened 45 minutes, perfect cork and level, losing the muddy flavours noted in December revealing more and more as opened in the glass becoming quite elegant and complex, a big wine but perhaps lacking the concentration and crowd appeal of the 03 whilst being a good step up on a recent and perhaps not quite right 01. F (17.5)….for now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very tight and clenched, hard to believe it could be shut down at 18 years old. Color is still dark purple, just not giving up much. 2002 Lagrange from last night was much more enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
4th of 24, decanted 45 minutes, perfect cork and level, still tight and a bit muddy if much more attractive and closer to maturity than tough bottle in Feb 18. At least F (17.5)….would expect this to pip the currently more attractive GPL 01 on same night.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Reading my note from November 2015 it seems like these nearly 4 years was what this wine needed. I'm pretty consistent with my previous note but this time around the oak is more integrated and the tannins softer. Still very much left bank Bordeaux with lots of school book Cabernet-markers.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This has definitely reached its peak drinking window, and most unusually for the estate, I don't think this has any real potential for aging. The nose is very deep and is the best feature of the wine, with dark berry fruits and tobacco. The palate is reasonable in its depth with tannin prominent. As mentioned previously, the wine is let down by the finish, which, although lengthy, is unbalanced with a residual sourness.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
13% alcohol. Good cork, dense but not that long, unevenly penetrated (1 to 5 mm deep). Decanted 90 mn ahead. Dark colour with no thinning. The nose has great Médoc balance with blackcurrant, some confectionery, a hint of leather and the harmonious remnants of élevage. The mouth is probably one step behind at this stage as there is an element of strictness in the finish; still very enjoyable in a fresh vigorous sappy mode. Pavie it ain't (thankfully). This has room to improve further over the next 10 to 15 years. Went very well with the roast lamb. I would like to call this a repeat purchase, but the steep price increase since I acquired this wine makes the decision purely academic. I will call this a 30€ bottle in my book (in this vintage), which is more than what I paid but shows how hopelessly out of touch I am with current market forces. Does it bother me? Not a bit!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From a half case bought in 08. Dark colour. Bramble nose, blackcurrant on the palate. The wine seems to have put on weight since last year. Lots of soft to medium tannins. Touch of bitterness and good length on the finish. Peaking now and will drink well for a decade and last far longer. Very enjoyable.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Weekly tasting group RWP #290: Bordeaux Vertical and Horizontal (@ VD): Beautiful and deep bouquet with luxurious oak, some barnyard and beautifully ripe dark berries. On the palate dark berries, chocolate, sweet spices, cigar, leather, tobacco, a touch of sweetness, beautiful acidity and round, slightly sticky tannin. This 2002 Montrose is probably one of the great successes of the vintage. A great pleasure already and enough power for another 5(+?) years. 92 - 93
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This may be an "off" vintage but it's drinking beautifully now. Classic graphite and cedar, red fruit but fading, tobacco, spice and a touch of farmyard. Chunky but fresh, this is highly enjoyable claret.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very dark, rubied rim; dense, packed nose, reined in black currants; stern, serious, plenty of robust tannins, foursquare; compact, a scrawny finish. A throwback to Montrose past, uncompromising. If the fruit holds this will age a decade or more. A big if.....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
13% alcohol. CS 62%, M 32%, CF 4%, PV 2%. The cork is very dense but of average length; it seems to be penetrated mostly on its outer edge, but quite deeply there. Decanted a good hour ahead. The colour is dark all the way to the rim. Generally speaking, this bottle was on the reticent side, and I am basing these notes on a post-prandial glass, as this seems to be the best way to be fair to its considerable qualities. Good nose of fresh dark ripe berries, with a hint of raisiny aromas (in a good way because they do not dominate). Some fleeting notes of confectionery. The mouth is not quite as complex at this stage, but it is nevertheless very good with excellent balance, good grip and refreshing acidity; no direct oak influence. The tannins are there in imparting grip, but there is no bitterness at all. This wine requires more coaxing than most in order to show at its best (maybe longer decanting the next time?). Things can only get better from here for the next fifteen years, but this wine is already very elegant. I am not sure about the repeat purchase status of this wine, but this is only because of the hike in prices following the change of ownership (this bottle is still of the Charmolüe era); also, I benefitted price-wise from the general undervaluation of the vintage. There are still substantial arbitrage opportunities for those willing to forego the herd mentality; spotting them in real time is the trick, and it involves luck as much as access to relevant info.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
3rd of 24, pnp then mostly drunk following night, perfect cork and level, still primary and tight per my May 17 note, mat, earthy fruit, burly tannins, leave for 18 months. At least F (17.5).
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
best so far. popnpour deep purple hue earth but no funk and bit of smoke and cedar on the nose rich deep vibrant palate solid finish with no bitter edges really excellent
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pretty happy with this one after popnpour and it has that classical bordelaise quality of quenching a thirst you did not know you had. The fruit is sort of currant and raspberry without feeling sweet. the finish is at least medium.
So far I am enjoying each successive bottle more than the last. I think this is 6th in a case that is peaked and probably wont be worth longer cellar time
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
At 13.5%, the alcohol content is noticeable on the nose, but still deep with dark berry fruits. On the palate the wine is surprisingly fruity, but still a very classic Montrose with good balance and big tannins. However, the tannin is overly harsh and inhibits the finish which is a little clipped and unbalanced unlike the great wines from this Château. However, a very enjoyable and grown up Bordeaux, which still has potential for evolvement, but one which is going to retain this profile. Do decant for a few hours.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
First bottle of a case. A deep, dark inky colour. The nose was somewhat muted, may have been because I did not decant it, but gave it an hour to breath in the bottle. On the palate there is a lovely dark berry flavour. The tannins are now well integrated. The St Estephe dryness is there on the finish, but I was delighted with this showing and look forward to consuming the remaining bottles over time.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Turkey BBQ weekend, late Oct 2017: decanted; black red color; needed about 30 minutes in the glass to fully open up; dark fruits and berries plus some coffee, chocolate and tobacco; smooth astringency on the palate; medium body; round, noble texture; medium/long finish with well-integrated tannins.
Excellent showing. The Montrose 2002 is already good approachable but still very young. There is no need for hurry to drink. My guess is over the next 10-20 years the wine will stay on this level or maybe even slightly improve.
This night the Montrose 2002 was directly compared to a Leoville Barton 2002. He won the race due to its well-balanced, elegant style.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
An really oldschool Bordeaux, horse stable, mushrooms, forest soil, some nearly hidden red savoury fruit, still drying tannin on the palate, moderate bodied, needs more time to fully balance, good energetic finish, **(**?), 91+ potential
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank over four hours; not decanted. Immediately attractive and primary blackberry and black cherry fruit, interesting spice, some sweet floral notes. Faded somewhat in the second hour, but seemed to come back a bit in the fourth. However, tannins were light and the finish a bit short--concerning.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bramble and blackcurrant nose, loads of soft tannins. Still missing something mid palate, then good long finish. Very enjoyable. Better than two years ago and at its peak drinking now.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
2nd of 24, pnp, perfect cork and level, little development from last August's bottle, has weight and sweetness of fruit to master the slightly burly and dry tannins, drinking but scope to improve markedly. Currently F (17.5).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep scarlet w orangey/brown highlights, staining - nice, if restrained nose, has a bit of cigar box, but also some fresh green tobacco - not a ton of fruit on the nose, but a nice straw/umami note - very smooth, fine, elegant entry, and that flows thru, it is light on its feet, not heavy, in fact less than medium bodied-excellent acidity, v fresh, long - has nice balance, but the best thing is the elegance, the weightlessness, which is surprising after the dark robe - there are tannins for sure, but with a decant, this is ready to go, wouldn't wait too terribly long- palate is at secondary stage, but tertiary could be 3-5 yrs away, and the structure will easily support that - v nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is one of my favorite producers. Classic. Even in a poor vintage this gives you pleasure. Strong dark fruits, with noticeable leather mixed with moca-coffee and slight oak. Medium body and length. In this case tannins all blended and I would advise drinking up as it does not seem any big improvement from here. .
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beastly of course. The stuff coats your mouth with tannins and is unrelenting. Lacks some fruit. Second half of the bottle was much better with 24 hours of air. If you must drink, give it lots of air - maybe a blender - or let it sit overnight, or cellar it for another 20 years. The only problem with the last option is it doesn't have the fruit to make it that long.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I'm a big fan of Montrose. Thought this wine was reflective of the vintage and being a bit short. I would drink this wine and enjoy the charming, lighter style of Bordeaux and Montrose typicity before they were riper and higher alcohol. If your more Burgundy inclined, you may like this one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured. Nose of cedar, tobacco, graphite, bright cherry, and hints of plum. On the palate, tobacco, cedar, cherry, currant, plum. Nice finish with great balance. Super food friendly. Drink or hold, no big hurry.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank in restaurant. Dark in colour as usual. Intense and tannin still hard. Should Keep or decant longer before drinking. Long finishing and smooth on structure.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
1st of 24, decanted an hour, perfect cork and level - deep dusty garnet, purple rimmed; plum, cassis, earth plus a touch of tobacco and spice; fullish, nice ripe fruit, decent length and concentration for vintage, a tad ungainly as yet and not as pure as the 01 or as attractive at this stage, but the material is there to produce a lovely bottle and no trace of greenness, preferred the Barton 02 on the night for its poise and subtlety. At least F (17.5).
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pop n' pour and drank for the next 2.5 hours. Initially a bit reticent, but acheives moderate intensity of aroma and flavor after about an hour. Nice herby plum fruit with medium weight and concentration. Has nice persistence that fades to lighter weight intensity. Not the most complex BDX but there's certainly herb and spice accents to the fruit. I suspect this is in a long holding pattern without much upside. A solid effort in a less heralded vintage.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Concentrated, full bodied and more interesting on the earthy, spicy, herb and cassis nose, than on the palate, which finishes a bit stern and dry. You can drink this now, or age it, but the character will remain the same.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Monthly Tuesday group #006: Bordeaux 2001 versus 2002 (By VD): Beautiful bouquet with concentrated dark forest fruits, sweet and salty licorice and beautiful oak. On the palate dark berry fruits, licorice, graphite, tobacco, chocolate and leather. Good acidity and tannin with still a good bite. Not as refined as the 2001, but still a very beautiful and exclusive, classical wine with still a future until the end of this decade. 92 – 93
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine was enjoyable to drink. It did not seem to have much depth and will never be or is a blockbuster. This wine's tannins had softened, but still was present. Dark inky look to it with still lots of red fruit in the taste. Finish was not particularly long. Good wine from an average vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Un nez fumé, de cassis noir. Le vin est droit et austère, c'est typé, de bonne longueur, mais les tanins sont un peu rugueux. Encore jeune, il est serré et sans doute à quelques années de la maturité. N'empêche, on aimerait davantage de fruit sur cette structure et un peu plus de charme. 89-90 (+?) pts
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Weekly tasting group #195; St. Estephe (@ VD): The bouquet is a bit locked, but shows creamy dark berry fruits, luxurious oak and cedar, some chocolate and cocoa and lovely perfume as well as some pleasant barnyard. On the palate classical with cassis and creamy dark berries, beautiful oak, a beautiful balance between acidity and a touch of sweetness and beautifully soft tannin. Overall a beautiful and subtle wine with a great length. In a beautiful drinking stage now. I, and most (if not all) of the others around the table preferred this 2002 above the 2001. So I have to score it a point higher than the 2001 for today. Finally; ready now and no hurry.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
First visit to this wine in 3 years. Much happier this time around. This will never be a blockbuster and no, it won't compare to the 89 or 90 (alas); but it wasn't green, thin,leafy or hollow as many have written about the 2002s. Dark to the rim, nice legs, very cab forward, tannins still present but integrating. Nice. No rush on the balance of the case, but no real reason to wait either.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Developing with a medium(+) intensity in the nose. Aromas of black currant, plum, green bell pepper, grass, cedar wood, oak, coffee, cacao, tobacco and mud. Classic Bordeaux-nose!
Dry, medium acidity, medium(+) body and medium(+) tannins. Lots of oak(!!) and cabernet-action. It somehow feels a bit tight and disjointed on the palate but the intensity is medium(+). The finish is medium(+), bone dry, oaky and slightly green.
This wine clearly needs more time to come together. Today it's all oaky and almost austere. Wait!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I've waited many a moon to open the first of two bottles from the cave. Still a very dark purple with almost no sign of age or lightening as I tilt the glass. What first first strikes me here is a pleasantly green aspect on the nose that doesn't detract at all. I'm pleased with the balance of the oak and the rest of the wine, especially the pretty, dark fruit. Smells like a Bordeaux! The palate has soft tannin with just the right grip. While I don't get anything tertiary yet I would say the '02 will reach its plateau around 2018 and drink well for another seven to eight years after that. I'm sure something tertiary, perhaps more earth, will develop by 2020. Drink by 2027.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Soft and smooth tannin with lively acidity, the nose show black and red currant, leaf and earthy, a little bit green pepper, truffle, . Uncork at around 1600 and drink at around 2000. Lovely wine with long finish.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
this is the 4th of a case bought en premier and the comments are listed represent an assessment over several hours. It started and stayed a leafy and tart and somewhat dilute tasting cabernet. Actually the depth and richness at the back with the palate cleansing lightness on the front make it refreshing and enjoyable quoif giving it a solid 87 but after more air and excellent food -in this case roasted cornish hen- definitely rounded and fleshed out to be in the 90+ range …. however , if you were lookng for the kind heft and gravitas that Montrose is known for you might feel jipped. I spent around $60 en premier for a case I will enjoy it as a wine for what it is but have not really found it to deliver the marquis qualities expected on the label or the $s spent + time in my cellar
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Blackcurrant nose with hints of undergrowth. Loads of soft tannins and great length. Touch of green and Something missing mid palate. Very enjoyable and easy to drink. Drinking well, will improve for a few years. Drink over the next 10 years. Looking over other 2002 tasting notes the green, acidic and hollow comments recurr as characteristic of the vintage. Particularly successful were Lynch Bages and Palmer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Barnyard, some toasted oak, coffee, chocolate, ceder, leather, dark fruit, liquorice, a bit of dirt and wet soil, butter and cucumber water.
Dry, medium+ acidity, medium+ tannins, high intensity, and a long finish with a touch of oaky bitterness.
A nice Bordeaux in a fairly classic style. Open and accessible on the nose, tighter on the palate. Could need a few more years in the cellar to polish off the oak.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The nose was closed. On the palate, it had red fruits and soft tannins. The structure of the wine was not integrated. And it lacked the power and fineness of what a good montrose should have.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
On the nose this had some mushroomy elements. The palate had lots of pure cassis flavour, lively acidity, and decent complexity. I like Bordeaux less and less over time and I don't really see how they can justify their prices when in this price bracket in Burgundy I'd be in wine heaven, but this was still quite a nice claret. Seems young to me - I think this will improve over the next 5 or 6 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice nose if a bit closed, musty wood. Entry is delightful, fairly dark fruit with a great deal of depth and a nice weight. Quite a tart finish with a lot of complexity of leather and wood. Tannins fairly drying still, this has years left and even could wait a bit still.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Monthly Tasting Group HWS #092; Bordeaux vs USA (By SB): Bouquet with chocolate, sweet spices like cinnamon and vanilla, tobacco and some tea. On the palate a bit green and rustic. Red fruits, spiciness, good acidity and soft tannin. Drank after a 2003 Viader (Californian wine with a firm dose of sweetness) this Montrose was not easy to comprehend. Scored it 90, but that might be too low.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was a revelation. I love aged cabernet. This came off as almost New World. This was more rich than I was expecting for an off vintage. Effusive aromas of black currants with lead pencil coming to the fore at three hours. This opens with piles of velvet. The palate offers a refrain of black currant with a solid mid-palate core of black fruit and plum juice trimmed in cedar. Plus finish. 92
This is distinguished in the sense that Pontet Canet had both off vintage hallmarks of bell pepper and a short finish whereas Lagrange had no green, but a shorter finish. Montrose actually got tight around three hours, drier on the tail and slightly more tannic, suggesting it has power in reserve. 92
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bordeaux Wimps (La Trompette, Chiswick): Very youthful, opaque appearance. Youthful, ripe dark fruits, brooding, notes of mineral. Medium/full on the palate, dark fruits, quite soft and plush, very good length finish. ***1/2.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice classic mid toned fruit in wood nose. Entry is lovely, mid-mouth is soft and round. A decent finish. Decent tannins but a bit drying if held.. This is an easy drinking wine now.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Slow oxed for 7 hours. Notes of leather on the nose. Blueberry, cherry, light notes of leather and cedar, and nice resolution of tannins. Not overly heavy, and still has tannins that will need to resolve over the coming years. But nice and open and complex, with good balance and wonderful flavor.
24 hours later, the wine has tons of leather on the nose. Good amount of leather, blood, white pepper and spice on the palate. Mixed with prunes, and figs. Definitely a bit more serious and structured than it was 24 hours ago.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Previously tasted about 5 years ago. Tannins have resolved quite a bit in that time and with about an hour or two in the decanter it really opens up nicely. Excellent right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tight, the wine needs time and air to wake it. With effort, earth, tobacco and spicy cassis notes can be found. Meaty tannins, olive and blackberry, with hints of herb and cranberry in the solid, beefy finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Coming around, little by little. Montrose did well in this blubby year. Showed off some fine tuned brett, Bordeaux earth and fine berries on the nose. After 5 hrs of decanting, the whole cellar was filled with that beautiful appley aroma. Yumm! In the mouth, it has put on weight and the acids are more integrated. We feel that some more time will do this powerful pony some good. Very early drinking plateau according to our standards. Did especially well with: salad vinaigrette, fois gras pudding and the stir fried Iberico cutlet at Le Message (Gumyouji, Yokohama). Aaalmost 92 tonight, Wife still 89p. We're down to only half the case now. Next btl in 1-3 years as this probably won't walk up the hill for too long.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Really powerful nose of red flowers, graphite, cedar, pipe tobacco and brambly black fruit. The palate is really polished and integrated with blackberry, black cherry, sweet pip tobacco, cedar, graphite and subtle eucalyptus. Finish is medium in length with some noticeable alcohol that is somewhat distracting. This is a nice wine though from a leaner year. Open for business.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
rett fra flasken, flott nese, sursøte bær og blindt kunne jeg endt i Piemonte. Kirsebær med innslag av mørke bjørnebær. I munnen startende modningsaromaer og flott syre. Ganske intens slutt, med strålende fokusert munngrep. Flott vin på den stramme og intense siden. Mangler litt fruktkonsentrasjon. Den manglende frukten blir tydelig etter at vinen har fått mange timer i flasken. Da vinen heller ikke har ekstrem syre, oppleves vinen som balansert. Selv om det aldri er noe kvalitetstegn at det er lite av mye. 88p.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Good quality St-Estephe of deep ruby color, this wine has reasonably intense nose of good complexity, showing developing aromas of blackberry, plum, meaty and farmyard, game, cedar and smoke, cloves, graphite. With good acidity, the tannin of the wine is fairly high but it has a smooth silky texture. The wine is fairly full-bodied and the palate has reasonable concentration of black cherry, plum, cedar, cinnamon, cream, and earth. With a fair finish, the wine is ready to drink now though it can benefit from further ageing of another 3-5 years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Weekly tasting group #058; Bordeaux left bank 2001, 2002 and 2003. (@ VD): Beautiful and classical bouquet with dark fruits, graphite and white chocolate. Also a bit dusty. On the palate the wine was a bit dusty as well. I stopped making notes because all tasters including me had the impression the wine was not a 100% ok. No score.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
really polished and svelte but missing complexity on the palate. This is a montrose to have with food....perfect wine to take out to a BYOB restaurant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Weekday Night (Andrew's Place): (tasted blind) Very high quality oak, quite restrained red fruit, appealing nose with a savory meaty quality. Nose became more brown spiced with time and then more green. Palate lets down after a pretty nose; very astringent, seems a touch stemmy/or green and is a bit bitter. Drink or hold, though won't improve further at this point.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Un vin au subtil nez médocain. L'attaque en bouche est très jolie, souple et fraiche, il a de l'élégance et du style. Le bémol: ça tombe vite et la finale manque d'allonge. Les limites du beau millésime 2002 sont évidentes lorsqu'il suit un groupe très relevé de Bordeaux 2000 et 2003, qui incluait son ainé et son cadet. Néanmoins, un très bon vin, authentique et bien fait. 89-90 pts
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Non-blind. Dbl decanted 5 hrs and served at Restaurant Manoir in Hiroo. Petite nose showing some small barnyard, earth and red berries. Wine is powerfully elegant with the spirited acids overwhelming the fruit and gentleman-like, mature tannin. I'd hate to see it the other way around: the fruit underwhelming the acids and tannin... (Don't think that's the case though.) Red fruits mostly, and only small amount of barnyard, earth and sumi ink. I will try my darnedest to be patient with this wine. (Wife: 89p.)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Just out of what will become tonight's bottle: Tightly knit nose with small amount of mercaptans. No mercaptans on the palate. Well built wine with fine concentration, fair amount of non-modest but supple acids and fine grained tannin. Tight structure of classic cut. Some traces of maturity emerging, still not mature by our metric standard. Traces of Bordeaux earth still overshadowed by red berries and a slightly "juicy" character. Promises well for tonight's dinner :-)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful, slightly mature bouquet with cassis, tobacco and beautiful oaky flavors. On the palate cassis, soft fruit juice, firm acidity and tannin. Even though this is an off vintage, this is a luxurious wine that will improve with another 2 - 5 years of ageing.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
La Commanderie de Bordeaux à Vancouver - 2002 Horizontal (Blue Water Cafe): Medium red. Nose with closed on this at first but did start to (slightly) open up after some time and heavy swirling. Silky smooth entry with grippy tannins and a dry and acidic finish. This is definitely more forward than the Poyferre. I found this almost to be too round/soft for my liking. A nice wine but seems a little awkward right now; perhaps a few more years will sort things out. Very good. 88+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lovely plum nose with well integrated oak; nice touch of pencil shavings. Mid weight entry, silky and very smooth. Builds steadily to a fairly rich fruit ending with very nicely done tannins. This is very nice now. Excellent claret example.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Non-blind. Decanted for 3 hrs, not enough. Nose: flat. On the palate it sent happy shivers down our spines. 'tis a tight tiger displaying grrrandeur and strong spirit. Refined tannins en masse with excellent fruit and prominent acids making up a finely honed power-house with medium length. At the end of the evening, showing an attractive array of scrumptious tertiary aromas. This will be better with time. Next bottle in a year's time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Annual Tasting Group Holiday Party (Levain, Mpls): Very dark red color. This wine had been decanted 2+hrs and it needed at least 4-6. Very young and tannic yet, but with a wonderful nose of big dark fruits, cassis, blueberry, graphite, dust, that after an hour in the glass opens to show some earth and floral character. Palate is quite concentrated and deep, consistent. Score based on where it was after at least 4 hours. This will be fun to revisit in another couple years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Montrose Vertical Tasting 1989 - 2005 (Work in Progress) (Switzerland): Intensive deep red. Nose of leather and sweet dark berries. Hard tannins supported by nice sweetness. At the moment quite a bit of tartiness. I expect this to be nicer in a few years of time. Overall a nice Montrose and a great effort for the vintage. Drink now - 2025.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
nose - earth, sour berry, hint of oak mouth - juicy boysenberry fruit with good acidity, and nice backend tannins. just beginning to show some nice secondary characteristics. a well balanced wine that really opened up with a few hours in the decanter. While this wine drinks nicely now, i think an additional 2-3 years will lead to improvement.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opaque garnet color, with no bricking. Initially barnyard on the nose, but blew off quickly to reveal pepper, cedar, mushrooms and blackberries. Palate evolved over a couple of hours, eventually showing cooked cherries, tobacco and cassis. Medium bodied with well resolved tannins, good balance and a nice finish. This is a solid wine considering the vintage. It's not declining, and the color, tannins and acidity suggest that it will hold firm for a while, but it also does not seem likely to evolve into anything special, so might as well drink up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Upon opening, lovely creamy chocolate and cherry flavors. After a few hours decant, telluric and pepper notes start evolving. This is by no means a "classic "or "big" Montrose, suggesting a more paired-back, toned-down approach to the vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
opened in the morning, put into decanter just before lunch. Some funky nose but it blew away in the afternoon. After that, very classy mature Bordeux, cassis, pencil, yet the typical St Estephe character was missing a bit. Nevertheless, very nice wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wine Cellar - Bordeaux Left Bank (Wine Cellar): (Tasted Blind): A deep garnet colour with a bouquet revealing cedarwood, earth, hung game, roasted herbs and some rustic notes. Very intense, the wine is full-throated with raw power, concentration and flaovurs of blackcurrant concentrated/cassis, tilled soil almost on a rocky outcrop. The remnants of oak shows as some light spice adding some lovely complexity and the wine finishes long. The tannins are still quite furtive giving some firmness and accentuating the stony qualities.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Terroir-istes International - France, Bordeaux, St. Estephe (Rodwell House): Deep black-red in colour, the nose displays dried herbs, tapenade, blackcurrant and black cherries, and a pyroxene element. The entry suggests otherwise with richer, sweeter fruit and opulent texture, although this is balanced with crisp lemon-edged acidity and firm, almost austere/solid tannins giving a superb structure and frame to the wine. Full-bodied, the wine has power yet poise, solidity and depth of flavour. There is a creaminess to the mid-palate with pepper, chocolate, black cherry/currant and some crushed stone. Cocoa powder, minerals and spice add intrigue to the long, tenacious and slightly chewy finish that does become puckering. Wonderfully complex, this wine is showing very nicely, perhaps intellectually but more challenging to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bordeaux red with purple hue; muted nose, deep dark berries, clay, forest bottom; flattish, some power, fruit but muted, slightly tannic, next to no aftertaste. Drinkable but not great
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
It had been a while since I've had a classified growth bordeaux at a peak drinking window (or entering one) and was pleased with the impressive and familiar nose of cassis with hints of sandalwood, flint and spice. Palate is structured and weighty, with moderate to excellent length and featuring velvety tannins that keep the wine light on its feet but still reminding you that this is Bordeaux. I had intended to have a glass of it the night before Christmas eve and serve the rest the next night, but very little was left ...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
UK Wine Pages - Chateau Montrose Vertical (Le Colombier, Kensington, London.): Deep ruby. Cassis, vanilla oak nose - attractive if a little too oaky right now. Reasonable depth of fruit on mid-palate but very tannic, with firm tannins dominating the finish. Needs a lot more time - very difficult to read right now. **(*)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A nice surprise from 2002. Rich dark ruby color with scents of dark berries mixed with new leather and spice. Smoothly textured with good fruit flavors mixed with earth, framed by firm, but not harsh tannins and a decent finish. I wasn't expecting this to be this good. Excellent showing for this bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ch. Montrose Dinner (Crown Wine Cellars, Hong Kong): Deep purple colour, dense and not translucent. Appealing but restrained nose. Tannic but refined structure. Very dry on the back end. Closed down for now and needs a lot of time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
dark in color, a bit lean at first. after a couple of hours the wine got bigger and better. Big sweet fruit, touch of oak, flowers, tar,and herbs. smooth in the mouth with a short finish. would drink again in 5 or more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Montrose Vertical and Others Dinner (Afghan Kabob): 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.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
2002 Bordeaux (Garagiste, Seattle, WA): Color is dark ruby, and the body is medium in weight. Dark fruits and forest floor on the nose. On the palate, tart plums and cassis. The wine is pretty tannic right now. Sadly, the finish is awfully light. I tasted this one early, so perhaps it opened up later on.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Garagiste 2002 Bordeaux Tasting (Garagiste Warehouse, Seattle, WA): Dark purple in the glass. Somewhat closed nose at the start of the night. I never returned to the wine to see if it had opened up at all. I found the nose a bit vegetal smelling of green peppers. Palate dominated by cassis. Tannins present, but sort of mid range. Nice wine, but nothing special.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted as part of 2002 Blind Bordeaux Tasting. This wine was purple in color with medium intensity and clear. Aromas of black cherry, spice and oak on the nose. On the palette, oak and cherry liqueur were prominent. Probably my least favorite wine in the tasting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful oak and perfume on the mose. Really great mid-palate punches into a solid finish. Elegant, refined, and very fresh. This will be an outstanding wine with time. Similar impression the last time I tried this. Solid 2002.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark ruby/purple, almost black. Looks very thick. The nose is restrained at first, but decanting for 3 hours helped a lot to bring out some complex aromas of black currant, wood spice, hint of toast and tar - very typical Montrose profile. On the palate massive,y et refined and retains a sense of balance. The tannins coat the entire mouth and the fruit impression is very ripe, especially for the year. I couldn't sense anything green in this wine, but it is very structured, so I think it will close down hard in a few years. But it can be drunk now with pleasure if one enjoys young BDX. Very nice wine, in line with my experiences with other left bankers from this underhyped vintage. Drink now to 2007 and then again from 2015-2030.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark ruby red. Having just the smallest and briefest of tastes at the wine store, I thought this was a Cabernet-dominated wine at this stage. Upon drinking the whole bottle, however, I get a different impression. Early on, notes of cassis and lead pencil on the nose, but also the tell-tale plum and dark chocolate of the Merlot component. With time in the glass, the Merlot component beccomes more expressive on the nose, chocolate and a trace of charcoal in with the red and black fruit. In the mouth, this wine shows some drying tannins on the slightly short finish--seems to be missing real grip here on the mid-palate. Mention has been made of the austere presentation of this wine, but the Merlot is reasonably forward, if on the thin and simple side. Maybe this wine will sharpen up with time, hard to say... 89-90 points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
1/26/2024 - empire80 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Consistent with my last, good but fruit fading fast; drink soon
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
10/26/2023 - Chrysostomus wrote: 89 Points
Not bad but there's no "wow"-effect on this one. Cigar box and tertiary aromas in the nose. Palate is not very complex. Maybe it needs another decade to devolope...today not more than 89 pts.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/26/2023 - Tao wrote: 92 Points
A youthful-looking concoction of leathery, earthy black fruits, dense and rich on the palate, strong earthy taste, a hint of sea salt, rather aromatic.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/21/2023 - VinhoVerde Likes this wine: 93 Points
Medium red with hint of mahogany in the rim. Cedar, graphite, cassis bouquet. Medium-body with moderate fruit concentration, it’s an excellent Bordeaux with very good length. Delicious now, though will hold 3-4 more years easily.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/22/2023 - pawine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Closed at first. Give this lots of air. Very earthy and complex palate and nose. Better on the second day.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/17/2023 - mukden wrote: 90 Points
OK, just OK. Good deep colour and trace of a/c on the nose. The hard tannins are gone; it’s quite smooth and a very acceptable bdx; though very little 2nd development. Unclear if that will happen ; I mean we are 20 yrs in at this stage.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/26/2023 - empire80 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Wonderful graphite nose. Muscular tannins, some black fruit in the background, a little bit hollow in the middle? "Classic" claret but not as good as my last bottle. The tannin and structure will last, but I think the remaining fruit will fade - drink soon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2023 - Goodwine4ever wrote: 91 Points
Au nez et en bouche ça manque drastiquement de fruit mais la structure est impressionnante ! Ayayaye jamais j'aurais dit qu'on était sur 2002 ! J'étais plutôt sur 2010. Un accord parfait avec le steak sauce au café mais sans nourriture je l'ai trouvé plus ou moins intéressant. Montrose est un Chateau coup de coeur pour moi mais ce millésime ma un peu déçu.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/25/2022 - Geoff Likes this wine: 93 Points
Same as previous with slight resolution of tannins. Delightful wine. Needed several hour decant to open up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/3/2022 - sirpat00 wrote: 94 Points
2002 Bordeaux 20 years on tasting (Fribourg): 2002 Bordeaux 20 years on tasting. Key takeaways: 1/ 31 out of 32 wines were in flawless condition which indicates either luck or less bottle variation in the vintage, 2/ On average still early days with the fruit predominantly primary, 3/ solid hedonistic quality with only few laggards, but also no blow-outs, 4/ structures built on both tannin and acidity, but common mid-palate weakness, 5/ best wines were Valandrau, Palmer and a surprise underdog Lagrange (all 95), 6/ biggest disappointment was a cooked Figeac (87). More comments and full list of wines included in the tasting story.
Tasting note:
Intense and dense with tangible weight to it. Mixed red and blue berries, nice aromas of spice, sweet notes, herbs, underwood and graphite. Good structure, young and athletic in a harmonious way. A solid Montrose that will benefit from another 5 years of cellaring.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/17/2022 - liber Likes this wine: 92 Points
7th of 24, decanted 2 hours, perfect cork and level, still in funky phase and in line with last bottle in Dec 20, should clarify to its advantage in couple of years, upside, 15+ years. For now F (17.5)......01 to be preferred at present!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/2/2022 - Geoff Likes this wine: 93 Points
My, this wine looks and tastes young. Beautiful nose of dark fruit, oak,cedar and smoke, spicebox, leather, flint and pencil lead. Medium to full bodied. Strong tannins, yet in balance with the fruit. Seems to have a long life ahead.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2022 - wineforth Likes this wine: 92 Points
5th bottle from a half case bought en primeur. Big cassis nose at first gives way to a slight earthiness followed by tobacco and blackcurrant. In the last couple of years the green tannins in the finish have fallen out however the body remains light despite good colour. Enjoyable and will continue to hold up for a number of years with plenty of well resolved tannins.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/26/2021 - djhammond Likes this wine: 91 Points
My last bottle of this, and I am wishing I had waited to start drinking this. Now fully mature it is an enjoyable wine with a great nose and an average palate and finish. Black and red berry fruits and tobacco are prominent on a surprisingly elegant nose but there is an austerity about the rest of the experience. However, a good balance and integrated tannin elevates it from a rustic drinker to a decent food wine. Although drinking at its peak it should stay here for a good few more years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/23/2021 - amateur62 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Private dinner (Nidau): Decanted an hour before dinner. Classical and elegant, not as much power as in other vintages of this wine but very balanced, good acidity, red and black berries, a hint of tertiary notes, long finish. Drink now or within the next eight to ten years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/26/2021 - rwpalmer wrote: 88 Points
Surprisingly deep colour. Nose has a ripeness akin to a 2004 claret with a similarly diffuse character; not the precision which I expect, almost to a fault, in most 2002's. Quite grippy and not really gaining charm over 2 nights.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/6/2021 - mchern02 wrote: 91 Points
1 hour of air
A pretty decent showing with classic at estephe nose of pencil lead, anise, peppery, blackberries and other black fruit. Slightly austere on palate with dryish tannins but not harsh. Structurally a bit light as well with a short plus finish.
A classic BdX maybe from another era and from a tough vintage; don’t think much upside from here but still a good wine and should remain nice for a while.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/22/2021 - glassofhans Likes this wine: 92 Points
I haven’t had that many St Estephes, but my frame of reference always goes back to Cos D, and while this Montrose is smooth, black fruit, showing beautiful tertiary notes, it lacks greenness, minerality was a little light, and the finish was medium +, it’s a wine that “could have done better” in terms of intensity, but still very good all the same
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/5/2021 - Eudemis Likes this wine:
13% alcohol. CS 62%, M 32%, CF 4%, 2PV %. The cork is above average in length, and it is not very dense at all, but on the other hand it is pretty elastic; wine penetration is about 8mm (uneven). Decanted 75mn ahead. The colour is dark with very limited thinning at the rim and some turbidity.
Very vivid nose with wild red berries and some confectionery; recognisably Médoc, but not quite classical. The mouth adds a refreshing aspect, very good grip and leafy menthol in the finish; not hard but certainly firm.
Incredibly young and with a great future ahead. I would never have guessed nearly a third of M in this wine.
The repeat purchase status does not arise given the price escalation since the start of the Bouygues era, plus the relative ageing abilities of the wine and myself. Looking forward to following the evolution of the remaining bottles in the cellar in the years to come.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/16/2021 - drjb Likes this wine: 90 Points
This wine remains a deep crimson colour with a classic nose of crushed blackcurrants, garnet plums, liquorice and cedar. The palate is medium weight with a lovely line of ripe fruits backed by cedar and tobacco. There is a touch of green and attenuation on the finish that tells of the origins of this vintage. Still it is a thoroughly classic Bordeaux that would have been well regarded in the 60s and 70s.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/2/2021 - Julian Marshall wrote: 89 Points
Quite a concentrated bouquet, with redcurrants, cranberries and tobacco. Fearsomely tannic at first, it needed a good three hours in the decanter to soften up, then gave a lean but reasonably intense mouthful of redcurrants, blackcurrants and cranberry, without ever really getting past second gear. I liked the neat precision but overall, slightly underwhelming and there are much better 2002s.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/14/2021 - MindMuse wrote: 92 Points
Needed a modest decant (perhaps an hour) to bloom, but was quite forthcoming and deep aromatically, a bit more stern on the palate, but nevertheless a very good and enjoyable showing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/17/2020 - liber Likes this wine: 92 Points
6th of 24, decanted an hour, perfect cork and level, leaner and tad greener than May bottle but seemed to round out and put on weight by final glass having initially been quite hollow in mid palate, appearance remarkably youthful, more mature on nose and palate, probably worth more extended decanting. F (17.5).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/10/2020 - Neecies Likes this wine:
Decanted for two hours; not much change occurred during that time. Probably as ready as it will ever be.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/4/2020 - VoteferPedro wrote:
nice eart and funk on nose
palate a bit light but a leafy cabernet that still improves with air
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/7/2020 - VinhoVerde Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wines says a lot about the 2002 Left bank Bordeaux vintage when made by a strong wine-making team and Sourced from excellent terroir. Therefore, I’ll expand comments much more than usual.
I decanted this wine for an hour before tasting. As it turned out, I should have let it breathe for 2.
First half of bottle:
Medium-dark red color. Beautiful pencil lead, tobacco, smoke, cedar, gamey, and dark fruit bouquet. Mid-weight fruit entry which turn austerity tannic in the aftertaste. Not ready.
2nd half of bottle:
After 1.5 hours, the tannins are significantly softened. Still a little austere but way more balanced. Bouquet continues to evolve. Just Beautiful.
Pros:
Beautiful bouquet that developed over 2 hours.
Moderate, old Bordeaux style fruit extract.
Elegant, at least for a St, Estèphe.
Cons:
Austere
Harshly Tannic finish.
Ripe fruit is not exhibited today.
Summary:
I should have let this breathe 2 hours before drinking. This wine reminds me of “pre-Parker” traditionally styled left-bank claret. It will live 4-8 more years. Probably will improve the first 4 and decline the later part.
Interesting wine. I have 5 more bottles to drink. I think I’ll try one every two years to see how it develops.
,
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/15/2020 - djhammond Likes this wine: 89 Points
This is a decent drink, but 2002 was not the greatest year for the estate. It is a very austere St. Estephe, and I personally think that this is as good as it's going to get. It actually has a beautiful nose packed full of ripe blackberry with tobacco notes. However, the palate is lean and lacking depth, and the finish is lengthy but leaves a residual bitterness. This had 4 hours in the decanter, but I don't think aeration or further age will address the weaker elements of the wine. However, that said it is an enjoyable wine with food. I'll try again in another couple of years, but I'm not holding my breath.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/10/2020 - Kyr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Open at least 2 hours (better 4) in cellar and then bring to drinking temperature. No need to decant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/22/2020 - wineforth Likes this wine: 92 Points
4th bottle in 5 years. The nose has consistently had a touch of undergrowth with plenty of blackcurrant. The body has put on weight but still has a touch of green that slightly spoils the wine and is a characteristic of the vintage. Well balanced, the tannins have softened well and the finish is long.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/17/2020 - drjb Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine remains a deep crimson colour with a thoroughly classic nose of crushed blackcurrants, garnet plums, liquorice and cedar. The palate is medium weight with a lovely line of ripe fruits backed by cedar and tobacco. The palate is well balanced with a line of fine tannins that persists beautifully. Overall this is a juicy 2002 with plenty of classic character.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/17/2020 - liber Likes this wine: 92 Points
5th of 24, opened 45 minutes, perfect cork and level, losing the muddy flavours noted in December revealing more and more as opened in the glass becoming quite elegant and complex, a big wine but perhaps lacking the concentration and crowd appeal of the 03 whilst being a good step up on a recent and perhaps not quite right 01. F (17.5)….for now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/27/2020 - Ivin wrote:
Very tight and clenched, hard to believe it could be shut down at 18 years old.
Color is still dark purple, just not giving up much.
2002 Lagrange from last night was much more enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2019 - liber Likes this wine: 92 Points
4th of 24, decanted 45 minutes, perfect cork and level, still tight and a bit muddy if much more attractive and closer to maturity than tough bottle in Feb 18. At least F (17.5)….would expect this to pip the currently more attractive GPL 01 on same night.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/7/2019 - Geoff Likes this wine: 91 Points
Beautiful wine with nice secondary flavors. Still has life.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/31/2019 - appel54 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Vinröd färg
Paprika, stall, körsbär, blyerts, häst, läder, mintpastill
Torr, stram, fyllig, oerhört bra längd
En bra bordeaux som levererar även i ett lite sämre år.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/31/2019 - karl.1480 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Quick taste.
Reading my note from November 2015 it seems like these nearly 4 years was what this wine needed. I'm pretty consistent with my previous note but this time around the oak is more integrated and the tannins softer. Still very much left bank Bordeaux with lots of school book Cabernet-markers.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/23/2019 - Ms. Bubblehead Does not like this wine:
Nose was nice with dark currant and tobacco, but it was quite dry on the palate, fruits are fading quickly. It is at/past peak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/22/2019 - djhammond Likes this wine: 89 Points
This has definitely reached its peak drinking window, and most unusually for the estate, I don't think this has any real potential for aging. The nose is very deep and is the best feature of the wine, with dark berry fruits and tobacco. The palate is reasonable in its depth with tannin prominent. As mentioned previously, the wine is let down by the finish, which, although lengthy, is unbalanced with a residual sourness.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/2/2018 - Eudemis Likes this wine:
13% alcohol. Good cork, dense but not that long, unevenly penetrated (1 to 5 mm deep). Decanted 90 mn ahead.
Dark colour with no thinning. The nose has great Médoc balance with blackcurrant, some confectionery, a hint of leather and the harmonious remnants of élevage.
The mouth is probably one step behind at this stage as there is an element of strictness in the finish; still very enjoyable in a fresh vigorous sappy mode. Pavie it ain't (thankfully). This has room to improve further over the next 10 to 15 years. Went very well with the roast lamb.
I would like to call this a repeat purchase, but the steep price increase since I acquired this wine makes the decision purely academic. I will call this a 30€ bottle in my book (in this vintage), which is more than what I paid but shows how hopelessly out of touch I am with current market forces. Does it bother me? Not a bit!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/29/2018 - wineforth Likes this wine: 93 Points
From a half case bought in 08. Dark colour. Bramble nose, blackcurrant on the palate. The wine seems to have put on weight since last year. Lots of soft to medium tannins. Touch of bitterness and good length on the finish. Peaking now and will drink well for a decade and last far longer. Very enjoyable.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/11/2018 - popopdrops wrote: 88 Points
Nese stadig tilstede. Munn noe matt. Litt lite frukt, noe mer syre, ikke mange tanniner. Vagt metallisk, type tørr. Men hva kan en vente av en 2002?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/20/2018 - VoteferPedro Likes this wine:
similar to last bottle
perhaps a bit less exuberant
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/21/2018 - Geoff Likes this wine: 91 Points
Beautiful nose, moderate tannins, dark fruits, smoke and oak, very nice wine with a long finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/11/2018 - Zweder wrote: 93 Points
Weekly tasting group RWP #290: Bordeaux Vertical and Horizontal (@ VD): Beautiful and deep bouquet with luxurious oak, some barnyard and beautifully ripe dark berries. On the palate dark berries, chocolate, sweet spices, cigar, leather, tobacco, a touch of sweetness, beautiful acidity and round, slightly sticky tannin. This 2002 Montrose is probably one of the great successes of the vintage. A great pleasure already and enough power for another 5(+?) years. 92 - 93
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/28/2018 - empire80 Likes this wine: 93 Points
This may be an "off" vintage but it's drinking beautifully now. Classic graphite and cedar, red fruit but fading, tobacco, spice and a touch of farmyard. Chunky but fresh, this is highly enjoyable claret.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/2/2018 - chbeaumont wrote: 90 Points
Very dark, rubied rim; dense, packed nose, reined in black currants; stern, serious, plenty of robust tannins, foursquare; compact, a scrawny finish. A throwback to Montrose past, uncompromising. If the fruit holds this will age a decade or more. A big if.....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/18/2018 - Eudemis Likes this wine:
13% alcohol. CS 62%, M 32%, CF 4%, PV 2%. The cork is very dense but of average length; it seems to be penetrated mostly on its outer edge, but quite deeply there. Decanted a good hour ahead.
The colour is dark all the way to the rim. Generally speaking, this bottle was on the reticent side, and I am basing these notes on a post-prandial glass, as this seems to be the best way to be fair to its considerable qualities.
Good nose of fresh dark ripe berries, with a hint of raisiny aromas (in a good way because they do not dominate). Some fleeting notes of confectionery. The mouth is not quite as complex at this stage, but it is nevertheless very good with excellent balance, good grip and refreshing acidity; no direct oak influence. The tannins are there in imparting grip, but there is no bitterness at all.
This wine requires more coaxing than most in order to show at its best (maybe longer decanting the next time?). Things can only get better from here for the next fifteen years, but this wine is already very elegant.
I am not sure about the repeat purchase status of this wine, but this is only because of the hike in prices following the change of ownership (this bottle is still of the Charmolüe era); also, I benefitted price-wise from the general undervaluation of the vintage. There are still substantial arbitrage opportunities for those willing to forego the herd mentality; spotting them in real time is the trick, and it involves luck as much as access to relevant info.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/16/2018 - liber Likes this wine: 92 Points
3rd of 24, pnp then mostly drunk following night, perfect cork and level, still primary and tight per my May 17 note, mat, earthy fruit, burly tannins, leave for 18 months. At least F (17.5).
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/1/2018 - VoteferPedro wrote: 93 Points
best so far.
popnpour
deep purple hue
earth but no funk and bit of smoke and cedar on the nose
rich deep vibrant palate
solid finish with no bitter edges
really excellent
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/4/2017 - VoteferPedro Likes this wine: 91 Points
Pretty happy with this one after popnpour and it has that classical bordelaise quality of quenching a thirst you did not know you had. The fruit is sort of currant and raspberry without feeling sweet. the finish is at least medium.
So far I am enjoying each successive bottle more than the last. I think this is 6th in a case that is peaked and probably wont be worth longer cellar time
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/21/2017 - djhammond Likes this wine: 90 Points
At 13.5%, the alcohol content is noticeable on the nose, but still deep with dark berry fruits. On the palate the wine is surprisingly fruity, but still a very classic Montrose with good balance and big tannins. However, the tannin is overly harsh and inhibits the finish which is a little clipped and unbalanced unlike the great wines from this Château. However, a very enjoyable and grown up Bordeaux, which still has potential for evolvement, but one which is going to retain this profile. Do decant for a few hours.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/9/2017 - Butch1970 Likes this wine: 91 Points
First bottle of a case. A deep, dark inky colour. The nose was somewhat muted, may have been because I did not decant it, but gave it an hour to breath in the bottle. On the palate there is a lovely dark berry flavour. The tannins are now well integrated. The St Estephe dryness is there on the finish, but I was delighted with this showing and look forward to consuming the remaining bottles over time.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/29/2017 - Fatty Cat wrote: 92 Points
Turkey BBQ weekend, late Oct 2017: decanted; black red color; needed about 30 minutes in the glass to fully open up; dark fruits and berries plus some coffee, chocolate and tobacco; smooth astringency on the palate; medium body; round, noble texture; medium/long finish with well-integrated tannins.
Excellent showing. The Montrose 2002 is already good approachable but still very young. There is no need for hurry to drink. My guess is over the next 10-20 years the wine will stay on this level or maybe even slightly improve.
This night the Montrose 2002 was directly compared to a Leoville Barton 2002. He won the race due to its well-balanced, elegant style.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/20/2017 - fc1910 Likes this wine:
An really oldschool Bordeaux, horse stable, mushrooms, forest soil, some nearly hidden red savoury fruit, still drying tannin on the palate, moderate bodied, needs more time to fully balance, good energetic finish, **(**?), 91+ potential
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/7/2017 - Neecies Likes this wine:
Drank over four hours; not decanted. Immediately attractive and primary blackberry and black cherry fruit, interesting spice, some sweet floral notes. Faded somewhat in the second hour, but seemed to come back a bit in the fourth. However, tannins were light and the finish a bit short--concerning.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/6/2017 - wineforth Likes this wine: 92 Points
Bramble and blackcurrant nose, loads of soft tannins. Still missing something mid palate, then good long finish. Very enjoyable. Better than two years ago and at its peak drinking now.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/15/2017 - khmark7 wrote: 89 Points
Very mellow and subdued. Typicity of the vintage with a short finish leaving me thinking that this wines best days are behind it. (88-89)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/3/2017 - Stefan75 wrote: 88 Points
even after 6h decant this magnum did not open up at all, nice nose but still lots of tannins. Not sure if they will integrate with time...
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/11/2017 - Kris G wrote: flawed
I had 3 bottles of Montrose 2002 > all of them were flawed, this one was badly oxidized
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/11/2017 - Kris G wrote: flawed
corked
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/26/2017 - liber wrote: 91 Points
2nd of 24, pnp, perfect cork and level, little development from last August's bottle, has weight and sweetness of fruit to master the slightly burly and dry tannins, drinking but scope to improve markedly. Currently F (17.5).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/18/2017 - winot Likes this wine: 91 Points
Deep scarlet w orangey/brown highlights, staining - nice, if restrained nose, has a bit of cigar box, but also some fresh green tobacco - not a ton of fruit on the nose, but a nice straw/umami note - very smooth, fine, elegant entry, and that flows thru, it is light on its feet, not heavy, in fact less than medium bodied-excellent acidity, v fresh, long - has nice balance, but the best thing is the elegance, the weightlessness, which is surprising after the dark robe - there are tannins for sure, but with a decant, this is ready to go, wouldn't wait too terribly long- palate is at secondary stage, but tertiary could be 3-5 yrs away, and the structure will easily support that - v nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/3/2017 - lexwine Likes this wine: 90 Points
This is one of my favorite producers. Classic. Even in a poor vintage this gives you pleasure. Strong dark fruits, with noticeable leather mixed with moca-coffee and slight oak. Medium body and length. In this case tannins all blended and I would advise drinking up as it does not seem any big improvement from here. .
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/5/2017 - EyeDoc wrote:
Beastly of course. The stuff coats your mouth with tannins and is unrelenting. Lacks some fruit. Second half of the bottle was much better with 24 hours of air. If you must drink, give it lots of air - maybe a blender - or let it sit overnight, or cellar it for another 20 years. The only problem with the last option is it doesn't have the fruit to make it that long.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/19/2017 - Winemaker51 Likes this wine: 89 Points
I'm a big fan of Montrose. Thought this wine was reflective of the vintage and being a bit short. I would drink this wine and enjoy the charming, lighter style of Bordeaux and Montrose typicity before they were riper and higher alcohol. If your more Burgundy inclined, you may like this one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/2/2017 - GalvezGuy Likes this wine: 90 Points
Popped and poured. Nose of cedar, tobacco, graphite, bright cherry, and hints of plum. On the palate, tobacco, cedar, cherry, currant, plum. Nice finish with great balance. Super food friendly. Drink or hold, no big hurry.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/23/2016 - HWG99 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank in restaurant. Dark in colour as usual. Intense and tannin still hard. Should Keep or decant longer before drinking. Long finishing and smooth on structure.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/5/2016 - liber Likes this wine: 91 Points
1st of 24, decanted an hour, perfect cork and level - deep dusty garnet, purple rimmed; plum, cassis, earth plus a touch of tobacco and spice; fullish, nice ripe fruit, decent length and concentration for vintage, a tad ungainly as yet and not as pure as the 01 or as attractive at this stage, but the material is there to produce a lovely bottle and no trace of greenness, preferred the Barton 02 on the night for its poise and subtlety. At least F (17.5).
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/22/2016 - Nanda wrote:
Pop n' pour and drank for the next 2.5 hours. Initially a bit reticent, but acheives moderate intensity of aroma and flavor after about an hour. Nice herby plum fruit with medium weight and concentration. Has nice persistence that fades to lighter weight intensity. Not the most complex BDX but there's certainly herb and spice accents to the fruit. I suspect this is in a long holding pattern without much upside. A solid effort in a less heralded vintage.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/19/2016 - peternelson wrote:
This got buried--Bordeaux started blending in to each other. Don't recall notes on this. B&J's
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/19/2016 - Jeff Leve wrote: 90 Points
Concentrated, full bodied and more interesting on the earthy, spicy, herb and cassis nose, than on the palate, which finishes a bit stern and dry. You can drink this now, or age it, but the character will remain the same.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2016 - VoteferPedro Likes this wine: 91 Points
better tonight without decant
Much fuller richer mouth feel and a depth in the fruit that adds interest vs last outing
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/11/2016 - Miceri Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark red; fruity nose, ripe strawberry; nice and elegant, somewhat restrained but tasteful and in balance; very good
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/16/2016 - Zweder wrote: 93 Points
Monthly Tuesday group #006: Bordeaux 2001 versus 2002 (By VD): Beautiful bouquet with concentrated dark forest fruits, sweet and salty licorice and beautiful oak. On the palate dark berry fruits, licorice, graphite, tobacco, chocolate and leather. Good acidity and tannin with still a good bite. Not as refined as the 2001, but still a very beautiful and exclusive, classical wine with still a future until the end of this decade. 92 – 93
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/18/2016 - Bcw1989 wrote: 88 Points
This wine was enjoyable to drink. It did not seem to have much depth and will never be or is a blockbuster. This wine's tannins had softened, but still was present. Dark inky look to it with still lots of red fruit in the taste. Finish was not particularly long. Good wine from an average vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/12/2015 - d'Artagnan wrote: 90 Points
Un nez fumé, de cassis noir. Le vin est droit et austère, c'est typé, de bonne longueur, mais les tanins sont un peu rugueux. Encore jeune, il est serré et sans doute à quelques années de la maturité. N'empêche, on aimerait davantage de fruit sur cette structure et un peu plus de charme. 89-90 (+?) pts
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/7/2015 - Zweder wrote: 94 Points
Weekly tasting group #195; St. Estephe (@ VD): The bouquet is a bit locked, but shows creamy dark berry fruits, luxurious oak and cedar, some chocolate and cocoa and lovely perfume as well as some pleasant barnyard. On the palate classical with cassis and creamy dark berries, beautiful oak, a beautiful balance between acidity and a touch of sweetness and beautifully soft tannin. Overall a beautiful and subtle wine with a great length. In a beautiful drinking stage now. I, and most (if not all) of the others around the table preferred this 2002 above the 2001. So I have to score it a point higher than the 2001 for today. Finally; ready now and no hurry.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/3/2015 - Kbrumback Likes this wine: 90 Points
First visit to this wine in 3 years. Much happier this time around. This will never be a blockbuster and no, it won't compare to the 89 or 90 (alas); but it wasn't green, thin,leafy or hollow as many have written about the 2002s. Dark to the rim, nice legs, very cab forward, tannins still present but integrating. Nice. No rush on the balance of the case, but no real reason to wait either.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/4/2015 - karl.1480 wrote: 87 Points
Clear, deep intensity, ruby color.
Developing with a medium(+) intensity in the nose. Aromas of black currant, plum, green bell pepper, grass, cedar wood, oak, coffee, cacao, tobacco and mud. Classic Bordeaux-nose!
Dry, medium acidity, medium(+) body and medium(+) tannins. Lots of oak(!!) and cabernet-action. It somehow feels a bit tight and disjointed on the palate but the intensity is medium(+). The finish is medium(+), bone dry, oaky and slightly green.
This wine clearly needs more time to come together. Today it's all oaky and almost austere. Wait!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/9/2015 - Nanda wrote: flawed
Corked
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/17/2015 - kanjimoti wrote: 91 Points
I've waited many a moon to open the first of two bottles from the cave. Still a very dark purple with almost no sign of age or lightening as I tilt the glass. What first first strikes me here is a pleasantly green aspect on the nose that doesn't detract at all. I'm pleased with the balance of the oak and the rest of the wine, especially the pretty, dark fruit. Smells like a Bordeaux! The palate has soft tannin with just the right grip. While I don't get anything tertiary yet I would say the '02 will reach its plateau around 2018 and drink well for another seven to eight years after that. I'm sure something tertiary, perhaps more earth, will develop by 2020. Drink by 2027.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/25/2015 - Raycheng77 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Soft and smooth tannin with lively acidity, the nose show black and red currant, leaf and earthy, a little bit green pepper, truffle, . Uncork at around 1600 and drink at around 2000. Lovely wine with long finish.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/20/2015 - Brett Pitt Likes this wine: 95 Points
Pure elegance
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/17/2015 - VoteferPedro Likes this wine: 90 Points
this is the 4th of a case bought en premier and the comments are listed represent an assessment over several hours. It started and stayed a leafy and tart and somewhat dilute tasting cabernet. Actually the depth and richness at the back with the palate cleansing lightness on the front make it refreshing and enjoyable quoif giving it a solid 87 but after more air and excellent food -in this case roasted cornish hen- definitely rounded and fleshed out to be in the 90+ range …. however , if you were lookng for the kind heft and gravitas that Montrose is known for you might feel jipped. I spent around $60 en premier for a case I will enjoy it as a wine for what it is but have not really found it to deliver the marquis qualities expected on the label or the $s spent + time in my cellar
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/21/2015 - wineforth Likes this wine: 91 Points
Blackcurrant nose with hints of undergrowth. Loads of soft tannins and great length. Touch of green and Something missing mid palate. Very enjoyable and easy to drink. Drinking well, will improve for a few years. Drink over the next 10 years. Looking over other 2002 tasting notes the green, acidic and hollow comments recurr as characteristic of the vintage. Particularly successful were Lynch Bages and Palmer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/19/2015 - Lilja wrote:
Barnyard, some toasted oak, coffee, chocolate, ceder, leather, dark fruit, liquorice, a bit of dirt and wet soil, butter and cucumber water.
Dry, medium+ acidity, medium+ tannins, high intensity, and a long finish with a touch of oaky bitterness.
A nice Bordeaux in a fairly classic style. Open and accessible on the nose, tighter on the palate. Could need a few more years in the cellar to polish off the oak.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/11/2015 - Burgnick wrote: 89 Points
The nose was closed. On the palate, it had red fruits and soft tannins. The structure of the wine was not integrated. And it lacked the power and fineness of what a good montrose should have.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2014 - henryd1 wrote: 90 Points
On the nose this had some mushroomy elements. The palate had lots of pure cassis flavour, lively acidity, and decent complexity. I like Bordeaux less and less over time and I don't really see how they can justify their prices when in this price bracket in Burgundy I'd be in wine heaven, but this was still quite a nice claret. Seems young to me - I think this will improve over the next 5 or 6 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2014 - riskun Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice nose if a bit closed, musty wood. Entry is delightful, fairly dark fruit with a great deal of depth and a nice weight. Quite a tart finish with a lot of complexity of leather and wood. Tannins fairly drying still, this has years left and even could wait a bit still.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/19/2014 - soyhead wrote:
tasted blind
nose - stinky fruit
mouth - complex, fruit punchy, nice, lively, a touch bitter
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/8/2014 - Zweder wrote: 90 Points
Monthly Tasting Group HWS #092; Bordeaux vs USA (By SB): Bouquet with chocolate, sweet spices like cinnamon and vanilla, tobacco and some tea. On the palate a bit green and rustic. Red fruits, spiciness, good acidity and soft tannin. Drank after a 2003 Viader (Californian wine with a firm dose of sweetness) this Montrose was not easy to comprehend. Scored it 90, but that might be too low.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/28/2014 - swade wrote: 92 Points
This was a revelation. I love aged cabernet. This came off as almost New World. This was more rich than I was expecting for an off vintage. Effusive aromas of black currants with lead pencil coming to the fore at three hours. This opens with piles of velvet. The palate offers a refrain of black currant with a solid mid-palate core of black fruit and plum juice trimmed in cedar. Plus finish. 92
This is distinguished in the sense that Pontet Canet had both off vintage hallmarks of bell pepper and a short finish whereas Lagrange had no green, but a shorter finish. Montrose actually got tight around three hours, drier on the tail and slightly more tannic, suggesting it has power in reserve. 92
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/20/2014 - StefanAkiko wrote: flawed
Corked...
%€$£@&$%##@&#%%€$£+*£$^%#&@。。。
Y U no screw caps?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/30/2014 - Paul D wrote:
Bordeaux Wimps (La Trompette, Chiswick): Very youthful, opaque appearance. Youthful, ripe dark fruits, brooding, notes of mineral. Medium/full on the palate, dark fruits, quite soft and plush, very good length finish. ***1/2.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/21/2014 - riskun Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice classic mid toned fruit in wood nose. Entry is lovely, mid-mouth is soft and round. A decent finish. Decent tannins but a bit drying if held.. This is an easy drinking wine now.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/16/2014 - ckinv368 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Slow oxed for 7 hours. Notes of leather on the nose. Blueberry, cherry, light notes of leather and cedar, and nice resolution of tannins. Not overly heavy, and still has tannins that will need to resolve over the coming years. But nice and open and complex, with good balance and wonderful flavor.
24 hours later, the wine has tons of leather on the nose. Good amount of leather, blood, white pepper and spice on the palate. Mixed with prunes, and figs. Definitely a bit more serious and structured than it was 24 hours ago.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2013 - Rob MacKay wrote: 91 Points
Previously tasted about 5 years ago. Tannins have resolved quite a bit in that time and with about an hour or two in the decanter it really opens up nicely. Excellent right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/29/2013 - Jeff Leve wrote: 90 Points
Tight, the wine needs time and air to wake it. With effort, earth, tobacco and spicy cassis notes can be found. Meaty tannins, olive and blackberry, with hints of herb and cranberry in the solid, beefy finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/12/2013 - StefanAkiko wrote: 91 Points
Coming around, little by little. Montrose did well in this blubby year.
Showed off some fine tuned brett, Bordeaux earth and fine berries on the nose. After 5 hrs of decanting, the whole cellar was filled with that beautiful appley aroma. Yumm!
In the mouth, it has put on weight and the acids are more integrated. We feel that some more time will do this powerful pony some good. Very early drinking plateau according to our standards.
Did especially well with: salad vinaigrette, fois gras pudding and the stir fried Iberico cutlet at Le Message (Gumyouji, Yokohama).
Aaalmost 92 tonight, Wife still 89p.
We're down to only half the case now. Next btl in 1-3 years as this probably won't walk up the hill for too long.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/7/2013 - Dave Canada Likes this wine: 91 Points
Really powerful nose of red flowers, graphite, cedar, pipe tobacco and brambly black fruit. The palate is really polished and integrated with blackberry, black cherry, sweet pip tobacco, cedar, graphite and subtle eucalyptus. Finish is medium in length with some noticeable alcohol that is somewhat distracting. This is a nice wine though from a leaner year. Open for business.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/15/2013 - Cinsault86 wrote: 88 Points
rett fra flasken, flott nese, sursøte bær og blindt kunne jeg endt i Piemonte. Kirsebær med innslag av mørke bjørnebær. I munnen startende modningsaromaer og flott syre. Ganske intens slutt, med strålende fokusert munngrep. Flott vin på den stramme og intense siden. Mangler litt fruktkonsentrasjon. Den manglende frukten blir tydelig etter at vinen har fått mange timer i flasken. Da vinen heller ikke har ekstrem syre, oppleves vinen som balansert. Selv om det aldri er noe kvalitetstegn at det er lite av mye. 88p.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/7/2013 - peterchoy wrote: 90 Points
Good quality St-Estephe of deep ruby color, this wine has reasonably intense nose of good complexity, showing developing aromas of blackberry, plum, meaty and farmyard, game, cedar and smoke, cloves, graphite. With good acidity, the tannin of the wine is fairly high but it has a smooth silky texture. The wine is fairly full-bodied and the palate has reasonable concentration of black cherry, plum, cedar, cinnamon, cream, and earth. With a fair finish, the wine is ready to drink now though it can benefit from further ageing of another 3-5 years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/25/2013 - elledeca wrote:
lovely medium bodied claret with classic aromas and fresh long taste
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/14/2013 - Zweder wrote:
Weekly tasting group #058; Bordeaux left bank 2001, 2002 and 2003. (@ VD): Beautiful and classical bouquet with dark fruits, graphite and white chocolate. Also a bit dusty. On the palate the wine was a bit dusty as well. I stopped making notes because all tasters including me had the impression the wine was not a 100% ok. No score.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/11/2013 - Dave Canada wrote: 91 Points
really polished and svelte but missing complexity on the palate. This is a montrose to have with food....perfect wine to take out to a BYOB restaurant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/10/2013 - Wine Canuck Likes this wine: 91 Points
Weekday Night (Andrew's Place): (tasted blind) Very high quality oak, quite restrained red fruit, appealing nose with a savory meaty quality. Nose became more brown spiced with time and then more green. Palate lets down after a pretty nose; very astringent, seems a touch stemmy/or green and is a bit bitter. Drink or hold, though won't improve further at this point.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2012 - mdonovan Likes this wine: 90 Points
bon vin mais finale courte et boisé légèrement trop important
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/23/2012 - d'Artagnan wrote: 89 Points
Un vin au subtil nez médocain. L'attaque en bouche est très jolie, souple et fraiche, il a de l'élégance et du style. Le bémol: ça tombe vite et la finale manque d'allonge. Les limites du beau millésime 2002 sont évidentes lorsqu'il suit un groupe très relevé de Bordeaux 2000 et 2003, qui incluait son ainé et son cadet. Néanmoins, un très bon vin, authentique et bien fait. 89-90 pts
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/16/2012 - StefanAkiko wrote: 91 Points
Non-blind. Dbl decanted 5 hrs and served at Restaurant Manoir in Hiroo.
Petite nose showing some small barnyard, earth and red berries.
Wine is powerfully elegant with the spirited acids overwhelming the fruit and gentleman-like, mature tannin. I'd hate to see it the other way around: the fruit underwhelming the acids and tannin... (Don't think that's the case though.) Red fruits mostly, and only small amount of barnyard, earth and sumi ink.
I will try my darnedest to be patient with this wine. (Wife: 89p.)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/15/2012 - StefanAkiko wrote: 91 Points
Just out of what will become tonight's bottle:
Tightly knit nose with small amount of mercaptans.
No mercaptans on the palate.
Well built wine with fine concentration, fair amount of non-modest but supple acids and fine grained tannin. Tight structure of classic cut. Some traces of maturity emerging, still not mature by our metric standard. Traces of Bordeaux earth still overshadowed by red berries and a slightly "juicy" character.
Promises well for tonight's dinner :-)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/30/2012 - Zweder wrote: 90 Points
Beautiful, slightly mature bouquet with cassis, tobacco and beautiful oaky flavors. On the palate cassis, soft fruit juice, firm acidity and tannin. Even though this is an off vintage, this is a luxurious wine that will improve with another 2 - 5 years of ageing.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/22/2012 - jkoenen wrote: 89 Points
Cos-Montrose Battle (Restaurant Bottles, Sas van Gent): Meaty, sinewy, relatively elegant wine. Austere and tannic, classical structure, vivid acidity, slightly metallic finish. Softens with air. 17-17.5/20
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/17/2012 - godx wrote: 88 Points
La Commanderie de Bordeaux à Vancouver - 2002 Horizontal (Blue Water Cafe): Medium red. Nose with closed on this at first but did start to (slightly) open up after some time and heavy swirling. Silky smooth entry with grippy tannins and a dry and acidic finish. This is definitely more forward than the Poyferre. I found this almost to be too round/soft for my liking. A nice wine but seems a little awkward right now; perhaps a few more years will sort things out. Very good. 88+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/9/2012 - riskun wrote: 93 Points
Lovely plum nose with well integrated oak; nice touch of pencil shavings. Mid weight entry, silky and very smooth. Builds steadily to a fairly rich fruit ending with very nicely done tannins. This is very nice now. Excellent claret example.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/29/2012 - StefanAkiko wrote: 91 Points
Non-blind. Decanted for 3 hrs, not enough.
Nose: flat.
On the palate it sent happy shivers down our spines. 'tis a tight tiger displaying grrrandeur and strong spirit. Refined tannins en masse with excellent fruit and prominent acids making up a finely honed power-house with medium length.
At the end of the evening, showing an attractive array of scrumptious tertiary aromas. This will be better with time. Next bottle in a year's time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/3/2011 - rocknroller wrote: 92 Points
Annual Tasting Group Holiday Party (Levain, Mpls): Very dark red color. This wine had been decanted 2+hrs and it needed at least 4-6. Very young and tannic yet, but with a wonderful nose of big dark fruits, cassis, blueberry, graphite, dust, that after an hour in the glass opens to show some earth and floral character. Palate is quite concentrated and deep, consistent. Score based on where it was after at least 4 hours. This will be fun to revisit in another couple years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/10/2011 - krispi wrote: 90 Points
A bit too young. Still quite tight in the mouth and primary aromas
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2011 - Wine_lvr wrote: 92 Points
Montrose Vertical Tasting 1989 - 2005 (Work in Progress) (Switzerland): Intensive deep red. Nose of leather and sweet dark berries. Hard tannins supported by nice sweetness. At the moment quite a bit of tartiness. I expect this to be nicer in a few years of time. Overall a nice Montrose and a great effort for the vintage. Drink now - 2025.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/30/2011 - soyhead wrote: 90 Points
nose - earth, sour berry, hint of oak
mouth - juicy boysenberry fruit with good acidity, and nice backend tannins. just beginning to show some nice secondary characteristics. a well balanced wine that really opened up with a few hours in the decanter. While this wine drinks nicely now, i think an additional 2-3 years will lead to improvement.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/24/2011 - JuniorSamples wrote: 89 Points
Opaque garnet color, with no bricking. Initially barnyard on the nose, but blew off quickly to reveal pepper, cedar, mushrooms and blackberries. Palate evolved over a couple of hours, eventually showing cooked cherries, tobacco and cassis. Medium bodied with well resolved tannins, good balance and a nice finish. This is a solid wine considering the vintage. It's not declining, and the color, tannins and acidity suggest that it will hold firm for a while, but it also does not seem likely to evolve into anything special, so might as well drink up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/13/2011 - Kris G wrote: flawed
corked, has the potential for a 91-score
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/20/2010 - slaughterer wrote: 91 Points
Upon opening, lovely creamy chocolate and cherry flavors. After a few hours decant, telluric and pepper notes start evolving. This is by no means a "classic "or "big" Montrose, suggesting a more paired-back, toned-down approach to the vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/12/2010 - yenda wrote: 91 Points
opened in the morning, put into decanter just before lunch. Some funky nose but it blew away in the afternoon. After that, very classy mature Bordeux, cassis, pencil, yet the typical St Estephe character was missing a bit. Nevertheless, very nice wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/4/2010 - rikipedia Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wine Cellar - Bordeaux Left Bank (Wine Cellar): (Tasted Blind): A deep garnet colour with a bouquet revealing cedarwood, earth, hung game, roasted herbs and some rustic notes. Very intense, the wine is full-throated with raw power, concentration and flaovurs of blackcurrant concentrated/cassis, tilled soil almost on a rocky outcrop. The remnants of oak shows as some light spice adding some lovely complexity and the wine finishes long. The tannins are still quite furtive giving some firmness and accentuating the stony qualities.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/12/2010 - rikipedia Likes this wine: 91 Points
Terroir-istes International - France, Bordeaux, St. Estephe (Rodwell House): Deep black-red in colour, the nose displays dried herbs, tapenade, blackcurrant and black cherries, and a pyroxene element.
The entry suggests otherwise with richer, sweeter fruit and opulent texture, although this is balanced with crisp lemon-edged acidity and firm, almost austere/solid tannins giving a superb structure and frame to the wine. Full-bodied, the wine has power yet poise, solidity and depth of flavour. There is a creaminess to the mid-palate with pepper, chocolate, black cherry/currant and some crushed stone. Cocoa powder, minerals and spice add intrigue to the long, tenacious and slightly chewy finish that does become puckering. Wonderfully complex, this wine is showing very nicely, perhaps intellectually but more challenging to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/10/2010 - Weston3220 wrote: 90 Points
Underground Bordeaux Tasting Feb 10/2010 (Yaletown, Underground): Decanted for 1.5hr Aprox before drinking
62%CS 32%M 4%CF 2%PV
C: Med + Intesnity, Ruby
A: Just Beautiful Nose, Cherry nibs [what I get off good Nebbiolos]
T: Still Tannic, Good Fruit Ripe, Really Tight tho, slowly Opening up
Conc: Yeah this wine has lots of life, and really good
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/9/2010 - KVM wrote: 90 Points
Very dark and a little murky. Cigarbox, black fruit, brilliant fruit, smoliness and in excellent balance today. A little sharp on the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/9/2010 - Miceri wrote: 86 Points
Bordeaux red with purple hue; muted nose, deep dark berries, clay, forest bottom; flattish, some power, fruit but muted, slightly tannic, next to no aftertaste. Drinkable but not great
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/23/2009 - pgb67 wrote: 92 Points
It had been a while since I've had a classified growth bordeaux at a peak drinking window (or entering one) and was pleased with the impressive and familiar nose of cassis with hints of sandalwood, flint and spice. Palate is structured and weighty, with moderate to excellent length and featuring velvety tannins that keep the wine light on its feet but still reminding you that this is Bordeaux. I had intended to have a glass of it the night before Christmas eve and serve the rest the next night, but very little was left ...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/7/2009 - cookie7 wrote:
Popped and poured. Opened up nicely in the glass after 30 minutes. Lovely nose with a bit of finesse on the body. Seemed to be in a good place.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/12/2008 - Paul D wrote:
UK Wine Pages - Chateau Montrose Vertical (Le Colombier, Kensington, London.): Deep ruby. Cassis, vanilla oak nose - attractive if a little too oaky right now. Reasonable depth of fruit on mid-palate but very tannic, with firm tannins dominating the finish. Needs a lot more time - very difficult to read right now. **(*)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/7/2008 - woodofnor wrote: 90 Points
내게 처음으로 제대로된 와인 맛을 보여준 아이.
항상 기억에 남을 것이다.
내 재고엔 없지만...
기회가 된다면 지금 보다더 많은 와인들을 만나본 후 만나지 않을까 싶다.
안녕 몽로즈씨 ^^
언젠가 다시만나요.
02라서 그런지 여전히 부족하긴 해요.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/1/2008 - Rob MacKay wrote: 91 Points
A nice surprise from 2002. Rich dark ruby color with scents of dark berries mixed with new leather and spice. Smoothly textured with good fruit flavors mixed with earth, framed by firm, but not harsh tannins and a decent finish. I wasn't expecting this to be this good. Excellent showing for this bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/21/2007 - noppakit s. wrote: 89 Points
Montros is my favorite 2nd Growth but 2002 is nothing special.
Seductive nose of oaky that's too much. After 2.45 hours, smell is gone, clean like a water, I prefer this natural.
Full-bodied, rough tannin, good texture and delicious like a California, red table wine.
Aftertaste...so so....not exiciting at all...no charm...too expensive to use it as table wine.
I better keep it 7-8 years before drink it again. Let go back to enjoy 1994 now...it's great wine...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/27/2007 - Goldstone wrote: 88 Points
Ch. Montrose Dinner (Crown Wine Cellars, Hong Kong): Deep purple colour, dense and not translucent. Appealing but restrained nose. Tannic but refined structure. Very dry on the back end. Closed down for now and needs a lot of time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/13/2007 - jordanj wrote: 90 Points
dark in color, a bit lean at first. after a couple of hours the wine got bigger and better. Big sweet fruit, touch of oak, flowers, tar,and herbs. smooth in the mouth with a short finish. would drink again in 5 or more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2007 - yuan wrote: 93 Points
dark red,a little tabaco,lots of fruits,ripe in mouth,nice finish,silky tannis.Montrose did excellent jobs for recent year...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/13/2006 - madeiradog wrote: 91 Points
Montrose Vertical and Others Dinner (Afghan Kabob): 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.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/25/2005 - jmcmchi Likes this wine:
A bit earthy on the nose, over dark fruit and cedar
Earthy on palate, tannins a little coarse, very long. Give it a long time
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/23/2005 - MRichman wrote:
2002 Bordeaux Offline (Frank's Steakhouse, NYC): Tacky tannins, sandpaper. Lemony, tannic. Puckery.
C+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/16/2005 - DFC wrote: 88 Points
2002 Bordeaux (Garagiste, Seattle, WA): Color is dark ruby, and the body is medium in weight. Dark fruits and forest floor on the nose. On the palate, tart plums and cassis. The wine is pretty tannic right now. Sadly, the finish is awfully light. I tasted this one early, so perhaps it opened up later on.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/16/2005 - Wusman wrote: 87 Points
Garagiste 2002 Bordeaux Tasting (Garagiste Warehouse, Seattle, WA): Dark purple in the glass. Somewhat closed nose at the start of the night. I never returned to the wine to see if it had opened up at all. I found the nose a bit vegetal smelling of green peppers. Palate dominated by cassis. Tannins present, but sort of mid range. Nice wine, but nothing special.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/5/2005 - Tom_B wrote: 88 Points
Tasted as part of 2002 Blind Bordeaux Tasting. This wine was purple in color with medium intensity and clear. Aromas of black cherry, spice and oak on the nose. On the palette, oak and cherry liqueur were prominent. Probably my least favorite wine in the tasting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/17/2005 - BordeauxNut wrote:
Beautiful oak and perfume on the mose. Really great mid-palate punches into a solid finish. Elegant, refined, and very fresh. This will be an outstanding wine with time. Similar impression the last time I tried this. Solid 2002.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2005 - micha_e wrote: 92 Points
Dark ruby/purple, almost black. Looks very thick. The nose is restrained at first, but decanting for 3 hours helped a lot to bring out some complex aromas of black currant, wood spice, hint of toast and tar - very typical Montrose profile. On the palate massive,y et refined and retains a sense of balance. The tannins coat the entire mouth and the fruit impression is very ripe, especially for the year. I couldn't sense anything green in this wine, but it is very structured, so I think it will close down hard in a few years. But it can be drunk now with pleasure if one enjoys young BDX. Very nice wine, in line with my experiences with other left bankers from this underhyped vintage. Drink now to 2007 and then again from 2015-2030.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/28/2005 - CSteefel wrote: 89 Points
Dark ruby red. Having just the smallest and briefest of tastes at the wine store, I thought this was a Cabernet-dominated wine at this stage. Upon drinking the whole bottle, however, I get a different impression. Early on, notes of cassis and lead pencil on the nose, but also the tell-tale plum and dark chocolate of the Merlot component. With time in the glass, the Merlot component beccomes more expressive on the nose, chocolate and a trace of charcoal in with the red and black fruit. In the mouth, this wine shows some drying tannins on the slightly short finish--seems to be missing real grip here on the mid-palate. Mention has been made of the austere presentation of this wine, but the Merlot is reasonably forward, if on the thin and simple side. Maybe this wine will sharpen up with time, hard to say... 89-90 points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment