I gave this a 9 hour slow ox. Then served it at a friend's house in which we drank it over a 3 hour window of time. The bouquet immediately compelled my intrigue with glorious aromas of violets , sage , basalmic , ripe figs. One of the most attractive gathering of smells I've ever experienced in a Bordeaux. We couldn't stop whiffing it. My friend said this was the 5th time he has had the '05 Montrose and every one of them smelled just as amazing. On the palate it was just as spectacular with such precision and purity of all elements coming together with no one component dominating. Blackberries, blueberries, and mission fig melded with savory thyme as a necessary graphite frame pulsed through the mid-palate and beyond . Tannin , acidity , fruit and secondary flavors were all in harmony to create a fantastic wine experience. I give it 96 pts and ponder if it will get WAY better than this in the next decade. For me and my friend Nick it definitely doesn't need to wait any longer but the key to that conclusion is giving it lots of patience by slow ox as stated earlier. Maybe the only thing lacking is the finish could be even longer. It was a 15 second length. On an extra note , we started our tasting by drinking a 2000 Leoville Las Cases followed by a 2002 Chateu Musar from Lebanon and then the 2005 Montrose. We left some of the first two bottles to revisit. The Musar was absolutely delightful and had an almost brandy like quality on the nose. The Las Cases was good but for some reason Las Cases has never performed as well as expected given the cost. I would describe the '05 Montose as a girl next door kind of beauty that does seduce you but not in a slutty way. This was pure class and that's the way I prefer it to be.
Had the 2020 Sea Smoke Southing with no preconceived opinions other than enjoying it once with my wife with dinner at a fun formal restaurant three years ago. Mind you , we popped this open with friends after already indulging in a Smith Madrone Chardonnay, 2018 Mayacamas Melot and a 2010 Chateau Valendraud - Saint Emilion. After already being impressed by the previous wine line up I wouldn't normally pour a pinot noir after two beautiful Merlots but Man am I glad I did. The Sea Smoke immediately jolted the senses with rhubarb, orange zest and violets. Evolving further with time and on the palate crushed ripe raspberries , mulberry and Macha tea. The nose was pure sensory bliss. This for me has more appeal than Kosta Browne. Only other California Pinot that delivers the goods with distinction and class like this are Roar from Santa Lucia Highlands and Mount Eden from Santa Cruz Mountains. I'm sure there are a few more out there that do so as well but these are my top of the list for me. Cheers, Foxen Wilder.
2005 Château Montrose
5/29/2023 - landonemory@gmail.com Likes this wine: 96 Points
I gave this a 9 hour slow ox. Then served it at a friend's house in which we drank it over a 3 hour window of time.
The bouquet immediately compelled my intrigue with glorious
aromas of violets , sage , basalmic , ripe figs. One of the most attractive gathering of smells I've ever experienced in a Bordeaux.
We couldn't stop whiffing it. My friend said this was the 5th time he has had the '05 Montrose and every one of them smelled just as amazing.
On the palate it was just as spectacular with such precision and purity of all elements coming together with no one component dominating. Blackberries, blueberries, and mission fig melded with savory thyme as a necessary graphite frame pulsed through the mid-palate and beyond .
Tannin , acidity , fruit and secondary flavors were all in harmony to create a fantastic wine experience. I give it 96 pts and ponder if it will get WAY better than this in the next decade. For me and my friend Nick it definitely doesn't need to wait any longer but the key to that conclusion is giving it lots of patience by slow ox as stated earlier. Maybe the only thing lacking is the finish could be even longer. It was a 15 second length.
On an extra note , we started our tasting by drinking a 2000 Leoville Las Cases followed by a 2002 Chateu Musar from Lebanon and then the 2005 Montrose. We left some of the first two bottles to revisit. The Musar was absolutely delightful and had an almost brandy like quality on the nose. The Las Cases was good but for some reason Las Cases has never performed as well as expected given the cost.
I would describe the '05 Montose as a girl next door kind of beauty that does seduce you but not in a slutty way. This was pure class and that's the way I prefer it to be.
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2020 Sea Smoke Pinot Noir Southing
4/29/2023 - landonemory@gmail.com Likes this wine: 94 Points
Had the 2020 Sea Smoke Southing with no preconceived opinions other than enjoying it once with my wife with dinner at a fun formal restaurant three years ago.
Mind you , we popped this open with friends after already indulging in a Smith Madrone Chardonnay, 2018 Mayacamas Melot and a 2010 Chateau Valendraud - Saint Emilion.
After already being impressed by the previous wine line up I wouldn't normally pour a pinot noir after two beautiful Merlots but Man am I glad I did.
The Sea Smoke immediately jolted the senses with rhubarb, orange zest and violets. Evolving further with time and on the palate crushed ripe raspberries , mulberry and Macha tea.
The nose was pure sensory bliss. This for me has more appeal than Kosta Browne. Only other California Pinot that delivers the goods with distinction and class like this are Roar from Santa Lucia Highlands and Mount Eden from Santa Cruz Mountains.
I'm sure there are a few more out there that do so as well but these are my top of the list for me. Cheers, Foxen Wilder.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (2)