The group had just tasted this as I arrived, so I didn't taste blind. Fully mature with at least as much mushroom and earth as fruit, but enough of everything in very good harmony. Good+ weight, good length. Time to enjoy. Best when first tasted vs when re-visited later in the afternoon.

Tasted blind. Lots of black plum and cassis. Ripe and sweet young black fruit and new oak seemed to dominate everything. Modern style with very good concentration, but just faintly nuanced.

Opened and decanted an hour+. We were told this was bright when opened, but it was tired and slightly oxidative when served. Clearly from a ripe vintage, but this seemed a bit stewed while still tannic.

Tasted blind. Lots of black cherry and plum with dark chocolate and vanilla, giving a robust sense of new oak. Enticing floral start is the highlight here with sweet spice on both nose and palate. Other liked this more than I did today, but this is the best I can ever recall for this wine.

Black plum and cherry with good structure and depth, nothing particularity powerful, but everything in very good balance. Catching up from earlier, I didn't taste this blind. Very good now.

Tasted double blind. Very good nose with charming spice, mint and eucalyptus hints. Leaner palate seemed backward, begging for more cellar time. I think there is upside from here.

Catching up from what the group tasted earlier in the afternoon. This was a bit warm, but confused me because the "Mesnil" on the label made me think Chardonnay, but the wine took me in a different direction. Good weight and length in a clearly bready style that didn't thrill me.

Black plum and cassis with sweet spice. Very good depth and length. More complex today on nose vs palate, but both good even if slightly less robust in the middle. Upside from here. Catching up from wines the group tasted earlier, I didn't taste this blind. My favorite wine of the tasting.

Tasted double blind. Rich and ripe black plum and currant with some sweetness, but also easily retains balance for the vintage. Plenty of structure in the near background. Good now, upside from here.

Backward black fruit with very good concentration that hinted at its potential, but provided little pleasure today. I was catching up on wines the group tasted earlier, so didn't taste this blind. Certainly good+ potential, with plenty of upside.

Open an hour+ before I served this blind to today's tasting group. Meaty black fruit with leather and savory spice. Very good concentration, this is on the clean side for Montrose of this era. Everybody enjoyed this. No rush to drink up.

I was catching up on wines the group has tasted before I arrived. Perhaps this was better when opened earlier, but I found it fully mature+ when tasted with much more earth than fruit. Good length, medium depth . OK overall.

Sadly corked. This was so good when last tasted a few weeks ago.