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‘The class comes through strongly in this wine, perhaps the best Saint Estèphe this year’
Neal Martin
Mighty Montrose has announced its release. This is a duo to be respected and indulged in. The Dame de Montrose still offers much pleasure, with hints of the Grand Vin, at a fraction of the cost. Reports from our team who tasted the Grand Vin in Bordeaux were that they loved it. Having tasted it three times they confirmed it was their favourite St-Éstephe. Given the wines stature it is well priced to sit alongside the two Pichons and is half the price of Palmer. We think this offers good value for those seeking great Claret and an archetypal St-Éstephe.
Once part of the Calon Segur estate Montrose’s terroir is superb – it has been compared to that of the famous ‘enclos’ of Léoville-Las-Cases and Latour – its close proximity of the estuary and gravel soils lending a distinctive character. In 2006 the property was purchased by Martin and Olivier Bouyges. The hiring of Jean-Bernard Delmas (previous director at Haut Brion) as well as Herve Berland who spent just under thirty years as managing director at Mouton-Rothschild! The Bouyges brothers clear aspiration is to challenge the First Growths for quality and they wasted no time in investing heavily in the already strongly performing house to ensure they have all the tools at their disposal to do so. Today the wines are full of brooding, heady power. These are wines that are long-lived and rewarding for those with patience. The 2015 has elements of grace in its aromatics that provide a pleasing juxtaposition to its core of dark, vigorous fruit.
2015 Château Montrose, 2ème Cru St Estèphe It possesses some of the best aromatics you will find in the appéllation - billowing blackberry, cassis and boysenberry scents all beautifully defined and seamlessly integrated with the new oak. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, commendable depth and a vibrant bead of acidity that lends this Montrose tension from start to finish. The class comes through strongly in this wine, perhaps the best Saint Estèphe this year. Give this a decade in bottle, more if you can, since Montrose tends to repay cellaring. |
2015 La Dame de Montrose, St Estèphe It has a perfumed, floral and pure bouquet with black cherries, blueberry and violets, all with commendable delineation for a deuxième vin. The palate is well balanced with a more sumptuous texture compared to its fellow Saint Estèphes, thanks to that lush Merlot that forms the core of this wine. It has commendable energy and feels approachable, therefore with 3-4 years in bottle, you should have yourself a fine if not exceptional La Dame de Montrose. |