2006 CHÂTEAU MONTROSE 2ème Cru Classé Saint Estèphe, Lea & Sandeman

CHÂTEAU MONTROSE

2006 2ème Cru Classé Saint Estèphe

IN STOCK
Colour Red
Origin France, Bordeaux
District Left Bank
Sub-district Haut Médoc
Village Saint Estèphe
Classification 2ème Cru Classé
ABV 14%

There has been a change of régime here, the Charmolüés having sold Montrose to the Louis Roederer Champagne group. The winemaker has also changed, and the new team is led by M. Glumineau, with additional support from Jean Delmas of Haut Brion. Initially a light nose. Slight spice. A bit pinched. This is continued on the palate. It's very closed and severe, although with a sense of all being there. Rich texture builds flavour - blueberry and liquorice, tar and spice. By the finish the fruit is taking the ascendancy, and is is clear is is a big, rich wine with great length. All the same this seems to be a very classical long-lived style, and we left with a feeling that Montrose is perhaps not quite as 'on fire' this year as it has been since 2000, although in its style this is a very fine wine. Rating: 93 L&S (Apr 2007)

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A high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon is reflected in the flavour profile, and this remains a young wine at 15 years old, but like many 2006s lacks a little generosity right now. Plenty of classic St Estephe character that is likely to follow the same ageing pattern as the 2000 - remaining stubborn for another few years, but giving great pleasure when it finally opens up. Blue and black fruits, tobacco leaf, firm tannins, black peppery, juice and slate minerality on the finish. Harvest September 18 to October 3. First year that Jean-Bernard Delmas, ex-Haut-Brion, was in charge (the Bouygues had taken over in January 2006, and he was immediately appointed CEO). Drinking range: 2021 - 2040 Rating: 94 Jane Anson, Decanter (Sept 2021)

Tasted blind at Southwold ’06 Bordeaux tasting. This has good intensity on the nose: black dusty fruit, cedar, charcoal and scorched earth all with commendable definition. Medium-bodied palate, grippy tannins that are a little coarse, but the balanced is here, well-integrated new oak, a little austere but fanning out towards the briary finish with blackberry, tar and cedar. This Montrose deserves another 8-10 years in bottle and I suspect that by then it will deserve another couple of points. Tasted January 2010. Rating: 92 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Jul 2010)

Good medium ruby. Expressive nose offers blackcurrant, plum, licorice, roasted herbs, smoke and minerals. Supple and refined, with lovely perfume and restrained sweetness. Finishes with substantial dusty tannins that coat the front teeth and turn a bit dry with aeration. Needs aging, but does not appear to possess the concentration or power of the best vintages here. Rating: 89 Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar (May 2009)

Château Montrose

St Estèphe Deuxième cru 1855 Wine production St Estèphe developed much later than further south in the Haut-Médoc - indeed, the vineyards of Château Montrose were not planted until 1815, when it was then part of the Calon-Ségur estate. Only 40 years later, not only had Montrose seperated from its parent, it had surpassed it, being one of only two St Estèphe estates to be awarded 2nd Growth status in the 1855 classification. Montrose sits nearer the river than Cos d'Estournel on classic Haut-Médoc gravel soil - the last outcrop as you head north. The 65ha of vines are 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. The Grand Vin spends 18 months in wood (70% new). A second wine was introduced in 1983 - La Dame de Montrose - aged in wood for 12 months (20% new). Montrose is a noted performer in weaker vintages, possibly because of a generous micro-climate which allows slightly earlier picking than most of the Haut-Médoc. The wines age brilliantly.

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