CHÂTEAU MONBOUSQUET

Blackberry puree, cocoa bean, espresso, tar. There are creamy black cherry fruits, and some welcome bitter almond notes that add depth to the slightly heavy overall structure. A good Monbousquet, confident. Drinking range: 2026 - 2040 Rating: 91 Jane Anson, Decanter (Jan 2022)

The 2019 Monbousquet is conspicuously deep in colour. It has an intense nose of black cherries, raspberry, blueberry and violets that lend it a Margaux-like personality. There is certainly a bit of new oak to be assimilated during élevage and in bottle. The palate is succulent on the entry with juicy ripe black fruit. The tannins tightly grip the back palate. A Janus Saint-Émilion where there seems to be two Monbousquet's fighting for supremacy, one wanting to be approachable and the other determined for longevity. This is an intriguing Monbousquet. It does seem to become more tannic and masculine with aeration - I look forward to seeing what it turns into once in bottle. Drinking range: 2025 - 2045 Rating: 90-92 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Jun 2020)

The 2019 Monbousquet is a blend of 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, harvested between the 27th of September and 8th of October. The yields this year were 39 hectoliters per hectare, and the alcohol came in at 14.55%, while the pH was 3.68. A little reduced to begin on the nose, it soon unfurls to offer scents of licorice, tar, black raspberries and truffles over a core of plum preserves, blueberry compote and smoked meats. The medium to full-bodied palate gives a sturdy foundation of firm tannins, with bold freshness lifting the serious dark fruit and earth flavors to a long finish. Rating: 90-92+ Lisa Perrotti-Brown, RobertParker.com (Jun 2020)

Plenty of deep, rich fruit with blackberries, tar and walnuts. Moss, too. It’s full and flavorful. Tannic and rich. Very intense. Rating: 93-94 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (May 2020)