68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot en 7% Cabernet Franc. De oogst vond plaats tussen 23 september en 14 oktober. Slechts 37% van de oogst wordt dit jaar gebruikt in de Grand Vin. Dit jaar geen Montrose voor iedereen... bovendien maakt een redelijke prijs hem zeer gegeerd.
Diepdonker gekleurd. Ceder, zwarte kersen en bessen wisselen elkaar af in de neus. De majestueuze en krokante tannines lichten de sluier over accenten van expressoboontjes, zuivere cassis en zoete vanille. Hoewel Montrose smakelijk en zacht overkomt bij de eerste indruk, is deze Grand Vin bijzonder gestructureerd en klassiek. Er zal dus tijd nodig zijn voor dit prachtig, primair en compact geheel op dronk komt. Montrose 2016 is een immense bewaarwijn met intuïtie, of eenvoudigweg très Montrose! Monsieur Berland en Madame Bouygues vergelijken de 2016 met een leeuw in een kooi… wanneer gaat het deurtje open en wie heeft de sleutel?
IN DE PERS
99 Neal Martin – vinous.com (Januari 2019)
The 2016 Montrose has a tightly wound bouquet that is extremely well focused. This is one of the most pixelated aromatics I can remember on a Montrose at this stage, featuring blackberry, boysenberry and cedar and real mineralité underneath. The palate is medium-bodied with fine density and wonderful salinity. There is tremendous precision with razor-sharp tannin, and a brightness on the finish that is exceptional. This is a Montrose that will comfortably sit alongside the canon of great vintages from this Saint-Estèphe estate. As my score implies, it’s up there with the first growths. Stunning. Drink 2026-2075.
97-99 Neal Martin – The Wine Advocate Issue #230 - robertparker.com (April 2017)
The 2016 Montrose is a blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc (no Petit Verdot this year) picked between 23 September to 14 October and matured in 60% new oak. It has a very sophisticated bouquet with blackberry, briary, a touch of blue fruit and violets. Sometimes this Saint Estèphe can be a little broody at en primeur, but this certainly is more expressive, maintaining very fine delineation and precision, unfolding with each swirl of the glass and revealing a hidden graphite/marine influence. The palate is very fresh on the entry. The first facet of this wine that strikes you is the freshness that lasts from start to finish. This is an animated, vivacious Montrose that starts in almost understated fashion yet builds in the mouth towards what is almost a sensual finish, not a descriptor often applied to Montrose. It is a disarmingly and hauntingly beautiful 2016, extremely long and the aftertaste lasting two or three minutes. NB This is one example where I felt my second visit, over a fortnight after the first, revealed a wine with much greater potential, and I therefore raised my banded score accordingly. Drink: 2026-2060.
98 Antonio Galloni – vinous.com (Januari 2019)
The 2016 Montrose is every bit as impressive as it was from barrel, maybe more. Tightly wound and vertical, with remarkable intensity, the 2016 is simply magnificent. The tannins are there, but they are nearly buried by the sheer intensity of the fruit. All the elements are impeccably balanced in a wine of pedigree, depth and character. The 2016 is going to need a number of years to be at its best, but it is clearly a very special wine in the making. In a word: dazzling. Drink 2024-2056.
93-96 Antonio Galloni – vinous.com (April 2017)
The 2016 Montrose is a wine of remarkable depth, density and power. Large-scale and ample in all dimensions, the 2016 hits the palate with a serious richness. Today, the 2016 comes across as incredibly youthful and primary. There is not much in the way of bouquet at this stage. Instead, the 2016 impresses with its power, drive and exceptionally persistent finish. It is a remarkable wine in every way, but won't be ready to drink anytime soon. Tasted two times.
99 Lisa Perrotti-Brown - robertparker.com (December 2018)
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2016 Montrose is a little youthfully shy to begin, but with coaxing, it unfurls to reveal the most beguiling scents of wilted roses, oolong tea, crushed rocks, wild sage, star anise and candied violets over a wonderfully pristine, well-defined core of crushed blackcurrants, black raspberries and kirsch plus wafts of pencil lead and wood smoke. The taut, muscular, medium to full-bodied palate straddles jaw-dropping intensity and finesse superbly, featuring a solid backbone of ripe tannins and giving a firm frame right through the incredibly long, exquisitely nuanced finish. Drink 2025-2060.
98 James Suckling – jamessuckling.com (December 2019)
The floral and fresh aromas to this are mesmerizing. Roses and lilacs galore. The pure cab aromas coming from the glass – blackcurrants and blackberries – are so memorable. Full-bodied, deep and profound. The ultra-fine tannins on the palate are so polished and fine-grained. The finish goes on for minutes with subtle yet superb fruit. It’s all about precision and form here. A modern classic for Montrose. Better after 2026.
98 James Suckling – jamessuckling.com (Februari 2019)
97-98 James Suckling – jamessuckling.com (Maart 2017)
A solid and tight Montrose with a linear structure of ripe tannins that gives wonderful length and energy. Full-bodied, yet reserved and toned. Stone and mineral character underneath is impressive. Beautiful center palate. The class and focus are marvelous. Better than 2015. This is what Montrose is all about.
97 Jane Anson – decanter.com (November 2018)
96 Jane Anson – decanter.com (April 2017)
In many ways this is a Bordeaux vintage for lovers of great Burgundy - it has the depth and intensity but also a floral, fragrant edge to it; something that is encapsulated perfectly in the classicism of Montrose. This needs some time in the glass as its structure is long and straight, true to the signature of the property. It shows clear depth and precision, and gorgeously placed spice with the sweetness of the black cherry and wild fig stealing in along the side of the palate. The young vines suffered at Montrose because the estate has lots of gravelly, well drained soils, but the proximity to the river provided cooling nights and you can feel far more waves of vibrant freshness than in the 2015 vintage, even with the same tannin index of 80IPT (compared to 70IPT in 2014). An excellent wine which represents 37% of overall production. 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc. Drink: 2027-2050.
100 Jeb Dunnuck - jebdunnuck.com (Maart 2019)
Deep ruby/purple-colored, the 2016 Montrose might be the wine of the vintage and offers an extraordinary bouquet of crème de cassis, dried flowers, underbrush, blueberries, and graphite. Gorgeously concentrated, pure, elegant and balanced on the palate, it has incredible purity of fruit, building, ripe tannin and a great, great finish. Reminding me of the 2003, yet more fresh, vibrant and delineated, this awesome 2016 is going to require patience, yet should rival the truly great vintages from this estate.
96 James Molesworth - winespectator.com (Maart 2019)
18,5/20 Jancis Robinson - jancisrobinson.com (Februari 2020)
18/20 Jancis Robinson – jancisrobinson.com (April 2017)
Gravel and then clay (rather than mixed as in Tronquoy). 9 ha organic and 6 ha biodynamic. They intend to be fully organic in five years. 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc. Very dark blackish crimson. Great, fresh, minerally savour on the nose. Lots of intensity initially. Sweet start – quite a surprise in a way – and then lots of structure. Doesn't quite hang together yet but there is masses of potential. Sweet, fresh ink. Good raciness. Quite muscular but not at all heavy. An edge of acidity is evident without the strong stoniness of St-Estèphe. Just a little bit stringy on the end. Lots of life and freshness (clays help). Pretty glamorous. Drink: 2028-2048.
97 Jeannie Cho Lee – jeanniecholee.com (April 2017)
No. 8 in Top 10 Left Bank Bordeaux. A lovely Montrose with wonderful freshness, great intensity of ripe red plums and blackberries with a sweet, firm palate. This is a beautifully composed Montrose that is built for the long term – layers of dense tannins and a fresh, lively palate filled with ripe fruit. This is a ‘caged lion’ according to winemaker Vincent, that is not yet fully expressing itself but the potential is there for very long aging – easily 20-30 years.
96 Tim Atkin – timatkin.com (April 2017)
One of the wines that should carry a sign saying “come back in a decade”, this is a dark, brooding, seriously backward Montrose with masses of sturdy tannins, super concentrated damson and dark berry fruit and a patina of aromatic oak. 2026-36
99 Jeff Leve – thewinecellarinsider.com (April 2017)
Inky black in color with incredible levels of density, the first thing you notice when the wine hits your palate is the salty, mineral-driven tannins. The purity of the fruit, concentration, richness and velour textures bring you to pleasure with spice, dark chocolate, licorice, blackberry and plum notes. The endnote resonates for at least 60 seconds! Completely satisfying in every way. In the old days you'd need a cigarette after tasting this wine! The best wine since the historic duo of 2009 and 2010, this is right at that level, or even better! Time alone, will be the final arbiter. The Grand Vin was produced from just 36% of the crop, blending 68% Cabernet Sauvignon , 25% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc . This wine reached 13.3% alcohol with a pH of 3.55. The harvest took place September 23 to October 14.
96-98 Roger Voss – wineenthusiast.com (April 2017)
Big in tannins and fruit, this is an impressive, complete wine. Its structure and density are magnificent, as is its black fruitiness. The wine has an edge of austerity, along with dry tannins that promise considerable aging. A major performance from this estate.
98 Bettane & Desseauve (April 2017)
18,5-19,5/20 Revue des Vins de France (April 2017)
100 Jean-Marc Quarin – quarin.com (April 2017)
17,5-18/20 Jacques Dupont – Le Point (April 2017)
18-20/20 Gault & Millau (April 2017)
MontroseHet fenomenale terroir van Montrose is gekend als “het Latour van Saint Estèphe”. De wijnen zijn grandioos en vertonen een typische “austérité”. Hun parcours is vlekkeloos: vooral 2003 was een fenomenale wijn, en 1990, 2009 en 2010 zijn hun perfecte parkerscores waard. Vandaag staan de gebroeders Bouygues aan het roer van deze Deuxième Grand Cru Classé. Zij zijn bekend van de gelijknamige bouwfirma, telefonie en mediahuis TF1. De nieuwe directeur, Hervé Berland (ex Mouton), zet de doelstellingen duidelijk uit: na een jarenlange renovatie verkeren wijngaard en Château in prima conditie. Kortom, we verwachten nog vele prachtwijnen van Montrose in de komende jaren!
De wijngaard is één blok van 95 hectare op de oevers van de Gironde, aangelegd voor 1832. De naam “Mont-rose” verwijst naar de kleur van de boempjes en de heide die er vroeger stond. Het vormt met zijn Château, bijgebouwen en wijnbouwershuisjes bijna een klein dorp, waarvan de straatnamen verwijzen naar de namen van de voormalige eigenaars. Steek je neus op en je ademt onmiddellijk de zilte lucht van het maritiem klimaat die de wijngaard afkoelt in de zomer en vorst vermijdt in de winter. Bordeaux lijkt plots veraf… | |
