Chateau Montrose Saint Estephe 2eme Cru 2018

Robert Parker
The 2018 Montrose is a blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Very deep garnet-purple in color, it needs a good amount of air to unlock the vibrant scents of crushed blackberries, preserved plums and cassis with suggestions of star anise, cedar chest, underbrush, Indian spices and iron ore, plus an emerging waft of violets. The full-bodied palate features the most exquisitely ripe tannins, offering a rock-solid backbone with tons of freshness lifting the taut, muscular fruit, finishing long and mineral laced. Going back to this wine over a period of hours and then days further reveals a Montrose of great opulence, richness and depth. Incidentally, the IPT level this year is 82, which indicates a very high level of tannins, and yet they are so, so ripe. The alcohol is around 14.5%. But sit back, close your eyes and forget the numbers—this is pure hedonism in its youth with a fantastic 40+ years of cellaring ahead of it, during the course of which do not be at all surprised if you are blown away by a three-digit experience.

James Suckling
This is a big and muscular wine with great structure and depth of fruit. Blackberry and blueberry character. Hints of fresh leaves. Cool earth. Incredible depth, yet so polished. Concentrated.

Falstaff
Sehr dunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Attraktive Nuancen von Edelholz und Nougat, dunkles Waldbeerkonfit, Lakritze, ein Hauch von kandierten Orangenzesten, ein Hauch von Schwarzwälder-Kirschtorte. Kompakt, straffe Textur, reife Herzkirschen, angenehme Extraktsüße, tragende, noch präsente Tannine, feinwürziger Abgang, ein Hauch von Ingwer und weißem Pfeffer im Nachhall, sehr gute Länge, frisch und anhaftend, noch von einer ersten Trinkreife entfernt. (2025 - 2060)