Château Montrose - St.-Estèphe 2016
Price: $239.99
| Producer | Château Montrose |
 | |
| Country | France |
| |
| Region | Bordeaux |
| |
| Subregion | St.-Estephe |
| |
| Varietal | Bordeaux Blend |
| |
| Vintage | 2016 |
| |
| Sku | 33568 |
| |
|
Jeb Dunnuck: 100 Points
Unquestionably one of the top 2-3 wines of the vintage, the 2016 Château Montrose is a monument in the making. Checking in as a blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 7% Cabernet Franc raised in 60% new French oak (the balance was in once-used barrels) and representing a tiny 36% of the production, this deep purple-colored 2016 possesses powerful, incredibly classic Saint-Estèphe notes of creme de cassis, graphite, damp earth, lead pencil shavings, and burning embers. With a powerful, full-bodied style on the palate, a huge mid-palate, lots of underlying structure and tannic grip, and perfect balance, this magical wine will need upwards of a decade or cellaring and keep for 40-50 years.
Wine Advocate: 99 Points
One of the greatest wines in this vertical tasting, the 2016 Montrose unwinds in the glass with a deep bouquet of cassis, wild berries, pencil shavings, violets and burning embers. Full-bodied, deep and complete, it's velvety and seamless, with a layered core of vibrant fruit, sweet tannins and a long, resonant finish. At 13.3% alcohol, this unerringly precise, incipiently complex Montrose is the purist's choice.
James Suckling: 98 Points
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.
Decanter Magazine: 98 Points
Now owned by the Bouygues family and managed by Hervé Berland, formerly at Mouton Rothschild, Montrose is one of the finest classed growths. Structured, long-living, this needs time to settle and open up but will be stunning. Pure dark currant and berry fruit, mineral and menthol notes, glossy oak and tannins and a lingering finish suggest this may be the finest Montrose since 1990.
Vinous: 97 Points
The 2016 Montrose displays a pixelated, detailed bouquet that is supremely focused. There is more “airiness” to this wine [compared to previous bottles], and an expressive floral component of pressed iris and incense that is wonderfully entwined with the black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with lithe tannins, quite sensual and utterly harmonious, leading to a caressing but very deep, quite profound finish. Like the 2016 Meyney that preceded it, this is very persistent and should age with style and charm.
