Montrose 2015

The wine in this vintage

2015 brought Bordeaux a hot, dry summer; in the northern Médoc, at Saint-Estèphe, late-summer rain added freshness, and Montrose's clay-rich soils handled both phases very well. Montrose 2015 is generous yet well structured, with cassis, blackberry, plum, cedar, graphite and sweet spice on a full palate with abundant but polished tannins and a long, mineral finish. James Suckling awarded it 98 points. It can already be appreciated for its richness, but like every great Montrose it will gain much from further years in the cellar. At the table it pairs well with roast meats, duck breast or mushroom-based dishes.

The producer · Château Montrose

Overlooking the Gironde estuary in the commune of Saint-Estèphe, Château Montrose was born in the early nineteenth century on a heath-covered hill whose pinkish hue gave it its name. Within a few decades it had earned a reputation that led to its classification as a Deuxième Grand Cru Classé in 1855. After more than a century with the Charmolüe family, it has belonged since 2006 to Martin and Olivier Bouygues, who drove an ambitious renovation of the cellars and one of the most advanced environmental programmes in the Médoc. The vineyard, a single block close to the river, lies on deep gravel and clay that provide a moderated microclimate and steady water supply even in the driest summers. Cabernet Sauvignon leads, alongside Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The Montrose style is that of a great structured wine: deep, tannic in youth and extraordinarily long-lived, opening with age into memorable elegance and complexity. That is why it is often called the great classic of Saint-Estèphe.

Critics' scores

• 98 James Suckling
• 96 Decanter
• 95 Robert Parker
• 95 Antonio Galloni
• 16.5/20 Jancis Robinson

Technical details

Producer

Château Montrose

Region

Bordeaux

Country

Francia

Type

Rosso

Vintage

2015

When to drink

Hold, still evolving

Critics' average

96/100

Sizes

75 cl, Magnum 150 cl, Case of 6 × 75 cl

eWibe code

0290115