Montrose 2020

The wine in this vintage

A rainy spring, then a long, dry summer and an early harvest: 2020 gave Bordeaux small, concentrated berries and intense, dark, highly structured wines. At Saint-Estèphe, proximity to the estuary and clay soils favoured remarkable balance. Montrose 2020 is a wine of great depth, with cassis, blackberry, graphite, violet, spice and undergrowth on a powerful palate with dense but velvety tannins and a very long finish. Antonio Galloni awarded it 99 points and Decanter 98. Still very young, it needs time to reveal its full complexity. 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

• 99 Antonio Galloni
• 98 Decanter
• 18/20 Jancis Robinson

Technical details

Producer

Château Montrose

Region

Bordeaux

Country

Francia

Type

Rosso

Vintage

2020

When to drink

Hold, still evolving

Critics' average

98.5/100

Sizes

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

eWibe code

0290120