Chateau Montrose Saint Estephe 2015

2eme Grand Cru Classe

Vintage: 2015

Producer: Chateau Montrose

A Second Classified Growth of 1855, Chateau Montrose is one of the essential properties in the famous Saint-Estephe appellation, which is located on the Left Bank in the Bordeaux region. With more than two centuries of history, Chateau Montrose takes its name from the colour of the heather that covers the Chateau’s moorlands.

Spread over an area of 95 hectares, the Chateau Montrose vineyard has the unusual feature of being one single area that consists of a mosaic of terroirs. It has a unique location on a complex geological formation that is millions of years old with a combination of soils. They consist of gravel with sand mixed in on the surface, and a clay-rich subsoil that is ideal for preserving the vines’ water resources.

With an exceptional terroir, the typical style of the Saint-Estephe appellation distinguishes the wines of Chateau Montrose. They are powerful, and their youth is marked by the signature of Cabernet Sauvignon. As they age over time, they develop a bouquet of rare complexity. As sign of excellence among the Top Ranked Growths, they combine finesse and elegance with structure and material, which guarantee exceptional cellaring potential.

Vintage: 2015 started with a colder winter than in previous years. The start of the season, mild and quite sunny, favoured early bud burst. Quick and uniform flowering took place at the start of June thanks to the exceptional climatic conditions. June and July were dry, marked by water stress leading to a clear slow-down in the development of the vine. Veraison took place early and in a very uniform way between 21 July and 10 August. The showers in September gave us the measure, once again, of the qualities of our terroir: drainage was perfect, and the Cabernet Sauvignon on the plateau bordering the estuary benefited from a very beneficial drying wind. Harvest started from 15 September with an increased team of pickers and continued at a sustained pace until 8 October when picking finished. The grapes were of very good quality, and we further strengthened our ultra-precise plot selection, which sometimes involved several passes through a plot in the search for optimum ripeness. In the cellar, the reception line allowed for precision work: 3 sorting tables for bunches preceded double sorting of the berries, optical then by hand. The vinification, respectful of the identity of our terroir, was tailor-made in tanks of sizes adapted to each of the 55 batches that make up our blending palette. To these were added 7 batches resulting from the precision work carried out at the press. At the time of blending, the richness of the batches allowed us to be extremely precise in the selection for the grand vin, the most drastic in 15 years. The first tastings put this vintage among the great years of Chateau Montrose.

Tasting Notes: Deep in colour, the expressive and elegant nose reveals notes of white flowers. On aeration, more complex aromas of ripe black fruit emerge, smoky and toasty. The attack is clean and elegant on the palate, true velvet supported by silky tannins. Very good balance in a very fine and defined wine. The very long finish reveals notes of oak and liquorice.

Robert Parker Rating: 95

Country: France

Region: Bordeaux

Appelation: Saint Estephe

Grape Variety: 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc

Alcohol percentage: 13.5%

Size: 750ml

Style: Red

SKU: TC4D2486