2012 Montrose
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Tasting notes
37% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 57% Cabernet Sauvignon. Intense and evocative on the nose with very dark fruit and iodine minerality. Deep and dense on the palate with spice, brambles and a wild character to the fruit. A lot of textured tannin. there is creamy oak too but it is impeccably integrated. Broad although not big. Long, flavourful and very good indeed. FINE+RARE
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
FINE+RARE
More reviews and scores
The 2012 Montrose has a taut and focused bouquet with crisp blackberry, tobacco and light earthy scents on the nose. Fine vigour and class evident here. The palate is medium-bodied with chewy tannins on the entry, fine acidity, lightly spiced with a nicely proportioned and focused finish. This is a solid, almost swarthy Montrose, though it is surpassed by more recent vintages. Tasted twice at Bordeaux Index's Ten Year-On tasting and blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting.
Sturdier, drier and more classic and concentrated than the Cos. Good stuff – very ambitious! (JR)
Muscular tannins, bitter chocolate shavings. Feels upright and military, the polar opposite to Cos d'Estournel, in the way that Mouton is so different to Lafite. It's enjoyable, has a long life ahead, still austere at 10 years old, tobacco, cigar, you feel the architecture and the confidence as it sretches out through the palate, successful but reserved. Harvest September 24 to October 20.
About the producer
Ch. Montrose is one of two Second Growths from Saint-Estèphe and one of the most consistent producers in Bordeaux. The wines from this property are both elegant and powerful, and some of the Médoc's most age-worthy .