1979 Château Montrose
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Tasting notes
Next we had a bottle of 1979 Montrose. This is a vintage that I have not encountered for four or five years. Displaying wide bricking on the rim, it has a slightly diffuse, leather and loamy bouquet, the fruit having faded a long time ago; a little rustic but attractive and charming. The palate holds together for the first hour or so with vestiges of red fruit and a distinctive iron note. The usual pastille-like finish is not present on this bottle, but I find it rather threadbare and losing its cohesion over the course of an hour. It is commendable for the vintage, but personally, I would drink it sooner rather than later.
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
The 1979 Montrose was picked between September 29 and October 14 after a rather cloudy month. It is a vintage that I have tasted several times, and it has not always elicited pleasure. The most recent bottle shows wide bricking on the rim and, as I have noticed before, a rather dour and earthy note that lacks a spring in its step. Medium-bodied with satisfactory freshness, it leans toward red fruit with a slightly monotone finish. Drink soon. Tasted at a private dinner in London.
Tasted at the Montrose vertical in London, previous encounters with the 1979 Montrose have been a rum experience. Like the 1978, however, this was better. It was picked between 29 September and 14 October after a rather cloudy month. Certainly it shows its age with wide bricking on the rim. The nose is leathery and rather dour, although I noticed a touch of mint developing in the glass among dusty tertiary aromas. The palate is medium-bodied without the same cohesion as the 1978. However, the bottle was undeniably fresh with red rather than black fruit, a fine seem of acidity and a simple, pastille-like finish. The 1979 is not going to get any better, so pop the cork sooner rather than later if you have any bottles. Tasted June 2016.
The 1979 Montrose remains youthfully ruby in color, but, as with many of the wines made by this estate between 1977 and 1985, it is austere, light, with high acidity, and a lean, short, compact, astringent finish. Once again, there is no question that the wine will last because of the tannin level and high acidity, but the fruit is already in danger of drying out. It remains an unimpressive, even disappointing wine from this great estate. Last tasted, 2/93. Wine Advocate.August, 1993
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 .