Montrose

Second Growth Chateau Montrose is superbly situated overlooking and sloping down to the Gironde estuary. The soil is deep gravels over clay, making wines which tended to be austere and tannic in youth, but are some of the most profound & longlived in the Medoc. Montrose was nicknamed the "Latour of Saint-Estephe" due to its power and concentration, with particular successes in dry, hot years. Legendary wines were made here in 1959, 1961, 1989, 1990, 2003, 2009, 2010. Under the ownership of the billionaire Bouygues brothers since 2006, the Chateau has become a showcase for sustainable development, transformed by a geothermal system and rooftop solar panels. A benchmark for Saint Estephe, Montrose has now adopted a new policy of limiting the Grand Vin exclusively to grapes grown on the original 1855-classified 45-hectare plot directly in front of the chateau - the historic heart of Montrose. This move—aimed at maximising purity and terroir expression — sharpens the focus and enhances quality even further, but has significantly reduced the volume of the Grand Vin produced. Its second wine, Dame de Montrose, usually offers very fair value and early drinkability.