Montrose 1990

St Estephe, Second Growth

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Tasting Notes
This is a famous wine, though not all bottles seem in perfect condition. At first, the nose was not utterly pure and precise, but it seemed to clean itself up in the glass. It was definitely sweeter and richer than any Montrose I can think of and was pleasing, flattering and easy to drink with some very fine tannins and just a little dustiness on the finish. Score: 17 - 18 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 1998-2015 28 October 2009
I have had the 1990 Montrose on four separate occasions over the last several months, and I have consistently rated it either 99 or 100. Three of the bottles came from my cellar, and one was tasted at the chateau. None of them revealed any brett, which is not the case with bottles that were exposed to heat, or had bad storage issues. The wine remains a blockbuster, an inky/ruby/purple-colored effort revealing stunning concentration, amazingly high glycerin, and abundant amounts of sweet black fruits intermixed with notions of earth and spice. It is a fleshy, full-bodied St.-Estephe with atypically high amounts of fatness and fruit extract, but it is settling down nicely and seems set for another 2-3 decades of longevity. Many have felt the 1989 Montrose is better, and it is getting closer to meriting a three digit score, but it remains more tannic and backward. Score: 100 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 01 June 2009
In several tastings last year, the 1990 Montrose clearly revealed its incredible complexity and massive character. I was especially pleased when, at a large lecture I gave in London at the end of March, the 1990 Montrose, in very tough company (Cheval Blanc 1989 and 1990, Pichon-Lalande 1989 and 1990, Certan de May 1989 and 1990), proved the over-whelming choice of a crowd of nearly 400 British tasters. The wine is remarkably rich, with a distinctive nose of sweet, jammy fruit, liquefied minerals, new saddle leather, and grilled steak. In the mouth, the enormous concentration, extract, high glycerin, and sweet tannin slide across the palate with considerable ease. It is a huge, corpulent, awesomely-endowed wine that is still relatively approachable, as it has not yet begun to shut down and lose its baby fat. It thoroughly embarrassed the 1989, itself an exceptional wine. The 1990 needs 10 more years of cellaring; it should last for 25-30, possibly 40-50 years. Score: 100 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2007-2037 01 February 1997
The 1990 Montrose is one of this century's monumental efforts. Dense black/purple-colored, with a tight yet potentially sensational bouquet of new saddle leather, black fruits, oriental spices, new oak, and minerals, the 1990 exhibits profound concentration of fruit, a spectacularly intense mid-palate, and massive power. One of the superstars of this superb vintage, Montrose is also one of the most concentrated, forceful, and monumental wines made in Bordeaux over recent decades. Score: 100 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2000-2045 01 October 1994
Although undeniably this is an impressive Chateau Montrose, I would swap it any day for the 1989! The nose is backward at first before developing scents of tobacco, cedar and asphalt. The palate is just huge, incredibly concentrated with muscular tannins, huge grip and layers of black fruits. But it is a wine that ticks all the boxes if you seek dimension, less if you seek poise and tension, whilst it tends to dominate any dish foolish enough to compete. Is that what wine is for? An outstanding achievement in terms of pushing the envelope of the vineyard, but that does not necessarily mean an enjoyable drinking experience. Score: 95 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2020-2050 01 March 2008
Dark in color with decadent aromas of ripe fruit, earth and amazing mint and spearmint undertones, yet there's also an underlying meaty funkiness. Full-bodied, with layers of very ripe fruit and velvety tannins. Massive and caressing. A big, powerful wine. Like velvet.--Non-blind Château Montrose vertical. Drink now. 18,000 cases made. Score: 94 James Suckling, Wine Spectator 01 January 2006
Full ruby-red. Wild, exotic aromas of crystallized redcurrant, leather, tobacco and minerals; distinctly exotic, even overripe. Then lush, sweet and opulent, with an atypically velvety texture for Montrose. But extremely young and structured, finishing with powerful tannins and great grip and length. Almost California-like in style; in Bordeaux, they'd refer to the fruit expression of this wine as "original," which is not necessarily high praise. Drink 2008 through 2030. Score: 95 Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar Maturity: 2008-2030 01 July 2002

Tasting Notes

This is a famous wine, though not all bottles seem in perfect condition. At first, the nose was not utterly pure and precise, but it seemed to clean itself up in the glass. It was definitely sweeter and richer than any Montrose I can think of and was pleasing, flattering and easy to drink with some very fine tannins and just a little dustiness on the finish.

Score: 17 - 18

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 1998-2015 28 October 2009

I have had the 1990 Montrose on four separate occasions over the last several months, and I have consistently rated it either 99 or 100. Three of the bottles came from my cellar, and one was tasted at the chateau. None of them revealed any brett, which is not the case with bottles that were exposed to heat, or had bad storage issues. The wine remains a blockbuster, an inky/ruby/purple-colored effort revealing stunning concentration, amazingly high glycerin, and abundant amounts of sweet black fruits intermixed with notions of earth and spice. It is a fleshy, full-bodied St.-Estephe with atypically high amounts of fatness and fruit extract, but it is settling down nicely and seems set for another 2-3 decades of longevity. Many have felt the 1989 Montrose is better, and it is getting closer to meriting a three digit score, but it remains more tannic and backward.

Score: 100

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 01 June 2009

In several tastings last year, the 1990 Montrose clearly revealed its incredible complexity and massive character. I was especially pleased when, at a large lecture I gave in London at the end of March, the 1990 Montrose, in very tough company (Cheval Blanc 1989 and 1990, Pichon-Lalande 1989 and 1990, Certan de May 1989 and 1990), proved the over-whelming choice of a crowd of nearly 400 British tasters. The wine is remarkably rich, with a distinctive nose of sweet, jammy fruit, liquefied minerals, new saddle leather, and grilled steak. In the mouth, the enormous concentration, extract, high glycerin, and sweet tannin slide across the palate with considerable ease. It is a huge, corpulent, awesomely-endowed wine that is still relatively approachable, as it has not yet begun to shut down and lose its baby fat. It thoroughly embarrassed the 1989, itself an exceptional wine. The 1990 needs 10 more years of cellaring; it should last for 25-30, possibly 40-50 years.

Score: 100

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2007-2037 01 February 1997

The 1990 Montrose is one of this century's monumental efforts. Dense black/purple-colored, with a tight yet potentially sensational bouquet of new saddle leather, black fruits, oriental spices, new oak, and minerals, the 1990 exhibits profound concentration of fruit, a spectacularly intense mid-palate, and massive power. One of the superstars of this superb vintage, Montrose is also one of the most concentrated, forceful, and monumental wines made in Bordeaux over recent decades.

Score: 100

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2000-2045 01 October 1994

Although undeniably this is an impressive Chateau Montrose, I would swap it any day for the 1989! The nose is backward at first before developing scents of tobacco, cedar and asphalt. The palate is just huge, incredibly concentrated with muscular tannins, huge grip and layers of black fruits. But it is a wine that ticks all the boxes if you seek dimension, less if you seek poise and tension, whilst it tends to dominate any dish foolish enough to compete. Is that what wine is for? An outstanding achievement in terms of pushing the envelope of the vineyard, but that does not necessarily mean an enjoyable drinking experience.

Score: 95

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2020-2050 01 March 2008

Dark in color with decadent aromas of ripe fruit, earth and amazing mint and spearmint undertones, yet there's also an underlying meaty funkiness. Full-bodied, with layers of very ripe fruit and velvety tannins. Massive and caressing. A big, powerful wine. Like velvet.--Non-blind Château Montrose vertical. Drink now. 18,000 cases made.

Score: 94

James Suckling, Wine Spectator 01 January 2006

Full ruby-red. Wild, exotic aromas of crystallized redcurrant, leather, tobacco and minerals; distinctly exotic, even overripe. Then lush, sweet and opulent, with an atypically velvety texture for Montrose. But extremely young and structured, finishing with powerful tannins and great grip and length. Almost California-like in style; in Bordeaux, they'd refer to the fruit expression of this wine as "original," which is not necessarily high praise. Drink 2008 through 2030.

Score: 95

Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar Maturity: 2008-2030 01 July 2002

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