Montrose 2007

St Estephe, Second Growth

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Tasting Notes

The 2007 Montrose has a crisp, earthy, tobacco-scented bouquet with sage and clove developing in the glass—clearly a Saint Estèphe that is determined to succeed in an off-vintage, which this estate is masterful at doing. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin. This bottle felt compact for this vintage, one of the few 2007s that merit decanting. However, there is undeniably plenty of freshness and a welcome touch of spice towards the finish. Linear in style, this is one of the few 2007s that should improve with bottle age. Tasted February 2017.

Score: 92

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2018-2035 30 June 2017

Tasted at the chateau after bottling, the Montrose 2007 has a fresh, lifted nose of stony black fruits, cold stones, nice and crisp, very focused with less ‘leafiness’ out of barrel. The palate is medium-bodied, fine tannins, well balanced and much more supple than I expected. Feminine and graceful, not a powerful Montrose of course, but dainty(!) and light on its feet, skipping across the palate on the finish. Tasted April 2010.

Score: 91

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 01 January 2011

A limpid purple/garnet colour. I prefer this nose to the 2006 Montrose at en primeur last year. The fruit is clean, well-defined but tightly coiled. Unfurls nicely in the glass, some lovely ripe Cabernet Sauvignon here with a touch of tobacco. The Grand Vin displays a nice balance, good acidity, clean fruit, tight and perhaps rather linear. This is a Montrose not daring to take too many chances but succeeding in terms of creating a well poised, lighter wine that rather than being made to impress, is made to impart pleasure.

Score: 91 - 93

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 08 April 2008

Bright ruby-red. Currant, cherry, smoke, tobacco and camphor on the nose, with peppery and floral nuances emerging with air. Juicy, spicy and dry, with a silky texture to the red berry and spice flavors. Perhaps a tad undernourished, but offers a subtle hint of sweetness and finishes with suave tannins and nice length.

Score: 88

Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 01 July 2010

One of the stars of the vintage, the 2007 Montrose boasts a deep blue/purple color as well as a sweet bouquet of creme de cassis, crushed rocks, and spring flowers. Dense and opulent with silky tannins, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, a long finish, and no hard edges, this beauty should drink well for 15+ years.

Score: 91

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2010-2025+ 30 April 2010

Interesting aromas of blackberry and dried mushroom follow through to a full body, with chewy tannins and a slightly austere finish. Polished and stylish, but needs some fruit midpalate to be outstanding. Best after 2012. 18,335 cases made.

Score: 88

James Suckling, Wine Spectator Maturity: 2012+ 31 March 2010

Berry and citrus fruit on the nose and palate. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a soft-textured finish. Pleasant and fruity. Friendly and caressing. Just a touch hollow in the midpalate.

Score: 87 - 90

James Suckling, Wine Spectator 01 April 2008

The most atypical Montrose I have ever tasted, but Jean-Bernard Delmas insists this is all part of the great update. 62% of the harvest went into the grand vin. 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot! 60% new barrels. Very dark purple. Light nose with some obvious Cabernet leafiness. Very soft tannins and then a little acidity and astringency on the finish. Lively fruit but terribly round and light. Unrecognisable from other more typical vintages of Montrose. Jean-Bernard Delmas is especially proud of the roundness of the tannins here - there’s everything you need and no excess. Certainly no-one could accuse this wine of having an excess of anything - it’s almost a shadow!

Score: 16 - 17

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2012-2018 10 April 2008

Black-red, slightly smoky nose, very Cabernet and very fine concentration of ripe berry fruit, with fine terroir expression and masses of fruit in reserve to open up, backed by fine tannins.

Score: 18

Decanter, - Maturity: 2015-2025 08 April 2008

Deep crimson with a wide rim. A dense nose with black currant, marmite and a suggestion of aniseed. Medium-bodied with layers of dense currant fruit, herbs and aniseed. A bit austere but smoothly tannic with a very dry, long, black pepper finish.

Score: 89 - 92

Albany Vintners, - 01 April 2008