Montrose 2010

St Estephe, Second Growth

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Tasting Notes
This is considered to be among the greatest vintages ever made in Montrose, right up with the 1929, 1945, 1947, 1959, 1961, 1989, 1990 and 2009. Harvest was October 15 to 17. The wine has really come on since I last tasted it, and it needs at least another 10 years of cellaring. The blend was 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. The wine is opaque black/blue, with an incredible nose of blueberry and blackberry liqueur, with hints of incense, licorice, and acacia flowers. Tannins are incredibly sweet and very present. The wine is full-bodied, even massive, with great purity, depth and a finish that goes on close to a minute. This is a 50- to 75-year-old wine that will repay handsomely those with good aging genes. (Note: The Chateau Montrose website gives an aging potential of 2020-2100.) Score: 100 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 01 August 2014
The 2010 Montrose is a fabulous wine, and I was leaning toward giving it a three-digit score, which it may ultimately merit after it resolves some of its very sweet tannin. It is not as soft or flamboyant as the 2009, but it is a great classic, coming in at 13.9% natural alcohol. Representing 64% of the total production, the final blend is 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot (which is one percent different than the barrel sample blends that were presented). Inky bluish/purple in color, with classic blueberry, black currant, crushed rock and floral notes, hints of graphite, and lots of wild mountain berry fruit, this wine is extravagantly rich, has very sweet but noticeable tannin, laser-like precision, a massive, full-bodied mouthfeel and a finish of close to 50+ seconds. This remarkable wine will probably tighten up somewhat in the bottle, and need most of a decade to shed some tannin and its rather grapy, primary personality. The finish blew me away, and the overall power, richness and balance of this wine are virtually perfect. Look for it to drink well for half a century or more. Although Jean Delmas remains a consultant at Montrose, he has yielded his primary responsibilities over to a younger staff, but he still believes the 2010 Montrose is one of the all-time great wines ever produced at this estate, equaling or exceeding the quality of the 1929, 1945, 1959, 1961, 1989, 1990 or 2009. Score: 99 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2013-2038 01 February 2013
2010 Montrose: Jean Delmas believes this is one of the all-time great wines of Montrose, comparable to the 2009, 1990, 1989, 1959, 1947, 1945 and 1929. The 2010 harvest took place between September 27 and October 15, and the final blend is 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot that achieved 13.75% natural alcohol, a fraction above the 2009's 13.7%. Somewhat reminiscent of the 1989, only even inkier and richer, the 2010 boasts a dense purple color along with glorious aromatics of blueberries, boysenberries, black currants and a crushed chalk-like minerality. The tannins are less intrusive than I would have suspected for such a young Montrose, but they are unquestionably ripe and well-integrated. Deep, full-bodied and massive, this beauty should be at its finest between 2018-2050. (96-99+Points) Score: 96 - 99 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 04 May 2011
The Chateau Montrose has a dense, broody bouquet with tarry black fruit, cedar and a touch of pencil shavings. It speaks of Saint Estephe but with a Pauillac accent. The palate is medium-bodied with bold, firm, almost obdurate tannins. This is a very classic Montrose, strict and focused, broody with dry tannins and plenty of tertiary black fruit that linger long in the mouth. Think. Long. Term. Score: 96 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 01 March 2013
Tasted at the Château, Montrose is a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot picked between from 27th September through to 15th October, cropped at 45hl/ha. It has 13.8% alcohol with a pH 3.65. The bouquet is tightly wound at first, pure blackberry, dark cherries, just a touch of coca with very good vigour. Very juicy, quite saturated with a very dense, impenetrable finish. Sinewy, structured and masculine, with a slight saline touch on the aftertaste. This is a great Montrose that will one day be fascinating to compare against the 2009. Drink 2020-2050. Tasted March 2011. Score: 96 - 98 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2020-2050 13 April 2011
A perfumed and pure Montrose, with lots of currants, berries and spices that evolve to chocolate and light coffee. Full body, with super racy tannins and bright and clean finish. Very fine and structured. A balance and freshness to it all as well as beautiful form and tension. Try in 2018. Score: 97 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Maturity: 2018+ 04 February 2013
Deep dark colour with black core. A tad oxidised on the nose? Maybe the sample is not perfectly fresh. And it is a bit tough on the palate but fresher and pretty rich in matière. Patrick Beynard of Millésima says the wines are at a delicate stage - around fining - and can be very up and down (17+ Points) Score: 17 Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2022-2035 10 April 2012
64% production. 65% new oak. 1988, 2008 & 2010. IPT of 86, a little higher than in 2009. Inky rub with tight, densely packed fruit. Seamless with velvety fine tannins. Very good with an incredibly long, high-toned finish. Very noble - a serious vin de garde. Score: 96 - 98 Albany Vintners, - 27 April 2011
53% Cabernet Sauvignon (75% last year! And expected to increase), 37% Merlot, 9% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot. 64% of total production and remarkable for the unusually high proportion of Merlot in the grand vin blend - because of the purchase of vineyard from Phelan Ségur last year (did this help the Phelan purchase of restaurant Taillevent in Paris?) Very deep crimson. Quite different from most of these northern Médoc wines - much rounder and less fresh (presumably because of the Merlot). Very different from classical austere Montroses but soft and charming. As a wine, it is extremely well made with just a little furriness on the finish. As a Montrose it’s a bit disconcerting but my mark ignores this. Rather unusual lack of freshness. Just a bit plodding, astringent and sweet on the end. 13.8% Score: 17 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2020-2034 21 April 2011
Elegant, quite reserved fruit, quite discreet now, will gain in length, but less exciting than 2009. Score: 18 Decanter, Decanter.com Maturity: 2020-2035 01 April 2011
Dense and dark, with a massive core of roasted fig, blackberry, espresso and bittersweet cocoa flavors followed by rapier tannins that drive through the finish. This has both richness and austerity. When it all comes together fully, this should be a superb wine. Score: 95 - 98 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator 31 March 2011

Tasting Notes

This is considered to be among the greatest vintages ever made in Montrose, right up with the 1929, 1945, 1947, 1959, 1961, 1989, 1990 and 2009. Harvest was October 15 to 17. The wine has really come on since I last tasted it, and it needs at least another 10 years of cellaring. The blend was 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. The wine is opaque black/blue, with an incredible nose of blueberry and blackberry liqueur, with hints of incense, licorice, and acacia flowers. Tannins are incredibly sweet and very present. The wine is full-bodied, even massive, with great purity, depth and a finish that goes on close to a minute. This is a 50- to 75-year-old wine that will repay handsomely those with good aging genes. (Note: The Chateau Montrose website gives an aging potential of 2020-2100.)

Score: 100

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 01 August 2014

The 2010 Montrose is a fabulous wine, and I was leaning toward giving it a three-digit score, which it may ultimately merit after it resolves some of its very sweet tannin. It is not as soft or flamboyant as the 2009, but it is a great classic, coming in at 13.9% natural alcohol. Representing 64% of the total production, the final blend is 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot (which is one percent different than the barrel sample blends that were presented). Inky bluish/purple in color, with classic blueberry, black currant, crushed rock and floral notes, hints of graphite, and lots of wild mountain berry fruit, this wine is extravagantly rich, has very sweet but noticeable tannin, laser-like precision, a massive, full-bodied mouthfeel and a finish of close to 50+ seconds. This remarkable wine will probably tighten up somewhat in the bottle, and need most of a decade to shed some tannin and its rather grapy, primary personality. The finish blew me away, and the overall power, richness and balance of this wine are virtually perfect. Look for it to drink well for half a century or more. Although Jean Delmas remains a consultant at Montrose, he has yielded his primary responsibilities over to a younger staff, but he still believes the 2010 Montrose is one of the all-time great wines ever produced at this estate, equaling or exceeding the quality of the 1929, 1945, 1959, 1961, 1989, 1990 or 2009.

Score: 99

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2013-2038 01 February 2013

2010 Montrose: Jean Delmas believes this is one of the all-time great wines of Montrose, comparable to the 2009, 1990, 1989, 1959, 1947, 1945 and 1929. The 2010 harvest took place between September 27 and October 15, and the final blend is 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot that achieved 13.75% natural alcohol, a fraction above the 2009's 13.7%. Somewhat reminiscent of the 1989, only even inkier and richer, the 2010 boasts a dense purple color along with glorious aromatics of blueberries, boysenberries, black currants and a crushed chalk-like minerality. The tannins are less intrusive than I would have suspected for such a young Montrose, but they are unquestionably ripe and well-integrated. Deep, full-bodied and massive, this beauty should be at its finest between 2018-2050. (96-99+Points)

Score: 96 - 99

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 04 May 2011

The Chateau Montrose has a dense, broody bouquet with tarry black fruit, cedar and a touch of pencil shavings. It speaks of Saint Estephe but with a Pauillac accent. The palate is medium-bodied with bold, firm, almost obdurate tannins. This is a very classic Montrose, strict and focused, broody with dry tannins and plenty of tertiary black fruit that linger long in the mouth. Think. Long. Term.

Score: 96

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 01 March 2013

Tasted at the Château, Montrose is a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot picked between from 27th September through to 15th October, cropped at 45hl/ha. It has 13.8% alcohol with a pH 3.65. The bouquet is tightly wound at first, pure blackberry, dark cherries, just a touch of coca with very good vigour. Very juicy, quite saturated with a very dense, impenetrable finish. Sinewy, structured and masculine, with a slight saline touch on the aftertaste. This is a great Montrose that will one day be fascinating to compare against the 2009. Drink 2020-2050. Tasted March 2011.

Score: 96 - 98

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2020-2050 13 April 2011

A perfumed and pure Montrose, with lots of currants, berries and spices that evolve to chocolate and light coffee. Full body, with super racy tannins and bright and clean finish. Very fine and structured. A balance and freshness to it all as well as beautiful form and tension. Try in 2018.

Score: 97

James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Maturity: 2018+ 04 February 2013

Deep dark colour with black core. A tad oxidised on the nose? Maybe the sample is not perfectly fresh. And it is a bit tough on the palate but fresher and pretty rich in matière. Patrick Beynard of Millésima says the wines are at a delicate stage - around fining - and can be very up and down (17+ Points)

Score: 17

Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2022-2035 10 April 2012

64% production. 65% new oak. 1988, 2008 & 2010. IPT of 86, a little higher than in 2009. Inky rub with tight, densely packed fruit. Seamless with velvety fine tannins. Very good with an incredibly long, high-toned finish. Very noble - a serious vin de garde.

Score: 96 - 98

Albany Vintners, - 27 April 2011

53% Cabernet Sauvignon (75% last year! And expected to increase), 37% Merlot, 9% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot. 64% of total production and remarkable for the unusually high proportion of Merlot in the grand vin blend - because of the purchase of vineyard from Phelan Ségur last year (did this help the Phelan purchase of restaurant Taillevent in Paris?) Very deep crimson. Quite different from most of these northern Médoc wines - much rounder and less fresh (presumably because of the Merlot). Very different from classical austere Montroses but soft and charming. As a wine, it is extremely well made with just a little furriness on the finish. As a Montrose it’s a bit disconcerting but my mark ignores this. Rather unusual lack of freshness. Just a bit plodding, astringent and sweet on the end. 13.8%

Score: 17

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2020-2034 21 April 2011

Elegant, quite reserved fruit, quite discreet now, will gain in length, but less exciting than 2009.

Score: 18

Decanter, Decanter.com Maturity: 2020-2035 01 April 2011

Dense and dark, with a massive core of roasted fig, blackberry, espresso and bittersweet cocoa flavors followed by rapier tannins that drive through the finish. This has both richness and austerity. When it all comes together fully, this should be a superb wine.

Score: 95 - 98

James Molesworth, Wine Spectator 31 March 2011

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