Castle Montrose - Saint-Estèphe 2003

Wine Advocate

99 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe8/29/2014

Note: This was not in the tasting in Montrose, but I had it several times in Asia as well as recently from my own cellar. The grapes were harvested between September 11 and 26. The blend in 2003 was 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot (a very high percentage), 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. The wine, unlike most 2003s, has a freshness and liveliness provided by their extraordinary terroir. This wine can be drunk now. It has a dense bluish/purple color to the rim and an extraordinary nose of blueberries and mulberries, with blacker cassis and blackberry entering the picture. Scorched earth, spice and licorice are all present in this magnificent, full-bodied, opulent wine that is very Montrose, very classic and somewhat atypical of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2040.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

96 / 100

byStephen Tanzerthe6/30/2006

Good medium-deep ruby-red. Superripe, roasted aromas of black raspberry, chocolate and licorice. Wonderfully dense, sweet and lush, with an early roundness rare for this wine. A monumental St. Estephe with almost confectionery sweetness. Wonderfully horizontal, palate-saturating wine with huge but thoroughly ripe, lush tannins. It's hard to believe that a wine this rich and deep could be carrying just 13.2% alcohol. The only thing missing here is the floral topnote of 2005, but that's a quibble in this baking-hot vintage, as Montrose's cooler, water-retentive clay-rich soil handled the extreme heat and drought as well as any chateau in the Bordeaux region. The final blend is 63% cabernet sauvignon, 33% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot.

Wine Advocate

97 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/24/2006

The enormous 2003 Montrose is built along the lines of the 1989 rather than the 1990. It boasts a dense black/purple color in addition to an extraordinary bouquet of scorched earth, blackberries, and cassis, fabulous purity, a skyscraper-like texture, and substantial tannin in the finish. This superb, huge, ripe wine is one of the vintage’s most prodigious offerings. However, patience will be essential for anyone purchasing this 2003. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2035

Wine Spectator

95 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe3/31/2006

Dark color. Aromas of blackberry, toasted oak, spice and tobacco. Loads of plum. Medium- to full-bodied, with very integrated and refined tannins. Long. This really builds on the palate. This is better than the 2000 and 1990. Only time will tell if it's better than the 1989. Best after 2011. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 15,830 cases made.

Wine Spectator

96 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe1/1/2006

Gorgeous aromas with very ripe fruit and spices with a slightly roasted fruit undertone. Full-bodied, with silky tannins that are firm now but will evolve into a truly excellent wine. Long and muscular yet refined. Tight now.--Non-blind Château Montrose vertical. Best after 2012.

TAST

19.50 / 20

the11/7/2005

Certainement un des plus grands millésimes de l’histoire du château et à mon sens le plus proche lors de cette dégustation du 1893 par sa forme et sa texture. Dans son état actuel il se signale d’abord par une robe au pourpre très saturant, laissant peu pénétrer la lumière. Les notes vanillées du boisé sont complètement intégrées à l’ex-pression du fruit particulier de l’année, légèrement caramélisé sur une base de prune très mure. Les sensations tactiles sont prodigieu¬ses : le velours de la texture, le fondant (dès aujourd’hui) du tannin, la façon dont tout cela s’installe en bouche et s’y prolonge longue¬ment, on ne le retrouvera plus pendant tout le siècle précédent (à part peut-être le 1921). Alors dans ces conditions le doute émis par certains sur la longévité du vin en raison de son manque d’acidité sur le bulletin d’analyse semble bien puéril et déplacé.

Wein Wisser

19 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe5/3/2005

Wine Advocate

97-100 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/29/2005

Certainly one of the vintage’s most colossal wines and clearly one of the estate’s greatest efforts, rivaling the 1989, 1990, and 2000, this wine, which tips the scales at 13% alcohol (the 1990 was 13.5%), has an amazingly opaque purple color to the rim, and a big, sweet, exotic nose of blackberry liqueur intermixed with acacia flower, creme de cassis, smoke, and hints of truffle and vanilla. In the mouth the wine is full-bodied, opulent, but offers surprising definition and finesse, which is something it was showing less of nine months ago. Brilliantly delineated in spite of its amazing concentration and unctuosity, this is a thrilling, exceptional effort that should prove to be a modern-day legend. I tend to think this wine will actually be approachable in 5-6 years but capable of lasting for at least three decades. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2030+. To reiterate what I said last year, this is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, and the rest equal parts Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.

GaultMillau

96-100 / 100

the6/30/2004

Dense, compact et puissant, il pourrait rejoindre le légendaire 1990 et même le dépasser. La réussite est historique

Wine Advocate

96-100 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/29/2004

A whopping 78% of the production made it into the prodigious 2003 Montrose. Harvested between September 11 - 26, this 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot blend was fashioned from low yields of 35 hectoliters per hectare. The pH is high (3.9), and the alcohol is 13.2%. Reminiscent of a hypothetical blend of the compelling 1989 and 1990, this inky/purple-colored 2003 boasts a spectacular, flamboyant perfume of creme de cassis, new wood, smoke, crushed rocks, and white flowers. Magnificently rich, unctuously textured, and full-bodied, with huge presence on the palate, and a finish that exceeds 60 seconds, this is a legendary effort from Montrose. It is capable of rivaling the wines produced in 2000, 1990, and 1989. Given its low acidity and incredible performance already, it should drink well in 5-6 years, and last for 25-30.