Château Montrose - Saint-Estèphe 2007

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

88 / 100

byStephen Tanzerthe8/30/2010

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.

Wine Advocate

91 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/2010

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. Drink 2010-2025

Wine Spectator

88 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe3/31/2010

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.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

87-90 / 100

byStephen Tanzerthe6/30/2008

(12.8% alcohol; 64% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot, 5% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot) Bright ruby-red. Subdued aromas of currant, licorice and tobacco leaf. Suave and sweet for St. Estephe, with a currant flavor complicated by olive, mocha, shoe polish, mint and a light saline nuance. Offers good volume and breadth for the year and expands nicely on the back end. Finishes with sweet, silky tannins, a light herbal element and decent cut.

Falstaff

90-92 / 100

the6/30/2008

Kräftiges Rubingranat, zarter violetter Rand. In der Nase feinwürsige Cassisanklänge, rauchige Nuancen, zartes dunkles Beerenkonfit, Orangenzesten. Am Gaumen elegant, kraftvolle, aber gut integrierte Tannine, saftige Herzkirschen, bleibt gut haften, mit feine Säure unterlegt, hat viel Charme, bereits gut entwickelt, extraktsüßer Nachhall.

Le Point

16,5-17 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/15/2008

Epices, cerise noire, bouche ronde, souple, tanins soyeux, vif mais garni, finale tendue sur la violette et le Zan, long, très fin.

Wine Advocate

89-92 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/5/2008

TAST

18-18,5 / 20

the4/29/2008

Dégusté au château. Un grand classique de ce terroir, ferme, tendu mais charnu, impeccablement dessiné dans son tannin et son arrière-bouche avec (pour une fois, le mot est juste) une touche de minéralité très appréciable. Il sera produit en quantité fort convenable, à l’opposé de quelques-uns de ses pairs (plus de 60 % de grand vin !)

Wine Advocate

91-93 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/18/2008

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. Tasted April 2008.

Jancis Robinson

16.50 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/16/2008

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!

Wine Spectator

87-90 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe3/31/2008

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. —J.S.