Montrose - Saint-Estèphe 2004

Wine Advocate

93 / 100

byNeal Martinthe8/1/2014

Tasted at Bordeaux Index annual 10-year on tasting from an ex-château bottle. This the best showing of the Montrose 2004 that I have encountered. It has a rounded and very generous bouquet with dusky, tertiary black fruit, saddle leather and a touch of sandalwood. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, edgy black fruit with a fine line of acidity. Good structure here with fine persistency towards the finish, this is a very natural, understated, classic Montrose that should drink well over the next 15 years. Tasted March 2014.

Wine Advocate

92 / 100

byNeal Martinthe2/3/2009

After a dismal showing at primeur at the Château, I expressed my concern that my sample was not representative on the day, something I told Mon. Delmas. Finally afforded an opportunity to taste in bottle, it served notice that my suspicions were well founded for this is totally different. It has a very lifted nose with great definition with notes of blackberry, earth, wild hedgerow and a faint tang of wet clay. The medium-bodied palate is very well poised with dense cedar-infused, tarry fruit. Very surly on the finish, this does not want to be prised open for another decade. The real Montrose finally stood up! Drink 2016-2030+. Tasted November 2008.

La Revue du Vin de France

18 / 20

the11/30/2007

Harmonieux et puissant en bouche, de l'éclat et une matière mûre, le tout souligné par une touche d'élevage noble. Dene et d'une grande persistance, il évoluera très bien.

WeinWisser

17 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe11/19/2007

Sattes, dunkles Purpur, lila Schimmer. Süsses, nach Dörrpflaumen duftendes BOuquet, Teernoten, Lakritze, tief und wuchtig, nur einen kleinen Teil des Potenzials in der Nase offenbarend. Im Gaumen fest, noch vordergründige, körnige Tannine aufweisend, fleischig, markant Adstringenz, nachhaltig, viel Reserven, Potenzial für 18/20 Punkte ausreichend, aber erst in zehn Jahren wird sich weisein, ob die massigen Tannine irgendwie auch genussverträglich sind.

Wine Advocate

91 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe7/2/2007

An impressive effort for the vintage, the 2004 Montrose possesses a deep ruby/purple-tinged color as well as a sweet nose of black fruits intermixed with notions of smoke, cold steel, earth, and subtle background wood. With excellent texture, a sweet ripeness, medium to full body, and moderate tannin, it should drink well for 15+ years. Also tasted: 2004 La Dame de Montrose (88)

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

91 / 100

byStephen Tanzerthe6/30/2007

Deep, bright ruby-red. Sexy, ripe aromas of currant, black plum, raspberry, smoked meat, mocha, jasmine, black olive and earth. Smooth in texture but vinous and bright, with a penetrating character to the flavors of plum, currant, mocha and tobacco. Finishes bright and fresh, with dusty, tactile tannins and a classic St. Estephe medicinal note. This tightened up with aeration.

Wine Spectator

92 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe3/31/2007

Dark-colored, with beautiful spice, blackberry and licorice aromas. Full-bodied, round and velvety, with wonderful balance and a long, long finish. This is a Montrose that caresses your palate. Best after 2011. 26,665 cases made

Wine Advocate

90-92 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe6/30/2006

Although the 2004 Montrose reveals dry, hard tannin, it comes across as a classically structured, backward effort with an opaque purple color as well as notes of black raspberries, flowers, cassis, and a hint of new wood. Made in a structured, masculine style, it is not a huge wine by Montrose’s standards. Moreover, it must take a back seat to the compelling 2003. Nevertheless, it is an outstanding, elegant yet substantial St.-Estephe that will handsomely repay cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2020+.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

92-93 / 100

byStephen Tanzerthe6/30/2006

Good ruby-red. Raspberry, black olive, smoke and game on the nose, with a hint of mint. Juicy, pure and sharply delineated; a classically structured if somewhat leaner vintage of Montrose with no shortage of material. Even if this is smaller-scaled than the 2005, it will still require a good decade of bottle aging.

WeinWisser

17 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe5/3/2005

Wine Advocate

91-93 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/2/2005

Montrose’s harvest occurred between September 24 and October 15, and an unusually high percentage (73%) of the production made it into the final blend. A blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it is a classic St.-Estephe offering a deep purple color, sweet, smoky, blackberry, blueberry, and cassis fruit, medium body, and zesty acidity. This pure 2004 is not a blockbuster (such as the 2003 and 2000), but rather a refined, linear, fresh wine that will undoubtedly shut down given its high tannin level. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2020+.

TAST

18 / 20

by Bettane & Desseauvethe4/28/2005

Ceux qui n'ont pas pu avoir une bouteille du 2003 se rattraperont avec ce vin superbe, produit en volume infiniment plus favorable ! La robe est dense, le corps plein et harmonieux, le tannin magiquement précis et racé, la persistantce digne d'un premier cru. Un rien de vinosité supplémentaire et cela aurait fait une autre bouteille extraordinaire ! On est ravi de voir à quel point ce cru désormais a adouci ses contours sans rien perdre de la force d'expression de ses grands cabernets.

Carnets de dégustation RVF

9 / 10

the4/22/2005

64% cabernet-sauvignon, 32% merlot, 3% cabernet franc, 1% petit verdot. 70% de fût neuf. Derrière la robe noire, ce millésime dévoile un nez discret et élégant, sur la réglisse et la mûre sauvage. Attaque dense et compacte, grosse masse tannique avec des tanins fins, léger manque de chair, superbe milieu de bouche concentré, longueur : un millésime de longue garde, dans un style strict et rigoureux, à attendre impérativement.

Wine Spectator

92-94 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe3/30/2005

Wonderful aromas of spices, berries and lightly tasted oak. Medium-to full-bodied, with very fine tannins and a lovely finish. All in finesse. A mini-1996.