Montrose - Saint-Estèphe 2015

Vinous

88

byNeal Martinthe7/16/2025

The 2015 Montrose was showing a little TCA on the nose. A second bottle was showing more fruit with high-toned black cherry and bilberry scents. The palate is very minty, youthful and primal on the entry. This is medium-bodied with dry tannins, but it feels stripped and simple on the finish. Tasted blind at the 2015 Bordeaux Ten-Year-On tasting.

Vinous

95

byNeal Martinthe7/10/2019

The 2015 Montrose has a very intense bouquet of blackberry, raspberry coulis, iodine and violet scents that blossom in the glass, demonstrating more exuberance than (what transpired to be) the 2015 Meyney. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, very well judged acidity, taut and linear with satisfying freshness and poise on the finish. Maybe this just has the edge over the Meyney. Superb. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.

Wine Advocate

94

byNeal Martinthe3/2/2018

 The 2015 Montrose was bottled in July 2017, a blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc. I remember that Herve Berland felt that I was rather mean to the 2015 after the splendid 2014. Certainly I find that élevage has meliorated this Montrose and lent the aromatics a little more complexity and cohesion compared to its showing in barrel. There is still plenty of blackberry and cassis fruit, also a subtle floral component that becomes more conspicuous with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, smooth and almost silky in texture with a fine bead of acidity. This is certainly one of the more elegant and graceful Montrose in recent years with a lovely saline, marine-influenced finish. I maintain that it will be surpassed by the 2014 and nascent 2016, but it remains a delicious Montrose whose fineness of tannins should render it more approachable than other recent vintages. Anticipated maturity: 2021 - 2045. 

Vinous

93

byAntonio Gallonithe2/27/2018

The 2015 Montrose has developed very nicely over the last two years. As it showed from barrel, the 2015 is a relatively light-bodied wine for this site. Even so, all the elements are very nicely balanced throughout. I suspect the 2015 needs at least a handful of years to become fully expressive and will age for decades, although it will never be a huge wine in the style of viscerally thrilling vintages like 2014, 2016 and so many others. The 2015 is 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc that spent 18 months in French oak, 30% new.

Wine Advocate

95

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe2/22/2018

The deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Montrose opens with broody black fruits, menthol and anise notes with a core of cassis, blueberries and mulberries plus a touch of cedar chest. The medium-bodied mouth is firm and chewy with a good core of muscular fruit and a long, earthy finish.

Wine Spectator

92

byJames Molesworththe2/15/2018

Fleshy for the vintage, with good plum and dark currant fruit lined with ample tobacco, warm paving stone, bay leaf and alder notes on the slightly dusty finish. Not a charmer, but this is integrated and shows range and depth for the vintage. Best from 2020 through 2035.   –JM

Jamessuckling.com

98

byJames Sucklingthe2/12/2018

Intensity and clarity of fruit is so insane. Blackberries, spices such as cloves, blueberries, sandalwood and dried lavender. Full body and such a beautiful, dense center palate with perfectly polished tannins. Extremely long and beautiful. One of the best young Montroses in a long, long time. Drink in 2024.

Decanter.com

93

byJane Ansonthe1/26/2018

An imposing wine which shows the excellence of the winemaking and terroir, but it's not as deft or effortless as the 2016. Montrose is often austere in its youth, and the well-knitted black fruits wound with tight strands of liquorice are clearly capable of long ageing. There is something extremely special here, although the tannins are very much closed up right now. The smallest selection for the grand vin for 15 years.

Jeb DUNNUCK

95

byJeb Dunnuckthe11/30/2017

Another wine I was able to taste on multiple occasions, the 2015 Montrose is a certainly the wine of Saint-Estèphe in 2015. Notes of cassis, damp earth, violets, and graphite/lead pencil notes all flow to a beautifully pure, elegant and multi-dimensional 2015 that has fine, polished tannin, perfect balance, and a great finish. The 2015 is a blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc, all of which was brought up in 65% new oak. This isn’t a blockbuster yet is pure class all the way. It will be better in 4-5 years and keep for 2-3 decades.

Wine Advocate

93-95

byNeal Martinthe4/29/2016

The 2015 Montrose is a blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc that was picked between 15 September and 8 October, the fruit sorted three times using three sorting tables, then an optical sorting machine and finally by hand. Matured in 65% new oak, it possesses some of the best aromatics you will find in the appéllation - billowing blackberry, cassis and boysenberry scents all beautifully defined and seamlessly integrated with the new oak. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, commendable depth and a vibrant bead of acidity that lends this Montrose tension from start to finish. The class comes through strongly in this wine, perhaps the best Saint Estèphe this year. Give this a decade in bottle, more if you can, since Montrose tends to repay cellaring.

Decanter.com

96

bySteven Spurrierthe4/27/2016

Deep florality and wonderful black fruit. Surprisingly smooth and silky at first then the classic firmness becomes plain towards the finish. It has more natural richness than most in 2015 – a superbly made wine from a great terroir.2023-2045

Vinous

90-93

byAntonio Gallonithe4/27/2016

The 2015 Montrose is silky, super-finessed and nuanced, all qualities that are unusual for a wine that is usually much more of a powerhouse. Black cherry, smoke, leather, graphite, crème de cassis and licorice notes open up in the glass, yet the wine comes across as raw and not fully formed. The 2015 appeared to put on a bit of weight over the two weeks I followed it, but I don't see the depth, structure and personality of the very best versions.

Jancis Robinson

17

byJancis Robinsonthe4/26/2016

67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc. Very dark and very dramatic. Even a hint of overripeness on the nose. A little stodgy. Could do with a little more lift. A little dry at present. Clearly fashioned for the very long term. Kerpow! Very much in the style of the old Montroses in terms of sheer concentration.  Drink 2027-204217+

timatkin.com

97

byTim Atkin MWthe4/20/2016

Wine Enthusiast

94-96

byRoger Vossthe4/15/2016

Barrel Sample. This is a sumptuous wine with a fine structure that reveals its delicious fruit in layers of acidity and black currants. Even more Cabernet than usual in the blend has made it a dark, firm and structured wine. The juicy fruit shouldn't deceive; this is a wine that will age slowly. 95 points

Jamessuckling.com

93-94

byJames Sucklingthe4/5/2016

Blueberry, black currant, fresh basil and lemon grass flavors. Full body, velvety tannins, clean finish. Spices. Depth.

The Wine Cellar Insider

95

byJeff Levethe4/19/2015

Showing a good depth of color, the tobacco, cassis, boysenberry and spice-filled aromatics are hard to avoid. Full-bodied and concentrated, there is a lot of power and tannin to contend with this year. It's going to take time for this wine to become civilized. The finish packs a large bushel of ripe, sweet fruit and flavor along with tannins in every mouthful. Representing 36% of the production, the blend consists of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon , 29% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc . This wine reached 13.4% alcohol with a pH of 3.6 and the harvest took place between September 15 and October 8. Montrose which is on top of its game these days can fool you. It can be a bit hard to get a read on some vintages in their youth, making it is quite possible this wine could end up much better when it is in bottle. It would not be the first time that happened. I can tell you that from personal experience. 94 - 96 Pts