Montrose - Saint-Estèphe 2021

Vinous

96,5

byAntonio Gallonithe4/2/2024

The 2021 Montrose is an inward, brooding wine—classic Montrose, in other words, just attenuated in its intensity by the cool growing season. Spice, tobacco, cedar, menthol, scorched earth, gravel and a touch of new oak open over time, but the 2021 is real

Vinous

96,5

byAntonio Gallonithe2/28/2024

The 2021 Montrose is an inward, brooding wine—classic Montrose, in other words, just attenuated in its intensity by the cool growing season. Spice, tobacco, cedar, menthol, scorched earth, gravel and a touch of new oak open over time, but the 2021 is really a wine that requires considerable cellaring to reach its potential. Then again, it is Montrose. Elegance meets power here.

Wine Advocate

97

byWilliam Kelleythe2/22/2024

The remarkable 2021 Montrose gets my nomination for the title of "wine of the vintage" in the Médoc. Wafting from the glass with a deep bouquet of cassis and dark berries mingled with subtle hints of mint, orange, pencil shavings and spices, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a layered and multidimensional core of fruit underpinned by beautifully ripe, refined tannins. Concluding with a long, resonant finish, it entirely transcends the limitations of the year. This young classic, reminiscent of the estate's 1996 but far better, is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot.

Wine Spectator

92

byJames Molesworththe2/22/2024

Sleek, with sufficient fruit to accommodate the tangy acidity of the vintage, this allows black cherry, damson plum and violet notes to stretch out nicely, with a late echo of singed alder. Poised and nicely done for the vintage. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2026 through 2037. 12,500 cases made.  –JM

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

95

byJane Ansonthe1/30/2024

Extremely impressive, this lives up to En Primeur expectations. Cloves, sandalwood, liqourice, fennel, cracked black pepper, and a ton of juicy cassis and blueberry fruit. Delicious, with well-defined tannic architecture and plenty of potential to deliver for 15 to 20 years. 55% new oak. Pierre Grafeuille director.

matthewjukes.com

18,5

byMatthew Jukesthe8/2/2022

This is a very compact and reserved Montrose with masses of energy and tension, and yet it is not a heavy wine, but one with incredible focus (much smaller bunches were harvested than normal) and aromatic allure. The depth and length of fruit are superb for a more slender and pinched style of vintage, and the overall balance is sensational. This is a wine from a bygone era in terms of weight and lift and the finish is as clean as a whistle with resonance and vibrations that will carry this wine on for years. 18.5+

Jamessuckling.com

95-96

byJames Sucklingthe6/8/2022

A very classy and refined Montrose with excellent length and a compact, medium-bodied palate, showing fine, silky tannins and a fresh, bright finish. Lots of currant, blackberry and tar at the end, as well as some graphite. 62% cabernet sauvignon, 31% merlot, 6% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot.

Jeb DUNNUCK

93-95

byJeb Dunnuckthe6/2/2022

The Grand Vin 2021 Château Montrose comes from a miniscule selection of just 39% of the production and is 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Medium to full-bodied, it has a seamless, elegant, incredibly pure mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and some richer plum, spice, and tobacco aromas and flavors. It's certainly in the style of the vintage with its pure, graceful, supple style, but the tannins are impeccably done, it's balanced, and has character. It should benefit from just a few years of bottle age and keep for 20-25 years.

Bettane & Desseauve

94-95

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/24/2022

Nez dense et complexe, poivré, épicé, fumé et légèrement salin, se développant librement dans le verre. Beau corps charnu. Peut-être avec un peu moins d’énergie au regard de son coup de nez impressionnant.

The Vintage Journal

96-97

byAndrew Caillard MWthe5/17/2022

Deep colour. Classic blackcurrant cedar mocha aromas with herb garden/ sage notes. Ample blackberry, cassis, briary fruits, fine dense velvety/chocolaty textures and plentiful cedar roasted chestnut notes. Very pure fruited with superb tannin richness, precision and vigour. Finishes al dente firm and bittersweet with saturated dark berry fruits. Lovely density and complexity – should develop very well. 62% cabernet sauvignon, 31% merlot, 6% cabernet franc, 1% petit verdot.

Alexandre Ma

95-96

byAlexandre Mathe5/16/2022

Montrose 2021 is dominated by delicate toasted aromas of pine nuts and hazelnuts. A seductive fragrance of rose essential oil wafts out with the swirl of the glass, infusing a sense of elegance. I really like Montrose’s fresh acidity and its layers of dense yet refined tannins. Not only do they fill the entire palate with bright laughter, but also deliver a more rounded and silkier mouthfeel. If we are to define the previous three vintages of Montrose as Rhapsody, then the 2021 vintage will be interpreted as an elegant waltz. Montrose 2021??????????????????,?????????????????????,???????????2021??????????????Montrose???????,??????????????????????????,??????????????????????Montrose????(Rhapsody),?2021???Montrose???????????

The Wine Cellar Insider

94-96

byJeff Levethe5/16/2022

Deep in color, especially for the vintage, you find tobacco leaf, black cherry, pencil shavings, cedar, spice and dark fruits appearing in the perfume with no effort at all. There is a richness on the palate. The fruit is ripe, fresh, vibrant and chewy, with lift and energy in the mouth that carries through to the finish. As all fans of Montrose know, the wine more often than not requires decades of age before it is ready to taste, but 2021 is a different beast, allowing you to enjoy with a just a few years before it begins to be fun to taste. The wine was made from blending 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, 13.1% ABV, 3.7. Yields were 38 hectoliters per hectare, with 40% of the harvest going into the Grand Vin. The harvest took place September 21 to October 6. Drink from 2028-2055. 94-96

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

95

byJane Ansonthe5/13/2022

This has depth on the palate, inky purple with grilled almond, fennel, cassis, blackberry, bilblerry, waves of fruit set against strong, austere tannins that give excellent structure but not a lot of generosity. This is a serious, signature Montrose that is not an early drinker. Juicy on the finish, one to recommend. 55% new oak. Pierre Grafeuille has come on board as director since March 1, and will be taking over fully from Hervé Berland as of October 1.

Vinous

93-95

byNeal Martinthe5/12/2022

The 2021 Montrose is very clean and precise on the nose. You could almost describe it has clinical, crushed stone infusing the black fruit and briar. It is not as intense as the previous two vintages, which is to be expected, though the Cabernet Sauvignon is expressive. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit and fine acidity; a Monrose that is very tensile and focused. Moderate grip and volume, this is a more slimline version of recent vintages, a reflection of the growing season. Maybe it just misses the bravura finish that one has almost come to expect from this estate, yet it has the potential to become an aristocratic, classic Montrose.

Vinous

94-96

byAntonio Gallonithe5/11/2022

The 2021 is a fine choice for Montrose fans who want to drink the Grand Vin without waiting for decades. I imagine the slightly high amount of Merlot also helps in giving the Grand Vin a measure of suppleness that is rarely found in Montrose. Gentle extractions bring out gorgeous purity in the fruit. Scorched earth, licorice, rose petal and blood orange develop in the glass, followed by a kick of Montrose structure on the finish. The 2021 is not an especially typical Montrose, but it is an undeniably attractive wine. The 13.1% alcohol has not been seen here in years.

vvwine

95-97

byAdrian Van Velsenthe5/10/2022

13.2% Alkohol. 37% der Trauben 2021 gingen in den Grand Vin. Dichtes Rubin. In der Nase super floral, Cassis und Brombeeren, ein Hauch von Veilchen, dazu steinige Noten, kühl und nobel, tiefgründig. Im Gaumen schlank und frisch, das ist super knackig, hat Frische, Würze und eine sehr gute Struktur, die Tannine sind mächtig, halten sich jedoch dezent im Hintergrund, super fein verwoben mit der Frucht, alles in grosser Balance. Im Abgang lang, frisch, rotfruchtig und mit viel Rasse. Wie immer auf sehr hohem Niveau, stilistisch jedoch völlig anders als in den letzten drei heissen Jahren. Kann reifen. 2028-2055+ (Verkostet im April 2022. Château Montrose)

Anthocyanes

95-97

byYohan Castaingthe5/6/2022

Assemblages réalisés. 39 % de la récolte. Bouquet très éclatant, fruits frais, mure, violette, cassis avec une pointe réglisse et fraiche très élégante. Quel nez magnifique ! Droiture, présence acide parfaitement maitrisé, très calcaire, presque salin avec des tanins ciselés d'une grande précision et d'une élégance folle. Montrose conserve bien son côté puissant et dense mais s'allonge par une présence acide très élégante. Bravo ! 95-97+

Wine Advocate

94-96

byWilliam Kelleythe4/29/2022

A brilliant achievement, the 2021 Montrose is reminiscent of a purer, more precise, modern-day version of the estate's 1996. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of blackcurrants, pencil shavings, sweet loamy soil, black truffle and nicely integrated new oak, it's full-bodied, layered and concentrated, with terrific depth at the core, lively acids and a seamless, harmonious profile. Exhibiting beautifully refined tannins and an impressive sense of completeness, it's a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot—standing out as one of the few top wines of the vintage that actually includes more Merlot and less Cabernet than in recent years.

Decanter.com

95

byGeorgina Hindlethe4/1/2022

Beautiful perfume on the nose, really fragrant and seductive, deep and heady but beguiling too. You get chunky, chewy fruit here - this is round, plump and filling a consequence of the slightly more Merlot in the blend than usual - opposed to more Cabernet seen elsewhere. It has a luscious appealing fruitiness then the austerity kicks in, with a vein of salinity and minerality, such a linear, quite strict middle where you get severity in the texture giving it some rigidity but you also have such great depth on the mid palate, the layers of fruit and spice that linger giving such a core of flavour. A sense of power, intensity and concentration but also with acidity keeping everything lifted. A stately wine with lots of potential. Pierre Graffeuille replaces Hervé Berland here, having arrived in March and taking over fully in October. 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 39% grand vin.