Unquestionably one of the top 2-3 wines of the vintage, the 2016 Château Montrose is a monument in the making. Checking in as a blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 7% Cabernet Franc raised in 60% new French oak (the balance was in once-used barrels) and representing a tiny 36% of the production, this deep purple-colored 2016 possesses powerful, incredibly classic Saint-Estephe notes of creme de cassis, graphite, damp earth, lead pencil shavings, and burning embers. With a powerful, full-bodied style on the palate, a huge mid-palate, lots of underlying structure and tannic grip, and perfect balance, this magical wine will need upwards of a decade or cellaring and keep for 40-50 years.
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2016 Montrose is a little youthfully shy to begin, but with coaxing, it unfurls to reveal the most beguiling scents of wilted roses, oolong tea, crushed rocks, wild sage, star anise and candied violets over a wonderfully pristine, well-defined core of crushed blackcurrants, black raspberries and kirsch plus wafts of pencil lead and wood smoke. The taut, muscular, medium to full-bodied palate straddles jaw-dropping intensity and finesse superbly, featuring a solid backbone of ripe tannins and giving a firm frame right through the incredibly long, exquisitely nuanced finish.
Youthful, with dark fruit, dried flowers and a touch of tar on the nose. Really refined on the palate, medium- to full-bodied, with polished dark fruit that broadens and gains volume as it moves across the palate. It shows control and balance despite the concentration, giving the wine energy and finesse. Approachable now, yet clearly structured for further development. Drink or hold. 10 Years On retrospective.
The 2016 Montrose has a more backward bouquet than its peers, but there is real complexity and nuance here: blackberry mixed with tobacco and light pencil shaving scents. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, very supple and harmonious, caressing the mouth towards the classy finish so that you almost do not notice the depth and precision. Class. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting.
While this wine's tannins are powerful. they are buried in a surprisingly soft texture of rich black fruits. With both structure and ripe blackberry flavors, the wine is already balanced. A juicy aftertaste lifts the tannins, pushing the wine into greatness. Drink from 2025. (Cellar Selection)
Montrose has solar panels and uses geothermal energy to manage temperatures in the barrel halls and vats. The 2017 is 76% Cabernet Sauvignon (with 20% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot), aged in oak for 18 months. Georgie Hindle: Fleshy, juicy, bright, softly sweet. Mouthcoating, velvet-like flavour and texture. Nice menthol edging of the fruit. Feels very controlled and purposeful. Vincenzo Arnese: Nice mix of prune, figs and blackberry, with vibrant notes of cloves and nutmeg. Palate is concentrated and rich. Good finish with integrated tannins. Andy Howard MW: Restrained at first, this broadens and evolves with aeration. Intense palate with graphite notes, a touch of leafiness and fine tannins point towards a very long life ahead.
TWI
97pts
The Wine Independent
2016 Chateau Montrose is deep, dark with loads of black, dense cassis and rusty nails, followed by darkish, smoked fruit and notes of pepper and tannins. This is such a classic and old school example of Montrose with layer upon layer of granular, spicy and perfectly ripe fruit. It is however not ready yet and would benefit hugely from another 7-8 years of cellaring.
Very pure, with lilac, violet, cassis, bitter cherry and damson plum notes streaming through in lockstep right from the start. A fine chalky underpinning gives the finish a sleek and racy edge. A beautifully precise wine, with a lot in reserve, that could benefit from a little added weight in the cellar. Best from 2025 through 2040.