Château MONTROSE 2021

Description

William Kelley 97 points www.erobertparker.com
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.  Published: Feb 08, 2024

Yves Beck 96-98 points www.yvesbeck.wine
Il a fallu trouver l’équilibre du millésime dès la récolte ! Donc des choix très précis quant aux dates de vendanges et des extractions modérées. “Nous avons su garder l’ADN de Montrose avec une puissance qui monte le long du palais et des structures acides qui soutiennent milieu et fin de bouche” explique Vincent, le directeur technique. Montrose affiche de nombreuses nuances, avec subtilité, au travers d’épices douces, de garrigues et de fruits noirs. En bouche le vin adopte la même stratégie puisque l’attaque est fine puis relayée par la structure qui octroie fraîcheur et tempérament alors que les tannins s’imposent en fin de bouche, accompagnés d’une légère salinité. On ressent une certaine réserve en milieu de bouche, mais dans le contexte de Montrose les choses se mettent en place… lentement et sûrement !  2027-2055

Jean-Marc Quarin 96 www.quarin.com
Couleur sombre, pourpre et profonde. Nez très aromatique, fin, au fruité pur, mûr, subtil et noble. Minutieux en entrée de bouche, très aromatique et complexe au milieu, le vin grandit en finale, très frais, très savoureux, plus floral que d’habitude et néanmoins profond. Grande persistance à la tannicité raffinée et plus parfumée que de coutume à cet âge. Assemblage : 62 % cabernet sauvignon, 31 % merlot, 6 % cabernet franc, 1 % petit verdot. Degré d’alcool : 13°1 – pH : 3,7. Rendement : 38 hl/ha. IPT : 77. Production : 39 % de premier vin. Vendanges du 27 septembre au 6 octobre.

Neal Martin 93-95 points www.vinous.com
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.

Antonio Galloni 94-96 points www.vinous.com
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.

Georgina Hindle 95 points  www.decanter.com (at Bordeaux, 01 Apr 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. Drinking Window 2026 – 2058