2009 Ch. Montrose, St. Estèphe

Ch. Montrose’s 2009 exudes intense black fruit aromas whilst the palate is a concentrated ball of dark blackcurrants, mingling with an earthy complexity and wet stone minerality. The fruit is very ripe here but nonetheless there is a beautiful sense of coolness about the wine in comparison to other communes. Very complex, this has a massively high level of incredibly fine tannins that are certainly initially present on the tongue and then, like a will o' the wisp, just disappear, leaving a dark perfume lingering on the palate .Château Montrose

Black red, smoky cassis nose with fine Cabernet spice, quite restrained yet full of power, a really precise and true vineyard wine, superb middle sweetness, a grandly classic wine.
(Steven Spurrier - Decanter - Apr 2010)

Ch. Montrose - Extremely dark crimson with strong purple notes. Low-key but modestly confident nose – much more married than some recent vintages. Pretty raw and austere and very much St-Estèphe. Very inky finish. Lovely nose and succulence but a little bit tough on the end. Certainly harks back to classical St-Estèphe in a way that Cos very much doesn’t. 72% of total production. 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. Picked 17 Sep to 5 Oct, much earlier than Cos!
(Jancis Robinson MW, jancisrobinson.com - Apr 2010)

A colossal effort, the 2009 Montrose represents a hypothetical blend of the monumental duo of 1989 and 1990 combined with the phenomenal 2003. With 13.7% alcohol (an all-time high at Montrose), it is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot and the rest tiny quantities of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Some structure and minerality can be detected in the background, but the overall impression is one of massive blackberry, black currant and mulberry fruit intermixed with forest floor, damp earth, crushed rocks and a hint of spring flowers. Full-bodied with sweet but abundant tannin, Jean-Bernard Delmas believes this is the greatest wine he has made during his short tenure at Montrose since retiring from Haut-Brion. This wine will undoubtedly shut down for a decade, then unleash its power, glory and potential perfection. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2050+.
(Robert Parker - Wine Advocate - February 2012)

Big and structured, delivering wild aromas of Indian spices, crushed berry, sweet tobacco and coffee. Full-bodied, with loads of velvety, chewy tannins and a long spicy finish. The château says this is like the 1990, but I think it could be even better. It's certainly better made.
(James Suckling - Wine Spectator - March 2010)