| 72 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 28 % Merlot. 41hl/ha. Very dark colour, crimson red with purple-black reflections. Black berry, dry bouquet, smoky notes, dark woods, truffles, a hint of geraniol from the Cabernet, tobacco leaf, a massive, profound appearance on the nose. Firm, grippy palate, gripping astringency, which will require a lot of bottle ageing, everything remains in the black berry area, demanding, masculine, also showing a certain hardness, which is quite oportunate for a St. Estèphe, but for a Gtrand Cru shows a hardness that is difficult to tolerate. The wine will certainly be able to polish certain edges with further ageing in the barrel, but it is questionable whether this tannin monster will really be enjoyable in 10 or even 20 years. The potential is possibly even higher than our current rating. After all, we are used to a Montrose from a tannin-rich year not being fun right from the start. (17/20). 09: Magnum. Almost black, extremely rich in the centre. Lots of sweetness on the nose, candy notes, dark caramel, black bread, black olives, precious woods, pure and with an intoxicating depth. Compact but with polished tannins that have somehow been tidied up. Is it because of the magnum bottle that this wine is not yet sealed and its fruity phase simply wants to provide pre-Christmas pleasure today? At least it seems so. Great cinema - but now in a modern Montrose style. (19/20). 11: Rich, young purple-garnet colour. Dense, fleshy nose, with a lovely terroir sweetness in the centre, showing a certain Tuscan affinity. Firm, dense, very fleshy on the palate, extremely full-bodied, the extract feels like a still chewy steak, lots of bite and enormous potential. Needs another 10 years before the first Hello. But seems better orientated now than at the primeur tasting. |
