Château Montrose 1992
Review of the Estate
Chateau Montrose began as a plot of heather-covered land that was bequeathed to Thèodore Dumoulin by his father Etienne. The land at Chateau Montrose was originally part of the Calon-Sègur estate that Etienne acquired in 1778. By 1820, Thèodore had constructed a small chateau and vine plantings were already underway. Eventually the area was split from the greater Calon-Sègur estate and was renamed as Montrose-Sègur. By 1855 it had expanded to 50 hectares and was known simply as Chateau Montrose. At this point it was also classified as a deuxième cru (Second Growth).
Eventually Chateau Montrose was sold to M. Mathieu Dolfus, shortly after the passing of Thèodore. Under Dolfus, the cellars at Chateau Montrose were greatly expanded and he invested heavily in estate developments and infrastructure. This included the creation of a programme that provided benefits for vineyard workers and the construction of a small railway to transport wine from Chateau Montrose down to the riverside.
Soon after Dolfus passed away, in 1896 Chateau Montrose came into the ownership of the Charmolue family, who safely shepherded the chateau through the phylloxera epidemic and two World Wars, including the recovery process after the estate suffered bomb damage in WWII.
In 2006 Chateau Montrose was purchased from the Charmolue family by brothers Martin & Olivier Bouygues and they remain the current owners. However, in recognition of the important role that the Charmolue family played in the history of Chateau Montrose, the name of the estate's second wine, La Dame de Montrose (named for Yvonne Charmolue, who ran the estate from 1944 to 1960) remains unchanged.
Vineyard
Surface area: 169.2 acres
Grape Varieties: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot
Average age of vines: 43 years
Density of plantation: 9,000 vines per hectare
Average yields: 42 hectoliters per hectare
Average cases produced: 16,500 per year
Plateau of maturity: 3 - 25 years post-1970, 15 - 25 years pre-1970
Château Montrose 1992 Reviews / Tasting Notes
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate
Point Score: 85
Tasted at the chateau, the 1992 Montrose is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, picked between 23 September and 9 October. It was showing a little bricking on the rim. The nose is actually quite Burgundy like, almost akin to a pleasant Pommard. It is nicely defined and fresh, touches of cedar and a slight algae-like scent, though little sign of the greenness that afflicts many 1992s. The palate is medium-bodied with sharp acidity and a sour note that almost leaves you scrunching your eyes. It feels hollow and rather mean, not a catastrophe, but certainly a Montrose that at least on the palate feels compromised by the growing season. Drink soon. Tasted September 2016.
Wine Spectator
Point Score: 86
Well crafted and nicely textured, offering cassis, tobacco and cherry character. Medium-bodied and soft. a fruity finish. Drinkable now. James Suckling, Wine Spectator 1995