Château Montrose 1997
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 1997 Reviews / Tasting Notes
Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate
Point Score: 87
Tasted at the chateau, the 1997 Montrose is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot picked between 10-24 September. It demonstrated more fruit on the nose when compared directly from vintages originating in the early 1990s. It is not the most complex bouquet, yet it remains fresh and lively, with secondary aromas of cured Italian meats, melted tar and a touch of cedar. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin and well-judged acidity. A little austere and certainly foursquare, the 1997 has adequate length, but the overall impression is of a conservative Montrose that will not improve further. Still, I appreciated the tart, soy-tinged red cherries on the aftertaste and it constitutes a Claret that you would snap up on a restaurant list if found at a good price. Tasted September 2016.
Wine Spectator
Point Score: 88
Very pretty red with berry, cherry character. Medium-bodied, with good fruit and a soft tannin structure. Well done and delicious. Drink now. James Suckling, Wine Spectator 2000
Stephen Tanzer - Vinous
Point Score: 88
Good red-ruby color. Ripe, fairly deep aromas of currant, raspberry, smoke, leather, earth and nutty oak. Lush texture given shape by ripe acids. Faint note of black olive. Quite aromatic in the mouth. Finishes juicy, fresh and persistent. Very good for the vintage.