Château Montrose 1998

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 1998 Reviews / Tasting Notes

Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate
Point Score: 90
A classic effort, the 1998 Montrose exhibits a dense purple color in addition to a sweet nose of jammy cassis, licorice, earth, and smoke. It is a powerful and full-bodied wine with well-integrated tannin. Given Montrose's tendency to shut down, it is performing better out of bottle than I expected. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2030.

Wine Spectator
Point Score: 86
Slinky and elegant, with lots of plum, tobacco and meat aromas. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a pleasant, fruity finish. Best after 2004. 16,375 cases made. James Suckling, Wine Spectator 2001

Stephen Tanzer - Vinous
Point Score: 89
Good ruby-red. Subtle, rather austere aromas of black cherry, redcurrant and mint. Solid and slightly peppery in the mouth; currently wrapped up in its own structure. Quite laid-back today; displays some personality but only moderate concentration. Finishes with dusty tannins and reasonable length. The yield here was reportedly 48 hectoliters per hectare, the same as in '97.

Château Montrose Wine List