Château Montrose 1999
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 1999 Reviews / Tasting Notes
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate
Point Score: 90
The Tasted at the chateau, the 1999 Montrose is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot picked between 16 September and 1 October. It has an attractive bouquet with black fruit, iodine, tar and sandalwood: fresh and vibrant with commendable focus. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, masculine as usual for Montrose with a fine grip in the mouth. There is backbone and structure to this Montrose, counterpoised with a keen line of acidity and lovely cedar and pencil box notes towards the almost Pauillac-like finish. Whilst not the most exciting Montrose on the block, the 1999 will satiate those who like classic Saint Estephe that is conservative, yet would complement whatever is at the dinner table. Tasted September 2016.
James Suckling
Point Score:
Very fine indeed, offering complex aromas of berries, grilled meat and tobacco, with racy tannins and a long finish. Medium to full bodied. Better than from barrel. Solid montrose. Best after 2005. 18715 cases made.
Stephen Tanzer - Vinous
Point Score: 92-95
Bright deep ruby. Sappy, vinous aromas of black raspberry, violet, licorice and dark chocolate. Dense, thick and chocolatey in the mouth, with plenty of oak showing today. Full and rather powerful for Margaux; the wine's sizable structure conveys an impression of thoroughly ripe cabernet. Finishes subtle, long and penetrating, with thoroughly buffered tannins. This is slightly lower in acidity than the '98 but has approximately the same pH.