Château Montrose 2013
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 2013 Reviews / Tasting Notes
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate
Point Score: 90
The 2013 Montrose has an understated, lilting bouquet with blackberry and briary scents and dried rose petals, gaining more intensity as it opens over 2-3 minutes in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin. It shows good weight in the mouth, quite linear and masculine (typical for Montrose) but there is respectable detail and mineralite coming through on the satisfying finish. Not a top tier Montrose, but then again, why would it be in this difficult vintage. It will still give pleasure over the next 12-15 years.
Wine Spectator
Point Score: 92
Rock-solid, with lightly steeped red currant and damson plum fruit that fills outs nicely with air, while singed alder, tobacco, iron and warm pebble notes show in the background. The pure finish has good energy. A great effort for the vintage.
Point Score: 92
Aromas of black currant and dried flowers such as violets. Medium to full body, fine tannins and a delicate. Fruity finish. Seamless tannins. Drink now.