Chateau Montrose 1996

WEINWISSER: "Sehr dichtes Granat-Purpur, rubiner Rand. Üppiges Bouquet, Dörrpflaumen, Palisandernoten, Schokotöne, Wildfleisch, animalische Züge. Im Gaumen charaktervoll, fleischig, kräftig, leicht angerundete, aber noch Reife verlangende Gerbstoffe, druckvolles Finale. Ein toller, lagerfähiger Wein."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Tasted at the vertical in London, I have instead used the tasting note from a bottle opened at the property when I visited just a couple of weeks later. The 1996 Montrose is a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot picked between 23 September and 6 October. It was served alongside the 1986 Montrose, however, this is a far better wine and reconfirms Robert Parker's remarks at his own vertical at the property in 2014. For me, it is that loamy character that defines the nose—freshly tilled, damp soil that tinctures the black fruit —that takes you straight to this particular château. This is classic through and through and very well defined. The palate is wonderful with very fine delineation, pitch-perfect acidity, touches of graphite infusing the red and black fruit that dovetails into a very pretty, floral finish. This is clearly one of the great wines of the 1996 vintage and I would be stocking up as much as I could, because it will give 30-40 years of pleasure. Tasted July 2016."

JAMES SUCKLING: "There can be no doubt that 1994 is generally a vintage to be forgotten for Bordeaux, particularly for the Left Bank. Incessant rain from mid-September caused huge problems in the vineyards and ultimately dilution in the wine. Though appellations such as Pomerol were spared the worst, I was surprised to find a wine from the Médoc so appealing from this year. It showed red spices such as cloves and dried mushrooms on the nose, leading to a medium body, firm tannins and a long finish. It was still pretty and fine, and you might describe it as real claret. I stumbled across it in London just before coming to Bordeaux, and later this afternoon I will be barrel tasting the 2014 release from Montrose. I’m sure it will be the better year ending in a four!"

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Old school, classic in style, the wine is crisp, energetic and stubbornly tannic. The fruit is short, bright, and leaning to the strict, austere, cranberry and light red fruit side of the style range. The wine is a bit more interesting on the developed, cedar and tobacco edged nose, than on the palate. If this is your taste, you will probably like it more than I did."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Beautiful aromas of crushed berries and vanilla, with hints of licorice. Full-bodied, with sweet fruit and silky tannins. Long and caressing. Beautiful now; may improve a bit with age, but why wait? I thought it was one of the wines of the vintage years ago. Not so.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Drink now."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Served blind. Mid ruby with lots of evolution at the rim. Very mature and nicely sweet and evolved, with the acidity and light to medium body of 1985. But no, it’s a 1996! Hervé Berland admits it looks older than it is. One of Martin Bouyges’ favourite vintages."