Chateau Montrose 2020

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Surpassing the 2019 and rivaling the 2016 as this estate's finest vintage of the last few decades, the 2020 Montrose is a monument in the making. Wafting from the glass with aromas of violets, dark berries, licorice, loamy soil, black truffle and subtle spices, it's full-bodied, deep and layered, with a seamless, elegantly muscular profile, terrific purity and energy, beautifully powdery tannins and a long, resonant finish. It checks in at 13.7% alcohol, the same as the superb 2009, but it is even deeper, more vibrant and more complex than the 2009. This will be worth a special effort to seek out and only confirms Montrose's status as one of the contemporary Médoc's leading estates and a de facto first growth."

WEINWISSER: "Dicht verwobenes Bouquet, Wildkirsche, Estragon, Rosmarin und Szechuanpfeffer. Im zweiten Ansatz rote Kirsche und dunkle Mineralik. Am geradlinigen Gaumen mit straffer Ausrichtung, seidiger Textur, feinkörnigem Extrakt und durchtrainiertem Körper – alles am richtigen Platz. Im konzentrierten Finale katapultiert sich der Gigant nach vorne mit einem nicht enden wollenden Rückaroma, kleine schwarze Beeren, dunkles Graphit und edle (herbale) «Bitterness». Grandioses Lagerpotenzial! Gehört für mich zu den besten Weinen dieses Jahrgangs."

JAMES SUCKLING: "The nose is really fantastic with lead pencil shavings, iron shavings, blackcurrants and lavender. Full- to medium-bodied with ultra-fine tannins that run the length of the wine. Wonderful persistence and personality. Juicy and savory finish. Always classy and sophisticated at the end. Organically grown grapes. 71% cabernet sauvignon, 23% merlot, 6% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. Best after 2028."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "This is just about off the charts, and could hit triple digits in a few years if it keeps developing. Inky black in color, the wine explodes aromatically with its blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, and tobacco, and that's before you get to its deeper nuances of Indian spice, chocolate, and cigar box scents. But the real fireworks are when the wine coats your palate with its multiple layers of dark red fruits, blackberries, and cocoa. Even with all of its richness, there is ample lift, making it easy to get lost here with all the depth, and concentration. The wine is just about seamless on the palate, lingering, building, and expanding for close to 60 seconds. One of the great vintages of Montrose is the swansong of Herve Berland at the helm of the estate. Drink from 2029-2065."

JEB DUNNUCK: "The Grand Vin 2020 Château Montrose is brilliant and unquestionably in the lineup of the truly greats from this château, including the 1989, 1990, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2018, and 2019. With an IPT of 80 and a natural alcohol of 13.4%, its deep, saturated purple hue is followed by quintessential Saint-Estèphe notes of pure cassis, graphite, tobacco leaf, acacia flowers, and loamy earth. Full-bodied, concentrated, and powerful, it nevertheless stays incredibly pure, elegant, and seamless, with perfectly ripe tannins. A blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot, is shines even today for its purity and balance, and it should be in the early stages of its prime drink window within a decade."

DECANTER: "Scented and perfumed on the nose with a delicate charm. Striking, full, round, juicy and crisp - this has bite and a sense of strictness in the frame that keeps things relatively narrow at this point but comes with excellent definition of elements. Great classicism with lots of freshness. Really very seductive, the black and blue fruit, graphite and touch of smoke grow and expand with richness and intensity but staying friendly at the same time thanks to the soft sweetness and juicy acidity. I just love the interplay between being serious and generous, structured but racy, intense yet precise. Such purity, and focus. Energetic and pent up, this is raring to go to show off its beauty but just being held back. Effortless, complex and compelling. I loved it a tiny bit less than the 2019 but it’s still one of the best in 2020."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, opaker Kern, zarte Randaufhellung. Reife schwarze Herzkirschen, Brombeeren, zart nach Lakritze, feine tabakige Nuancen. Mittlerer Körper, rotbeerig, frischer Säurebogen, präsente, fordernde Tannine, mineralisch im Abgang, zart blättrig, zeigt gute Länge, braucht noch etwas Geduld."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Black core to narrow purple rim. Less open than the 2019, more darkly intense and perhaps with a touch of smoky reduction. Very firmly tannic, with less flesh than the 2010 but a big beast in its structure. Needs a lot more time."