Chateau Montrose 2021

WEINWISSER: "Der überragende Montrose 2021 übertrifft sich selbst! Seine Farbe ist dicht, viskos und leuchtend intensiv. Superintensiv und rassig erscheint er auch im Geruch, sehr konzentriert, extrem likörig und transparent in der differenzierten Aromatik. Satt, intensiv und würzig dann auch im Mund, sehr konzentriert und weitläufig arrangiert, mit noblen Gerbstoffen, ein unzweifelhafter 2e Cru, sehr feingliedrig und komplex. Extrem feine, geschliffene Erscheinung, nahtlos und differenziert, das hat echte Klasse und Größe. Kein kleiner Montrose, mit genussfreudigen 13.0 Vol.-%."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The remarkable 2021 Montrose gets my nomination for the title of "wine of the vintage" in the Médoc. Wafting from the glass with a deep bouquet of cassis and dark berries mingled with subtle hints of mint, orange, pencil shavings and spices, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a layered and multidimensional core of fruit underpinned by beautifully ripe, refined tannins. Concluding with a long, resonant finish, it entirely transcends the limitations of the year. This young classic, reminiscent of the estate's 1996 but far better, is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot."

DECANTER: "Dark and milk chocolate, raspberries and red cherries on the nose, with a soft vanilla fragrance and some pink floral aspects. Great tension and direction, personality and verve, high acidity but balanced with the tangy red berry fruit – buzzy with energy and focus. Has precision and drive as well as power and concentration, but all with a lovely elegance and sense of style. Classy and classic, a brilliant wine in 2021."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "A blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, the 2021 Montrose is deep garnet-purple in color. It needs some patient swirling to reveal notes of iron ore, mossy tree bark, and chalk dust, leading to a core of fresh blackcurrants, kirsch, and lilacs, plus a hint of pencil shavings. The light to medium-bodied palate is tightly coiled, offering shimmery layers of minerals, black and red berries, and fragrant earth-inspired flavors, supported by a fine-grained texture, finishing with great freshness and length. Impactful!"

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Leather and black-spice aromas are a prelude to the richness and power of this wine. It is concentrated and full of ripe black-plum flavors, and acidity. Drink this massive wine from 2028."

JAMES SUCKLING: "This shows Montrose personality with blackberries, blackcurrants and graphite, along with some spices and cedar. Medium-bodied with very fine tannins and a juicy finish. Refined and balanced. Drink or hold."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Ockerrandaufhellung. Zart nach Lakritze, schwarze Kirsche, etwas Cassis, feine Edelholznuancen, einladendes Bukett, mineralisch und facettenreich. Mittlere Komplexität, rotbeerig, frisch strukturiert, seidige, reife Tannine, salzige Mineralität, geschliffen und zugänglich, kann bereits angetrunken werden, sollte aber idealerweise noch einige Jahre reifen."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Blackberries, espresso, chocolate, dried flowers, black cherries and spice create the aromatic profile. On the palate, the wine is even better with its salty-edged red fruits, crushed rocks, spice and espresso with dark chocolate accented profile. Medium/full-bodied, energetic, classic, and classy, this is a vintage of Montrose that will not take decades to develop. Give it 3-4 years and this will be good to go. The wine was made from blending 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2028-2055."

JEB DUNNUCK: "The Grand Vin 2021 Château Montrose checks in as 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and the balance Petit Verdot, raised mostly in new oak. It's an absolute classic expression of this terrior, offering pure cassis and assorted darker currant fruits that give way to more damp earth, violet, and leafy tobacco nuances. With medium-bodied richness, perfect integration of its acidity, tannins, and oak, beautiful mid-palate depth, and a great finish, it's going to benefit from 4-6 years of bottle age, and I wouldn't be surprised to see this still showing beautifully at age 30. It's a remarkable wine in this challenging vintage."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Deep crimson with smudgy rim. The most subtle of the Montrose in this line-up. The tannins are a little drier and paper-fine but layered. Doesn't have the intensity of the 2019 but it is darkly refined. A restrained beauty."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Sleek, with sufficient fruit to accommodate the tangy acidity of the vintage, this allows black cherry, damson plum and violet notes to stretch out nicely, with a late echo of singed alder. Poised and nicely done for the vintage. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2026 through 2037. 12,500 cases made."