Chateau Montrose, Saint-Estephe

[2eme Cru Classé 1855] Rated one of the Top 10 chateaux of Bordeaux, the "big", fruity and well structured wines of Chateau Montrose are still very reasonably priced. The 2003 vintage was one of the best in Bordeaux and Robert Parker gave it a fabulous 97 to 100 points!

One of the Médoc's best-situated vineyards and one of the commune's most impeccably clean and well-kept cellars, Montrose was for years associated with huge, dense, powerful wines that needed several decades of cellaring to be soothing enough to drink. Chateau Montrose is found in the heart of Saint Estèphe, sloping down from the primary ridge to the majestic Gironde. Considered one of the top Saint Estèphe, Montrose is prized for its classic Claret style, big fruit and full well structured taste. 

David Peppercorn MW, says: the name Montrose,originates from the translation of "rose-coloured hill", from the dumose expanse of heather and briary. The vineyard and wine was first known as "Montrose-Ségur", but the tiny 5 to 6 hectares was a minor appurtenance to the Calon estate. When Dumoulin sold the Calon estate in 1824, he kept Montrose and then expanded it in incremental stages over the next few years, clearing scrubland, planting more vines and building a small chateau. By the 1855 Classification both Montrose and Chateau Cos d`Estournel had usurped Chateau Calon-Ségur within the Saint Estephe heirachy. Dumoulin died in 1861 and the estate passed through several owners, eventually ending up in the hands of Louis Victor Charmolüe whose family have been proprietors ever since.

Facts & Figures

Area under vine
65 hectares

Production
230,000 bottles

Soil
Pyrenean gravel mixed with black sand with sub soil of clay and marl. 

Grape varieties
65% Cabernet Sauvignon
25% Merlot
10% Cabernet Franc

Aging
19 to 22 months in 70% new French oak

Wines available