[ Home > Wines > Bordeaux > St. Julien > Chateau Montrose 2000 - Bordeaux ]
St Estephe, Bordeaux A sensational Montrose, the 2000 may be the finest produced since the 1996 and 1990. A blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot (56% of the crop was utilized in the final wine), this sensational, opaque purple-colored 2000 offers a terrific nose of melted licorice, creme de cassis, blackberries, minerals, and smoke. The wine is full-bodied, unctuously-textured, fleshy, and pure, with high but sweet tannin levels. The finish lasts for over 40 seconds. Like most Montrose, the blockbuster 2000 will undoubtedly reveal more tannin as it ages. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2035 Rated 93-95 Robert Parker Racy structure. Lots of violets, currants and light tar. Full-bodied, with well-integrated tannins and a silky finish. Very fine indeed. An elegant Montrose. Score range: 92-94 Wine Spectator The lands of château Montrose were purchased by act of the Bordeaux parlement, from Alexandre de Ségur, by Etienne Théodore Dumoulin on 6 March, 1778. This gravel coteau more than 80 hectares in size was at the time moorland covered with heath. Mr. Dumoulin’s son began construction of the château in 1815 and created the vineyard about the same time. In 1825, there were only 5 or 6 hectares of vines, but by 1832 there were 35 hectares. In 1855, château Montrose was classified among the second growths in Médoc. At the time production varied between 100 and 150 tonneaux. It remained the property of the Dumoulin family until 1866 when Mathieu Dollfus bought it for the sum of FF1 500 000. Mr. Dollfus had part of the house rebuilt and enlarged the vineyard. By 1880 it covered some 65 hectares and produced about 200 to 250 tonneaux. When Mr. Dollfus died his heirs sold it to Jean Hostein for FF1 500 000. A few years later, in 1896, Mr. Hostein resold it to his son-in-law, Louis Charmolüe. Since then it has remained in the family, managed by Louis Charmolüe until 1925 and then A. Charmolüe until 1944, Mme Yvonne Charmolüe until 1960 and finally Jean-Louis Charmolüe. The estate is remarkable for the way it has been layed out. In a single piece, the vineyard is divided into large squares, separated from each other by wide paths, and planted with premium grapes such as Cabernet franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It is due to this highly practical layout that the grand cru of Montrose is quoted as being a model vineyard. It is moreover due to the choice of grapes, the nature of its gravel soil and its very special exposure that it owes its great reputation and the well deserved favour it enjoys. Expert connoisseurs rank it at the top of the growths in its category, a preference merited by the regularity of its quality but also by analogy with the great wines of Château-Latour, a first growth in Pauillac. Montrose, knowledgeable people say, is the “Latour of Saint-Estèphe” and the comparison does not appear to be an exaggeration. |
|
Copyright 2007 Internet
Wines & Spirits. All rights reserved.
|