2018 Chateau Montrose

98 POINTS

Peter Moser - Falstaff Magazine

Very dark ruby garnet, opaque core with purple reflections and a narrow bright rim. Attractive noble wood and nougat aromas with dark forest berry confit, liquorice, a touch of candied orange zest and a hint of Black Forest Gâteau. Compact, taut texture, ripe cherry, pleasant sweetness, supporting, youthful tannins and a fine savoury finish with a touch of ginger and white pepper. Very good length, fresh and persistent, but still young. (Drinking window: 2025-2060).

98 POINTS

Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW - Wine Advocate

The 2018 Montrose is a blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Very deep garnet-purple in color, it needs a good amount of air to unlock the vibrant scents of crushed blackberries, preserved plums and cassis with suggestions of star anise, cedar chest, underbrush, Indian spices and iron ore, plus an emerging waft of violets. The full-bodied palate features the most exquisitely ripe tannins, offering a rock-solid backbone with tons of freshness lifting the taut, muscular fruit, finishing long and mineral laced. Going back to this wine over a period of hours and then days further reveals a Montrose of great opulence, richness and depth. Incidentally, the IPT level this year is 82, which indicates a very high level of tannins, and yet they are so, so ripe. The alcohol is around 14.5%. But sit back, close your eyes and forget the numbers—this is pure hedonism in its youth with a fantastic 40+ years of cellaring ahead of it, during the course of which do not be at all surprised if you are blown away by a three-digit experience.

98 POINTS

James Suckling

Purity and beauty on the nose with blackberry, blueberry, raspberry, crushed-stone and violet character. A full-bodied red with masses of polished tannins and intense flavors of currants and blackberries. Juicy finish. Super depth to this. Goes on for minutes. Try after 2027.

97 POINTS

Roger Voss - Wine Enthusiast

This wine confirms the place of Montrose among the top Bordeaux estates. With its rich tannins and powerful structure, it exudes concentration and density. But the wine also shows a sense of style. Fruit purity will make it impressive and allow it to age for many years. Drink this wine from 2028.

97 POINTS

Antonio Galloni MW - Vinous

The 2018 Montrose is dazzling. Whereas so many 2018s are opulent and broad, Montrose is a wine of vertical explosive power. Ripe Cabernet aromatics soar out of the glass, making a strong first impression. Black cherry, leather, licorice, graphite and menthol develop later as the 2018 starts to open in the glass. The energy, vibrancy and drive here are palpable right out of the gate. Montrose is one of real stars of 2018. Don't miss it!

96 POINTS

Neal Martin - Vinous

The 2018 Montrose was picked from 17 September and finished on 5 October, comprising of 61 lots of free-run juice. It has a very refined and composed bouquet with blackberry, blueberry, violet and rose petals, the oak (100% new) seamlessly integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin that form a symmetrical frame around the pure black, graphite tinged fruit that lend it a Pauillac-like personality. This is a brilliant Montrose that manages to express all the leitmotifs of this St-Estèphe and keeps the excessive tendencies of the growing season in check, thanks to a combination of terroir and skillful winemaking. The alcohol level is 14.7% and we need to see how that plays out, but for now this seems to deliver.

96 POINTS

Neal Martin - Vinous

The 2018 Montrose delivers on the promise that it showed from barrel. I gave this a three-hour decant before broaching, since Montrose is always backward, albeit far less ferociously than even just a decade ago. It offers copious blackberry and blueberry scents on the nose, plus pressed violets and a light estuarine scent that becomes accentuated with time. The palate is medium-bodied with a silky-smooth texture. Finely chiseled tannins frame multilayered black fruit infused with crushed stone, and it has retained that subtle graphite element that lends it a Pauillac-like personality, though less so than out of barrel. This is a beautifully defined Montrose with entrancing symmetry, and it should drink earlier than other recent vintages thanks to a little more pliancy.