1998 Chateau Montrose, 2nd Growth St. Estephe (1 x Double Magnum)
A classic effort, the 1998 Montrose exhibits a dense purple color in addition to a sweet nose of jammy cassis, licorice, earth, and smoke. It is a powerful and full-bodied wine with well-integrated tannin. Given Montrose's tendency to shut down, it is performing better out of bottle than I expected. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2030.
1998 Chateau Montrose, 2nd Growth St. Estephe (1 x Double Magnum)
A classic effort, the 1998 Montrose exhibits a dense purple color in addition to a sweet nose of jammy cassis, licorice, earth, and smoke. It is a powerful and full-bodied wine with well-integrated tannin. Given Montrose's tendency to shut down, it is performing better out of bottle than I expected. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2030.
| Producer | Chateau Montrose |
|---|---|
| Sub-Region | St. Estephe |
| Region | Bordeaux |
| Country | France |
| Vintage | 1998 |
| Colour | Red |
| ABV | 14.00% |
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Vinous
The 1998 Montrose was the only recent vintage that was omitted from the series of verticals that I conducted in 2016. It is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc and 8% Petit Verdot picked between 22 September and 6 October. Funnily enough, I had not tasted it since en primeur! It has a high-toned and expressive bouquet with blackberry, leather, a touch of menthol and dried herbs, a little earthiness coming through with time. There is still plenty of freshness here. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannin. This offers fine balance and a smooth texture, slightly lactic in texture with tobacco and even a touch of latte towards the black fruit-driven finish. There is almost a case for this Montrose being too melted in character. Fine, but I think it could have been better. Tasted at the château.
90 Points / Drinking 2018 - 2035
By Neal Martin / May 2018
Vinous
Good ruby-red. Subtle, rather austere aromas of black cherry, redcurrant and mint. Solid and slightly peppery in the mouth; currently wrapped up in its own structure. Quite laid-back today; displays some personality but only moderate concentration. Finishes with dusty tannins and reasonable length. The yield here was reportedly 48 hectoliters per hectare, the same as in ’97.
87-89 Points
By Stephen Tanzer / May 1999
Vinous
Bright full ruby-red. Precise, pure aromas of cassis, pepper, minerals and currant leaf, plus a hint of bitter chocolate. Juicy and intensely flavored; a classic midweight claret with penetrating inner-mouth aromas of dark berries, leather and game. Long, firm, palate-cleansing finish features very firm tannins that avoid hardness. Perhaps ultimately leaner than the ’99, but longer today. I underestimated this wine last year.
90-91 Points
By Stephen Tanzer / May 2000
Vinous
Red-ruby. Cassis, black cherry, tobacco leaf, licorice and tangy bitter chocolate on the nose. Intensely flavored, bright and penetrating; as dense as the ’99 but firmer, more obviously structured, and in need of a good decade of bottle aging. Firm tannins suffuse the palate. Montrose has been making consistently excellent wine in recent years.
90+ Points
By Stephen Tanzer / May 2001