1999 Chateau Montrose 2eme Cru Classe, Saint-Estephe

The 1999 Montrose is drinking very well, offering up rich aromas of black fruits, pipe tobacco, loamy soil and sweet new oak, followed by a medium to full-bodied, ample and open-knit palate that's nevertheless framed by chewy, somewhat old-school tannins. With its serious structure, it's one of the more muscular, concentrated (and likely long-lived) wines of the vintage, though it naturally doesn't exhibit as much depth as vintages such as 1995, 1996 or 2000.

The black/purple-colored 1999 Montrose offers up notes of pure black fruits intermixed with minerals, smoke, and earth. It is extremely concentrated, surprisingly powerful and dense, with moderate tannin. Its size, strength, and medium to full-bodied personality are atypical for the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2025.

Full ruby. Aromas of black cherry, bitter chocolate and espresso. Dense and chocolatey in the mouth; full and supple. Finishes with very fine tannins that spread out nicely on the palate. Quite full and nicely persistent on the back end.