Fascinating aromas of blackberries with cacao and buttery notes. This is a full-bodied red combining well-rounded tannins, lovely acidity and a mouth-watering finish. Yet turns firm and powerful. Drink in 2020. – jamessuckling.com, Feb 2015

(57% Cabernet Sauvignon/37% Merlot/5% Cabernet Franc/1% Petit Verdot)
Smoky, sultry character - oh yes, could be good here. Palate is silky but so concentrated, perhaps the densest yet. This is a big wine but not overripe or overextracted. Less obviously pretty at this stage than Cos but will make a fascinating comparison in years to come.

The 2012 Montrose (57% Cabernet Sauvignon and 37% Merlot), is rich, broad, and dense ruby/purple, with substantial tannins still to shed. It is a rather masculine, medium to full-bodied Montrose, with cassis, crushed rock and spice. This wine will need bottle age because of the tannin profile, should hit its prime in another 7-8 years, and last for another 20-25. This is another wine with the alcohol pushing an impressive 14% and a finished pH of 3.7 – two characteristics of a very ripe, high-quality vintage. 92+ points – Robert Parker (Wine Advocate #218, April 2015)

Features lively and pure blackberry, fig and plum fruit, lined with enticing singed mesquite, bramble and tar accents. The muscular, tarry finish shows a twinge of austere chalkiness, but there's ample flesh for balance. Best from 2017 through 2025. 18,333 cases made. – James Molesworth (WineSpectator.com, March 2015)

[57CS/37M/5CF/1PV] Fine ripe fruited nose of blackcurrant cabernet and minerals; rich, wine, dense, ample, tannic and with a fresh defining acidity; generous, well fleshed, full of flavour, but also tight and tannic; a complex, tenacious, masculine Montrose, with a wealth of everything – matter, tannin, vitality, presence, minerality, and also excellent length. Fine, very firm, long term Montrose. 2025-35+ [M.Schuster, Bordeaux Mar/Apr 2013]

Tasted as a barrel sample at the chateau. The Grand Vin, representing 53% of production, is a blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. It is being matured in 60% new oak. The nose offers plenty of fruit, perhaps even more than Cos d’Estournel with ebullient dark cherries, dark chocolate and black plum scents, although at this stage it does not have the complexity of a top Montrose. The palate is medium-bodied with fleshy ripe tannins that are obviously fully ripe. It is not a complex Montrose, perhaps just a little one-dimensional compared to others. But there is certainly good volume, soft in the mouth (some prudent pumping over here in the winery) with plenty of primal black fruit to enjoy on the finish. It will probably constitute a more approachable Montrose, but it is well made. – eRobertParker.com, May 2013

Quality 878 | Brand 992 | Economics 819 |
Quality: Predicted life of 19 years, one of the longest drinking windows in its peer group for the 2012 vintage, which averages 10 years Brand: Strong restaurant presence, featuring on 34 of the world's top wine lists, including Tru Economics: Above its peer group average price of £30 for the 2012 vintage Production:

- www.wine-lister.com June 2017