91 points,

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, January 2007

An impressive effort for the vintage, the 2004 Montrose possesses a deep ruby/purple-tinged color as well as a sweet nose of black fruits intermixed with notions of smoke, cold steel, earth, and subtle background wood. With excellent texture, a sweet ripeness, medium to full body, and moderate tannin, it should drink well for 15+ years. Also tasted: 2004 La Dame de Montrose (88)

92 -95 points,

Stephen Tanzer's IWC, June 2005

(a blend of 64% cabernet sauvignon, 32% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot) Bright ruby-red. Aromatic nose combines blackberry, violet and licorice. Juicy, aromatic and fine-grained, with subtle inner-mouth perfume. Very suave, floral wine, finishing with very fine tannins. The alcohol here is about 12.7%, compared to 13.1% in 2003. This shows the refinement of a first growth and will probably need a good 10 to 12 years of cellaring.

92 points,

Wine Spectator, March 2007

Dark-colored, with beautiful spice, blackberry and licorice aromas. Full-bodied, round and velvety, with wonderful balance and a long, long finish. This is a Montrose that caresses your palate. Best after 2011. 26,665 cases made. –JS

About Winery

Château Montrose one of the eminent estates in Saint Estèphe, the northern most commune bordering the Gironde estuary. At the end of the 18th century, the land where Montrose is presently located was moorland, that belonged to Etienne Théodore Dumoulin, whose son entertained the thought of turning it into a vineyard. He began clearing small parcels in 1815 that revealed gravel soil and later constructed a modest two-storey château-building.

Expansion continued unabated and by 1866 the estate covered 237 acres through astute purchases and exchanges with neighbouring properties. The property then passed through many different families until it was recently purchased by Martin Bouygues, the 8th wealthiest man in France.

The property consists of 68-hectares under vine which slope down towards the Gironde, planted with 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and just 2% Petit Verdot (there was more in the 1950's.) When I visited the property, I was told that the soil is more clayey than surrounding vineyards and therefore the ground is able to retain more moisture than those with a sandier terroir, a crucial factor in dry vintages such as 2003. The soil also contains Pyrenean gravel which absorbs the summer heat and prolongs the daily ripening period.

abridged from Neil Martin's producer profile on eRobertParker

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