93 points,

Neal Martin's Wine Journal, February 2012

Tasted ex-château and single blind in Southwold. I was originally a little mean in my score when tasted blind, but the longer I left this in the glass the more it seemed to blossom. There is a fine sense of transparency on the nose with crushed stone underneath those pure black fruits that soars. It exudes very well integrated, high quality new oak on the medium-bodied palate. Quite succulent with ripe tannins, a little more open than many Montroses at this early juncture, but undeniably very well crafted with touches of black pepper on the finish. Tasted January 2012.

95 points,

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, May 2011

One of the superstars of the vintage, this classic Montrose is not as showy or opulent as the 2010, 2009 or 2003, but it offers a dense purple color followed by gorgeously sweet black raspberry and black currant fruit intermixed with loamy, earthy, forest floor notes, a floral component and a long, full-bodied finish. The 2008 was fashioned from yields of 44 hectoliters per hectare which is slightly less than the 2010's 45 hectoliters per hectare. Forget it for 5-8 years and drink it over the following 20+.

94 points,

Wine Enthusiast, April 2011

Powerful yet still retaining a sense of restrained style, this wine is packed with ripe plum and sweet berry fruit flavors, laced with firm, dusty tannins. Acidity filters through the dense texture to give great freshness. R.V.

91 points,

Wine Spectator, December 2010

This has a density that sets it apart, with a pleasantly firm edge to the plum, black cherry and currant fruit, all wrapped with notes of iron, tobacco and savory herb. The long, rock-solid finish is still a bit tight, but it should meld nicely in the cellar. A fine effort for the vintage. Best from 2013 through 2020.-J.M.

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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