2003 Chateau Montrose 2eme Cru Classe, Saint-Estephe 1x750ml

Robert Parker 97

Tasted at Bordeaux Index’s “10-Year On” tasting in London. The Montrose ’03 puts the Calon-Segur in the shade with tightly coiled earthy black fruit, briary, graphite, hot steaming espresso and Provencal herbs that are all beautifully defined. The palate is medium-bodied with firm but fine ripe tannins, a crisp seam of acidity and wonderful focus on the multi-layered finish. It represents a long-term Montrose for sure – enormous persistency and grip on the aftertaste. This is a barnstorming Saint Estephe! Tasted March 2013. [03/01/2013]

Vinous 96

Good medium-deep ruby-red. Superripe, roasted aromas of black raspberry, chocolate and licorice. Wonderfully dense, sweet and lush, with an early roundness rare for this wine. A monumental St. Estephe with almost confectionery sweetness. Wonderfully horizontal, palate-saturating wine with huge but thoroughly ripe, lush tannins. It’s hard to believe that a wine this rich and deep could be carrying just 13.2% alcohol. The only thing missing here is the floral topnote of 2005, but that’s a quibble in this baking-hot vintage, as Montrose’s cooler, water-retentive clay-rich soil handled the extreme heat and drought as well as any chateau in the Bordeaux region. The final blend is 63% cabernet sauvignon, 33% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. [Stephen Tanzer, 01/05/2006]