Château Montrose
Château Montrose

Château Montrose

Château Montrose, Second Growth in the 1855 classification, is a 68-hectare wine estate in Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux. The grape composition of Château Montrose consists of Cabernet Sauvignon (65%), Merlot (25%) and Cabernet Franc (10%). The grapes undergo a long fermentation period of 25 to 30 days. The wine ages for 19 to 22 months in oak barrels, 50% of which are new. Château Montrose wines are intense, full-bodied, and complex. They develop aromas of ripe fruit, spices, and tobacco. Château Montrose wines are both powerful and dense, characteristic of the great wines of Saint-Estèphe.

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The history of Château Montrose

 

Château Montrose is one of the most recent grand crus of the Médoc. In 1815, Étienne Théodore Dumoulin cleared the heather-covered hill overlooking the Gironde and planted the first vines on this land acquired by his father in 1778. He built a château and wine-making facilities, and the vineyard gradually expanded to reach 50 hectares in 1850 and 95 hectares in 1861. After Étienne Théodore Dumoulin's death, his descendants sold the property to Mathieu Dolfus. In 1866, this Alsatian industrialist took control of Montrose and undertook a complete administrative reorganisation. He initiated the construction and renovation of buildings, modernised facilities and improved vinification and cultivation techniques. He managed to stop phylloxera's spread by installing a windmill that pumped underground water to flood the land. Thus, he saved the Montrose vineyard. This windmill is now one of Montrose's symbols. In 1896, the Charmolüe family, who owned several châteaux including Cos d'Estournel, became Montrose's owners. For three generations, the Charmolüe family maintained the château at a level of excellence. In 2006, brothers Martin and Olivier Bouygues acquired the château and brought a wind of renewal by renovating the cellars, through geothermal energy and the adoption of ecological practices. The current cellar master is Vincent Decup.

The name Montrose comes from Étienne Théodore Dumoulin, referring to the colour of the hill during flowering season.

 

What are the characteristics of Château Montrose wines?

 

Château Montrose is a vineyard covering 95 hectares, situated on a hill of deep gravel mixed with sand, with a clay-marl subsoil. The vineyard is in one single block which is very rare in the Médoc, making vineyard work easier and allowing for a comprehensive approach to viticulture. The Montrose vineyard benefits from a privileged terroir called "elite core", resulting from a complex geological layering over several million years. This situation promotes natural drainage towards the Gironde estuary, creating ideal conditions for producing great wines. The soils are composed of gravel mixed with sand on the surface, while the clay subsoil provides an important water reserve for the vines.

 

Located 5 kilometres north of Pauillac, in the Saint-Estèphe appellation, Château Montrose enjoys a privileged location overlooking the Gironde estuary for more than a kilometre. The proximity to the estuary acts as a natural regulator, reducing temperature variations and protecting the vines from spring frosts and summer heat waves. The exposure to wind and sun on Montrose hill is beneficial for the vineyard. The vine rows, planted along a north-south axis, allow the grapes to benefit from optimal sunlight throughout the day, while the prevailing northwest winds help remove excess moisture in case of heavy rainfall.

 

Montrose's grape composition primarily consists of Cabernet Sauvignon (60% of the vineyard area), which particularly thrives in warm, gravelly and permeable soils with clay subsoil. Merlot (32%), Cabernet Franc (6%) and Petit Verdot (2%) are also present and contribute their own complexity to the wines.

 

Merlot brings a touch of femininity and roundness, with silky tannins and fruity aromas. Cabernet Franc contributes freshness and complexity to the wine, with its elegant aromas. Petit Verdot adds colour and spicy notes on the palate.

 

 

The best vintages of Château Montrose

 

The best vintages are the following: Château Montrose 1953, 1955, 1959, 1961, 1996 and 2005.

 

3 exceptional vintages have received a Robert Parker score of 100/100: Château Montrose 1989, 2009 and 2010.

 

Food and wine pairings

 

Château Montrose wines pair perfectly with red meat, sauced dishes, game, poultry, strong goat and cow cheeses. For desserts, this red wine pairs wonderfully with coffee or chocolate-based sweets.

 

 

What is the second wine of Château Montrose?

 

La Dame de Montrose, crafted with the same attention and standards as the Grand Vin, comes from the same vineyards. Carefully selected, this cuvée highlights the dominance of Merlot, offering a wine with a supple and silky texture. Red fruit aromas are particularly pronounced, creating a distinct expression of the terroir. This wine, created in 1983 in tribute to Yvonne Charmolüe, who solely managed Château Montrose from 1944 to 1960, is a reliable choice that expresses its maturity more quickly. The production of La Dame de Montrose varies by year, and it is aged for 12 months, with 30% in new barrels. On average, it represents between 40 and 45% of Montrose vineyard's total production.

 

Two excellent vintages stand out: La Dame de Montrose 1990 and 2008.

 

Château website

 

www.chateau-montrose.com

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