Château Montrose
Château Montrose

Château Montrose

Château Montrose, second growth in the 1855 classification, is a 68-hectare wine estate in Bordeaux located in Saint-Estèphe. The grape varieties at Château Montrose consist of Cabernet Sauvignon (65%), Merlot (25%), and Cabernet Franc (10%). The grapes undergo a long fermentation 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, massive, and complex. They develop aromas of ripe fruits, 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 grands 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 winemaking facilities, and the vineyard gradually expanded to reach 50 hectares in 1850 and 95 hectares in 1861. Upon Étienne Théodore Dumoulin's death, his descendants sold the property to Mathieu Dolfus. In 1866, this Alsatian industrialist took charge of Montrose and undertook a complete administrative reorganization. He began constructing and renovating buildings, modernizing facilities, and improving winemaking and cultivation techniques. He managed to stop the spread of phylloxera 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, owners of several châteaux including Cos d'Estournel, became the owners of Montrose. 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 is attributed to Étienne Théodore Dumoulin, referring to the color of the hill during the flowering period.

 

What are the characteristics of Château Montrose wines?

 

Château Montrose is a vineyard covering an area of 95 hectares, located on a hill of deep gravel mixed with sand, with a clay-marl subsoil. The vineyard is in one continuous piece, which is very rare in the Médoc, facilitating vineyard work and allowing for a global 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 constitutes an important water reserve for the vines.

 

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

 

The grape varieties at Montrose are primarily composed of Cabernet Sauvignon (60% of the vineyard area), which particularly thrives on warm, gravelly, and permeable soils with a 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 to the freshness and complexity of the wine, with its elegant aromas. Petit Verdot, for its part, brings color and spicy notes on the palate.

 

 

The best vintages of Château Montrose

 

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

 

Three exceptional vintages have received a score of 100/100 from Robert Parker: 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 will pair wonderfully with coffee or chocolate 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 safe bet 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 the total production of the Montrose vineyard.

 

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

 

Château's website

 

www.chateau-montrose.com

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