Château Montrose

The history of Château Montrose

 
Château Montrose is one of the Médoc's most recent grands crus. In 1815, Étienne Théodore Dumoulin cleared the heather hillside overlooking the Gironde and planted the first vines on land acquired by his father in 1778. He built a château and vineyard facilities, and the vineyard gradually expanded to 50 hectares in 1850 and 95 hectares in 1861. When Étienne Théodore Dumoulin died, his descendants sold the estate to Mathieu Dolfus. In 1866, this Alsatian industrialist took control of Montrose and undertook a complete administrative reorganization. He undertook the construction and renovation of buildings, modernized installations and improved winemaking and cultivation techniques. He manages to stop the spread of phylloxera by installing a wind turbine that pumps groundwater to flood the land. In this way, he saved the Montrose vineyard. Today, this wind turbine is one of the symbols of Montrose. In 1896, the Charmolüe family, owners of several châteaux including Cos d'Estournel, became owners of Montrose. For three generations, the Charmolüe family maintained the château's excellence. In 2006, the brothers Martin and Olivier Bouygues acquired the château and brought a new lease of life by renovating the cellars, using geothermal energy and adopting environmentally-friendly practices. The current cellar master is Vincent Decup.
Montrose was named after Étienne Théodore Dumoulin, in reference to the color of the hillside at flowering time.

What are the characteristics of Château Montrose wines?

Château Montrose is a 95-hectare vineyard located on a hillside of deep gravel mixed with sand, with a clay-marl subsoil. The vineyard is all in one piece, which is very rare in the Médoc, making it easier to work the vines and to take a global approach to viticulture. The Montrose vineyard benefits from a privileged terroir known as "noyaux d'élite", resulting from complex geological piling up over several million years. This situation favors natural drainage towards the Gironde estuary, creating ideal conditions for the production of 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 kilometers north of Pauillac, in the Saint-Estèphe appellation, Château Montrose enjoys a privileged position overlooking the Gironde estuary for more than a kilometer. The proximity of the estuary acts as a natural regulator, attenuating temperature variations and protecting the vines from spring frosts and summer heatwaves. The Montrose hillside's exposure to wind and sun benefits the vineyard. The rows of vines, planted along a north-south axis, allow the grapes to enjoy optimum sunshine throughout the day, while the prevailing north-westerly winds help to evacuate moisture in the event of excessive rainfall.

Montrose's grape varieties are mainly Cabernet Sauvignon (60% of the vineyard), which thrives on warm, gravelly, permeable soils with a clay subsoil. Merlot (32%), Cabernet Franc (6%) and Petit Verdot (2%) are also present, making their own contribution to the complexity of the wines.

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

Château Montrose's best vintages

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

3 exceptional vintages have been rated 100/100 by Robert Parker: Château Montrose 1989, 2009 and 2010.

Food and wine pairing

Château Montrose wines go perfectly with red meat, dishes in sauce, game, poultry, strong goat's and cow's cheeses. For desserts, this red wine is a perfect match for coffee or chocolate sweets.

 
What is Château Montrose's second wine?

La Dame de Montrose, made with the same care and attention to detail as the Grand Vin, comes from the same vines. Carefully selected, this cuvée highlights the predominance of Merlot, offering a wine with a supple, silky texture. Red fruit aromas are particularly pronounced, creating a distinct expression of terroir. Created in 1983 as a tribute to Yvonne Charmolüe, who was the sole director of Château Montrose from 1944 to 1960, this wine is a sure bet for expressing maturity more rapidly. Production of La Dame de Montrose varies from year to year, and it is aged for 12 months, 30% of which in new barrels. On average, it represents between 40% and 45% of the total production of the Montrose vineyard.

Two very good vintages stand out: La dame de Montrose 1990 and 2008.

Château website

www.chateau-montrose.com