Chateau Montrose 2015

ANTONIO GALLONI: "The 2015 Montrose has developed very nicely over the last two years. As it showed from barrel, the 2015 is a relatively light-bodied wine for this site. Even so, all the elements are very nicely balanced throughout. I suspect the 2015 needs at least a handful of years to become fully expressive and will age for decades, although it will never be a huge wine in the style of viscerally thrilling vintages like 2014, 2016 and so many others. The 2015 is 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc that spent 18 months in French oak, 30% new."

DECANTER: "An imposing wine which shows the excellence of the winemaking and terroir, but it's not as deft or effortless as the 2016. Montrose is often austere in its youth, and the well-knitted black fruits wound with tight strands of liquorice are clearly capable of long ageing. There is something extremely special here, although the tannins are very much closed up right now. The smallest selection for the grand vin for 15 years. Drinking Window 2025 - 2040"

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung, zart balsamisch unterlegtes Brombeerkonfit, feine Edelholzwürze, mineralischer Anklang, insgesamt etwas verhalten. Saftige frische Herzkirschen am Gaumen, zarte Extraktsüße, eingebundene Tannine, mineralisch-salzig im Abgang, gute Länge, ein facettenreicher Speisenbegleiter."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Intensity and clarity of fruit is so insane. Blackberries, spices such as cloves, blueberries, sandalwood and dried lavender. Full body and such a beautiful, dense center palate with perfectly polished tannins. Extremely long and beautiful. One of the best young Montroses in a long, long time. Drink in 2024."

JEB DUNNUCK: "Another wine I was able to taste on multiple occasions, the 2015 Montrose is a certainly the wine of Saint-Estèphe in 2015. Notes of cassis, damp earth, violets, and graphite/lead pencil notes all flow to a beautifully pure, elegant and multi-dimensional 2015 that has fine, polished tannin, perfect balance, and a great finish. The 2015 is a blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc, all of which was brought up in 65% new oak. This isn’t a blockbuster yet is pure class all the way. It will be better in 4-5 years and keep for 2-3 decades."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "This is another gem that is much better from bottle than barrel. There is a smoky, spicy character to the waves of fruit on your palate. Full bodied, concentrated, long, fresh and clean, with a finish that stick with for at least 40 seconds. Comparing with the 2014, 2016 and 2017 over the years is going to make for a lot of fun tastings!"

THE WINEADVOCATE: "The deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Montrose opens with broody black fruits, menthol and anise notes with a core of cassis, blueberries and mulberries plus a touch of cedar chest. The medium-bodied mouth is firm and chewy with a good core of muscular fruit and a long, earthy finish."

WEINWISSER: "67 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 29 % Merlot, 4 % Cabernet Franc. 37 % der Produktion wurden als Grand Vin selektioniert. Extrem dunkles Purpur mit ila und violetten Reflexen. Intensives Bouquet, geprägt von reifem und tiefgründigem Cabernet, Trüffelspuren, Brombeeren, aber auch dunklen Edelhölzern und Pumpernickelbrot, ergänzt durch Schwarzschokotöne. Schon das Nasenbild hat etwas Royales. Im Gaumen fest, beeindruckend, verlangend und somit eine umfassende Adstringenz zeigend, dunkles Malz, Lakritze, Szechuanpfeffer, rassig und kraftvoll. Und er zeigt jetzt schon seine Harmonie und Erhabenheit an. Er klang minutenlang nach. Grosses Montrose-Kino!"

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "This sumptuous, powerful wine has a great sense of structure and tannins. It is also overwhelmingly dense with black fruits and swathes of rich black currants. In this vintage, even more Cabernet Sauvignon than usual in the blend has given a ripe wine set for a far-distant future. Drink from 2026."

WINESPECTATOR: "Fleshy for the vintage, with good plum and dark currant fruit lined with ample tobacco, warm paving stone, bay leaf and alder notes on the slightly dusty finish. Not a charmer, but this is integrated and shows range and depth for the vintage. Best from 2020 through 2035."