2016 Chateau Montrose Saint-Estephe 750 ml

Château Montrose’s striking power and longevity is primarily the product of their extraordinary terroir, which many consider to be the best in Bordeaux’s northern Saint-Estèphe appellation. 

The 230-acre estate is laden with gravel—Cabernet Sauvignon’s favorite soil—with some vineyard plots boasting gravel depths as great as six feet. The excellent drainage results in smaller grapes with intense concentration, and the property’s proximity to the Gironde estuary protects the grapes from heat and frost damage. 

Montrose was acquired in 2006 by brothers Olivier and Martin Bouygues, who had been introduced to the wines by their father. In 2007, they undertook a massive renovation with four goals in mind: to give Château Montrose the finest winemaking facilities, to save and produce energy, to reduce the estate’s carbon output, and preserve the property’s typical 18th-century style. The success of this adventure can be seen in the cavernous and elegant barrel room, with its 11-meter ceilings, meticulously aligned barriques, and graceful archways.

The 2016 Montrose hails from an absolutely spectacular Bordeaux vintage, weathering a hot August with the vineyard’s ample water reserves built at the start of the year. A cooling rain tempered the summer heat, and harvest took place over a leisurely three weeks at the end of September and in early October. 

The final blend comprises 68% Cabernet, 25% Merlot, and 7% Cab Franc, and it’s drinking perfectly right now, after a long stretch in the cellar. Jane Anson noted, “The depth of this wine is astonishing,” and at this point it still has miles and miles to go.