Montrose 2016 (6.0L)

100 WI / 100 JD / 100 JA / 99 WA / 99 VM / 99 WCI / 98 JS / 98 DE / 97 WE / 97 FS / 18.5 JR

A blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 7% Cabernet Franc, the 2016 Montrose is deep garnet-purple in color. It comes tearing out of the glass with rambunctious scents of creme de cassis, juicy blackberries, and blueberry pie, leading to hints of menthol, dark chocolate, licorice, and tree bark with a touch of crushed rocks. The medium-bodied palate is chock full of bright black fruits with loads of spicy sparks and a firm, wonderfully velvety texture, finishing long and energetic.--Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent

Unquestionably one of the top 2-3 wines of the vintage, the 2016 Château Montrose is a monument in the making. Checking in as a blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 7% Cabernet Franc raised in 60% new French oak (the balance was in once-used barrels) and representing a tiny 36% of the production, this deep purple-colored 2016 possesses powerful, incredibly classic Saint-Estephe notes of creme de cassis, graphite, damp earth, lead pencil shavings, and burning embers. With a powerful, full-bodied style on the palate, a huge mid-palate, lots of underlying structure and tannic grip, and perfect balance, this magical wine will need upwards of a decade or cellaring and keep for 40-50 years. - Jeb Dunnuck

One of the greatest Montrose of the new millennium, this is a stunning wine that will give pleasure for decades to come. The richness of the texture is clear from the first pour, as is the depth of concentration in its plum colour. Powerful, balanced, cocoa bean, liqourice, espresso, slate, cassis, bilberry, damson. Slow progress thorugh the palate, feels supple yet restrained, and only just beginning its progress - one that you can without a shadow of a doubt wait another decade or more before opening. Harvest September 22 to October 17. Hervé Berland director, owned by the Bouygues family-Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2016 Montrose is a little youthfully shy to begin, but with coaxing, it unfurls to reveal the most beguiling scents of wilted roses, oolong tea, crushed rocks, wild sage, star anise and candied violets over a wonderfully pristine, well-defined core of crushed blackcurrants, black raspberries and kirsch plus wafts of pencil lead and wood smoke. The taut, muscular, medium to full-bodied palate straddles jaw-dropping intensity and finesse superbly, featuring a solid backbone of ripe tannins and giving a firm frame right through the incredibly long, exquisitely nuanced finish. - Lisa Perotti-Brown, Wine Advocate

The 2016 Montrose has a tightly wound bouquet that is extremely well focused. This is one of the most pixelated aromatics I can remember on a Montrose at this stage, featuring blackberry, boysenberry and cedar and real mineralité underneath. The palate is medium-bodied with fine density and wonderful salinity. There is tremendous precision with razor-sharp tannin, and a brightness on the finish that is exceptional. This is a Montrose that will comfortably sit alongside the canon of great vintages from this Saint-Estèphe estate. As my score implies, it’s up there with the first growths. Stunning.- Neal Martin, Vinous Media  

A clear candidate for legendary status from Montrose, this wine has it all going on. Even though it is still an adolescent, it is impossible not to be enthralled by its multiple layers of perfectly ripe, fresh, sweet, black, and red fruits that paint your palate. Length, purity, persistence, and energy galore, this needs time, but it is going to be well worth the wait! Drink from 2030-2065.-Jeff Leve, Wine Cellar Insider, tasted 11/22  

The floral and fresh aromas to this are mesmerizing. Roses and lilacs galore. The pure cab aromas coming from the glass – blackcurrants and blackberries – are so memorable. Full-bodied, deep and profound. The ultra-fine tannins on the palate are so polished and fine-grained. The finish goes on for minutes with subtle yet superb fruit. It’s all about precision and form here. A modern classic for Montrose. Better after 2026. - James Suckling  

Now owned by the Bouygues family and managed by Hervé Berland, formerly at Mouton Rothschild, Montrose is one of the finest classed growths. Structured, long-living, this needs time to settle and open up but will be stunning. Pure dark currant and berry fruit, mineral and menthol notes, glossy oak and tannins and a lingering finish suggest this may be the finest Montrose since 1990.-Andy Howard MW, Decanter  

While this wine's tannins are powerful. they are buried in a surprisingly soft texture of rich black fruits. With both structure and ripe blackberry flavors, the wine is already balanced. A juicy aftertaste lifts the tannins, pushing the wine into greatness. Drink from 2025.-Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast  

Deep dark ruby, opaque core, subtle brightening on the rim. Multi-faceted bouquet: delicately floral with dark fruit – blackberry and black cherry, tobacco nuances and hints of spice. Juicy, attractive sweetness, elegant, freshly structure, well integrated tannins, ripe cherry, cassis and minerality on the finish, very good length. Great ageing potential.-Falstaff  

Deep purple-black hue. Still quite discreet on the nose but pure, fresh and precise. Blackcurrant notes as it opens. Palate powerful but refined with an enormous density of fine-grained tannin. Freshness lingers. Has that extra depth and great length and persistence. All set for the long haul. A benchmark wine.-James Lawther MW, JancisRobinson