Montrose 2007

One of the stars of the vintage, the 2007 Montrose boasts a deep blue/purple color as well as a sweet bouquet of creme de cassis, crushed rocks, and spring flowers. Dense and opulent with silky tannins, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, a long finish, and no hard edges, this beauty should drink well for 15+ years. Drink 2010-2025.

Tasted blind at the 2007 Bordeaux horizontal in Southwold. The Montrose 2007 does not have the same complexity as its peers on the nose: quite subtle and demanding coaxing from the glass, eventually offering ripe blackberry, pomegranate and a touch of cedar. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, quite cohesive but a little soft in texture towards the fleshy finish. Once it was revealed as Montrose, I must take into account that it rarely shows well in its youth and probably deserved more decanting, hence the plus sign. Tasted January 2011.

Berry and citrus fruit on the nose and palate. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a soft-textured finish. Pleasant and fruity. Friendly and caressing. Just a touch hollow in the midpalate

The most atypical Montrose I have ever tasted, but Jean-Bernard Delmas insists this is all part of the great update. 62% of the harvest went into the grand vin. 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot! 60% new barrels. Very dark purple. Light nose with some obvious Cabernet leafiness. Very soft tannins and then a little acidity and astringency on the finish. Lively fruit but terribly round and light. Unrecognisable from other more typical vintages of Montrose. Jean-Bernard Delmas is especially proud of the roundness of the tannins here there’s everything you need and no excess. Certainly no-one could accuse this wine of having an excess of anything it’s almost a shadow! Drink 2012-18

Bright ruby-red. Subdued aromas of currant, licorice and tobacco leaf. Suave and sweet for St. Estephe, with a currant flavor complicated by olive, mocha, shoe polish, mint and a light saline nuance. Offers good volume and breadth for the year and expands nicely on the back end. Finishes with sweet, silky tannins, a light herbal element and decent cut.

It is not the usual heavyweight but has a very fragrant charm. Violets spring out of the nose with behind them black fruits, lighter bilberry to the fore with weightier cassis in the background. The tannins are firm but feel ripe. The usual Montrose concentration does appear right at the back.

Black-red, slightly smoky nose, very Cabernet and very fine concentration of ripe berry fruit, with fine terroir expression and masses of fruit in reserve to open up, backed by fine tannins. Drink 2015-25. 4 stars.