Montrose 2005

This was the last vintage for the Charmolue family - Jean-Bernard Delmas oversaw the elevage of this wine. Deep garnet in color with a touch of brick at the rim, the 2005 Montrose is composed of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. After a little shaking, the nose erupts with a fantastic perfume of blackcurrant pastilles, kirsch, raisin cake, and forest floor, leading to hints of aniseed, cracked black pepper, and unsmoked cigars. The medium-bodied palate has a rock-solid backbone of firm, grainy tannins and bold freshness supporting the muscular black fruits, finishing very long and minerally. 2027-2052

The last year for Montrose under the Charmolüe family, before the Bouygues bought in 2006. Inky plum in colour, moreish from the very first sip. So juicy, such well controlled extraction, balanced but intense and concentrated, with layers of still-vibrant cassis, bilberry, eucalyptus and cocoa bean. You can now clearly see where this is heading, but it will continue to build over the next few years, and then stay on the plateau for decades. Proof that whatever the Bouygues paid for it the following year, they were getting one of the greatest estates in the Médoc. 60% new oak.

Tasted blind. Sweet, luscious nose. Lots of raciness and grace. Masses of tannin buried under really rather fine fruit. Dry but not drying finish. Pretty sophisticated.Drink 2019-2040

Good bright ruby-red. Very ripe aromas of plum, flint and nutty oak. Large-scaled, rich and explosive, offering impressive volume and a sensation of power. The ripeness here verges on syrupy and this lush, round wine may well need a decade to lose some of its baby fat and assume its adult shape. The big, ripe tannins coat the teeth.

Savoury, berry nose and generous mouth-feel. Fruit closed and chewy tannins. Lots of promise and a big finish. Drink from 2011. Awarded 3 stars.

The Château Montrose 2005 has a quite brilliant bouquet with intense blackberry, cedar and tobacco scents that unfold in compelling fashion - but don't give too much away. The palate is full-bodied, a Montrose of ""architecture"" thanks to its vaulted tannin, perfect acidity and immense precision on the long finish. Everything here feel natural and effortless and yet it is clearly a 50+ year old wine. This is a fabulous Montrose, one built like a Bentley. Drink 2020 - 2060

In 2005, a very serious drought year stressed most vineyards in Bordeaux, which are all dry-farmed. The volume of rainfall was less than half the average of the previous 30 years. The clay subsoils at Montrose have always played a major role in not only dry years, but also in extremely hot ones, such as 2003, as they retain more moisture. The grapes were harvested between September 23 and October 9. This is a very powerful, full-bodied wine that is quite tannic, but the tannins are relatively velvety. The wine is rich, complex, majestic, multi-dimensional and also avoids any of the austerity that some 2005s possess. It has done quite well in its bottle evolution and should turn out to be a great Montrose, capable of lasting 30 to 50 years.

Rated 96+ points by Robert Parker in an email news letter, dated 13.10.09...''Again, the most remarkable thing about this tasting was the extraordinary quality of the wines. Cos d'Estournel and Larcis Ducasse were both very closed, and I was shocked by how open, rich, and sweet the Ducru-Beaucaillou was. I wasn't surprised by the great performances of Pavie, Pape-Clément, Angèlus, La Mission Haut-Brion, l'Eglise-Clinet, and Troplong Mondot. While 2005 is a frightfully expensive vintage, it is the real deal, and I was glad to see the sweetness of the tannins throughout the wines as well as their incredible stuffing and richness.''

The 2005 Montrose is an exceptionally tannic, broodingly backward offering displaying a dense ruby/purple color along with a provocative perfume of crushed rocks, flowers, cassis, black raspberries, and blueberries. It continues to add weight and richness, good traits considering the substantial, forbiddingly high tannin levels and zesty acidity. If you are over the age of fifty, this backward, powerful wine will probably be more enjoyable to your descendants. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2040+

Fashioned from a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the 2005 Montrose exhibits huge tannin, powerful floral, blueberry, and cassis flavors, and more weight as well as richness than last year. While surprisingly high in alcohol (13.2%) for a Montrose, that component is nicely balanced by the high tannin and decent acidity. This blockbuster will need a decade or more of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2040+.

The big news in Bordeaux is the potential sale (it had not been finalized at the time of publication) of Chateau Montrose. The 2005 Montrose does not quite measure up to the 2003, but it is a beautiful effort. A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc as well as a dollop of Petit Verdot, it possesses an inky/blue/purple color in addition to a sweet, provocative nose of creme de cassis, crushed rocks, graphite, and subtle wood. Medium to full-bodied, elegant yet powerful, fresh, and nuanced, the acids are higher and the pH lower in 2005 than in 2002. The 2005 should be a long-lived classic, but patience will be required despite the relatively high alcohol (13.2%), which is counterbalanced by some of the highest tannins ever measured. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2035.

Raspberries, currants and spices on the nose. Full-bodied, with a very focused palate of fruit and fine tannins. Fresh finish. Long. Racy wine.

The 2005 Montrose is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 3.5% Cabernet Franc, and 0.5% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-brick in color, it is quite sluggish and broody on the nose to start, eventually giving way to fragrant red and black currant preserves, stewed black plums, and blackberry jam notes, followed by nuances of potpourri, fragrant soil, crushed rocks, and pencil lead. Medium-bodied, the palate remains very tightly wound, featuring firm, super-ripe tannins and a lively backbone, finishing long and minerally. Give this Montrose a good five more years in bottle, at least, and drink it over the next 25 years+.

Heady, sweetly perfumed. Quite a bit of acidity and then very stolid indeed. Half way between classic St-Estèphe and something more modern. A transitional wine? Dry, light finish. 13%Drink 2020-2045

Dark and chewy and much sweeter and less rigorous than usual. Perhaps because the tannins are so exceptionally ripe. Deep and dense with very fine depth- more lift than the samples of Cos tasted, though perhaps not the sheer density and solidity. Very fine dry mouthful. Fine tannins. Quite sinewy. Very fine and the power is relatively well hidden. The infamous IPT (tannin index) was apparently even higher here than a Cos- though perhaps we don't want to get into competition in this respect. Drink 2017-30