2017 Dame de Montrose
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Tasting notes
Tasted blind. Deep ruby colour. Slightly dusty, savoury aromas – dried leaves and cedar. Spicy. Muscular, high tannin and high acidity give a strict, rigid mouthfeel. There is good, vibrant red fruit underneath with a hint of blackcurrant. The spice is subtle, integrated into the wine. It might just be too much structure to handle the fruit. (TP)
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
The 2017 La Dame de Montrose has come together well during its élevage, but it remains a bit burly in feel and in need of more time in bottle to soften some of the edges. Sweet tobacco, cedar, grilled herbs, chocolate, menthol and licorice add pretty savory and earthy top notes. I would give the 2017 another few years in bottle. It finishes with terrific depth, in the understated style of the year. Tasted two times.
The 2017 La Dame de Montrose is a blend of 49% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot, aged in 30% new and 70% one-year old barrels for 12 months. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it leaps from the glass with warm red currants, black cherries and black raspberry scents, followed by earthy/underbrush notions plus hints of violets, dark chocolate and pencil lead. Medium to full-bodied and firm, with loads of mouth-coating juicy fruit, it has a velvety texture and long, mineral-laced finish. It should be approachable pretty much from the get-go, although don't let its precociousness make you underestimate its aging potential. Nicely done!
The 2017 La Dame de Montrose is attired in a newly redesigned label embossed with the roses that represent those cultivated at the end of vine rows. It has a very composed bouquet with blackberry, bilberry and briary aromas, nicely focused and with satisfying freshness. The palate is really all you could wish for in a second wine: approachable, fresh, well balanced with a slightly grainy texture. The fruit appears very clean and precise and the harmony on the finish encourages another sip. It is more approachable than some of the previous vintages, insofar that after a 12 to 18 months in bottle, this will be ready to go. Worth seeking out.
About the producer
Ch. Montrose is one of two Second Growths from Saint-Estèphe and one of the most consistent producers in Bordeaux. The wines from this property are both elegant and powerful, and some of the Médoc's most age-worthy .