2017 Montus Cuvee Prestige

Full bottle 1,325 g. 100% Tannat aged in 100% new oak for 24 months. Deep garnet/crimson colour. Strong saline herbal note. Very 'thick' texture that reminds me rather of the St-Émilions of the turn of the century. With the same pinched acid and tannin on the rather drying end. I'm sure the fruit was originally top notch but it needs a heck of a lot of taming and there seems to be a bit of hot alcohol on the end. Needs a lot of time, and faith. Really quite painful at the moment – almost sour on the finish. I look forward to tasting the 2010. It may be an explanatory revelation. (JR)