La Dame de Montrose - Château Montrose - Saint-Estèphe 2018

Vinous

90-92 / 100

byNeal Martinthe11/15/2019

The 2018 La Dame de Montrose has a sweet black cherry and crème de cassis scented bouquet, scents of violet developing in the glass. It is like an exaggerated version of the previous vintage. The palate is medium-bodied with thick tannin. There is real volume and density to this La Dame de Montrose, the Cabernet Sauvignon expressive and imparting a graphite like note, despite being proportionately less than the Merlot in the blend. This is a very well crafted La Dame de Montrose that is going to give 15 to 20 years of drinking pleasure.

WeinWisser

18 / 20

the5/7/2019

Vinous

90-92 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe5/1/2019

The 2018 La Dame de Montrose is a wine of pure and total sensuality. Deep, textured and beautifully perfumed, La Dame has so much to offer. Dark red fruit, wild flowers, cedar, sweet tobacco and anise give La Dame striking aromatic presence to play off its rich, layered fruit. Powerful and very Saint-Estèphe in bearing, La Dame is gorgeous in 2018. I won't be surprised if the 2018 turns out even better than this note suggests.

Jeb DUNNUCK

92-94 / 100

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/1/2019

Production was down substantially for Château Montrose, who has moved all to organic farming as of 2019. Starting with the second wine of this great estate, the 2018 La Dame De Montrose is a blend of 52% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit aged 12 months in 30% new French oak. Fabulous notes of black cherries, espresso, graphite, and earth all flow to a richly textured, fleshy yet structured second wine that has ample tannins, beautiful purity, and a great finish. It's going to benefit from short-term cellaring.

Vinifera

92 /

byJacques Perrinthe5/1/2019

Notes de fruits mûrs, de prune. Bouche à l'attaque tendre, très fruits rouges. Trame un peu floue à l'évolution. Il finit sur un tanin un peu compact à ce stade mais offre un très joli potentiel.

The Wine Cellar Insider

92-94 / 100

byJeff Levethe4/23/2019

Classified Growth in quality, it is hard to believe this is a second wine. Full-bodied, juicy and ripe, this is a serious mouthful of sweet Cabernet Sauvignon with pop, length and complexity. Give this 4-5 years in the cellar. The wine was produced from blending 52% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc.

Wine Advocate

90-92 / 100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe4/23/2019

Composed of 52% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc, harvested from September 17 to October 5, the deep garnet-purple colored 2018 La Dame de Montrose delivers a profound nose of baked plums, blackberry preserves and raisin cake with touches of dark chocolate, licorice, Chinese five spice and sandalwood. Full-bodied, rich and opulent in the mouth, it fills the palate with ripe, generous fruit, backed by firm, rounded tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and spicy.

Jamessuckling.com

95-96 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/12/2019

Very dense center palate to the La Dame this year with purity of fruit and round, velvety tannins. Juicy, too. Sexy. Reminds me of the 1989 Montrose!

Jean-Marc QUARIN

92 / 100

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/8/2019

Yvesbeck.wine

93-94 / 100

byYves Beckthe4/1/2019

52% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot
Pourpre violacé. Bouquet élégant, invitant aux notes de mûres et de réglisse. Mise en bouche suave et crémeuse. Au palais le vin est crémeux, équilibré et invitant. Il cumule ampleur et finesse. Les tannins sont parfaitement intégrés et présentent un grain fin. Ils sont quelque peu astringents en fin de bouche mais je pense que l’élevage saura remédier à ceci. Il y a beaucoup de puissance à gérer et les angles vont s’arrondir. Une grande dame ! Elle ira loin et il faudra savoir patienter. 2023-2038

Decanter.com

91 / 100

byJane Ansonthe4/1/2019

I can see here a comparison with 2009 in terms of generosity and enjoyment. It's a big wine with lots of structure, so during extractions they had to be careful to stay on the cooler side, between 26°C and 28°C, the lowest since 2014. This has traces of heat, although it has clearly been extremely carefully handled and is well balanced. Ripe black fruits, rosemary and black olive notes are countered by tannins that gather at the end of the palate, showing just how much is going on here. Harvested commenced on 17 September and ran into October. 81IPT. 16% press wine.
Drinking Window 2024 - 2036