2003 Château Montrose St. Estèphe Bordeaux France Wine Tasting Note

219336 Views

2003
98
Showy flamboyant, rich, lush, ripe, and packed with layers of deep, dark, red, and black fruits, opulent textures, and a finish that keeps on going. This is simply great now and could be even better with a 3-5 more years of bottle age.

Showy flamboyant, rich, lush, ripe, and packed with layers of deep, dark, red, and black fruits, opulent textures, and a finish that keeps on going. This is simply great now and could be even better with a 3-5 more years of bottle age.

7,176 Views   Tasted
Opulent, rich, full-bodied, showy and intense, this feels just great as layers of perfectly ripe, sensuous black and red fruits glide over your palate. There is no heat, jamminess or overripe characteristics. What you do experience with all its lush, velvety, showy fruit is layer after layer of intensity, richness and pleasure. Decanted about 90 minutes, this rock star hits all the right notes.

Opulent, rich, full-bodied, showy and intense, this feels just great as layers of perfectly ripe, sensuous black and red fruits glide over your palate. There is no heat, jamminess or overripe characteristics. What you do experience with all its lush, velvety, showy fruit is layer after layer of intensity, richness and pleasure. Decanted about 90 minutes, this rock star hits all the right notes.

10,471 Views   Tasted
This is a super wine, although this bottle was not as expressive as other recently tasted examples, still, it is impossible not to be wowed by the flamboyant, showy nature. The tannins and fruit are expressive opulent and rich. The showy finish keeps on going. Drink this now, or over the next 20 or more years.

This is a super wine, although this bottle was not as expressive as other recently tasted examples, still, it is impossible not to be wowed by the flamboyant, showy nature. The tannins and fruit are expressive opulent and rich. The showy finish keeps on going. Drink this now, or over the next 20 or more years.

17,677 Views   Tasted
Just stunning! The licorice, smoke, espresso, blackberry and cassis perfume almost overwhelms your senses. Full bodied, intense and mouth-filling, the wine coats your palate with, rich dark, opulent layers of fruit. Young and not close to mature, because the fruits are so ripe and the tannins and so polished, you can enjoy this now, or wait a decade.

Just stunning! The licorice, smoke, espresso, blackberry and cassis perfume almost overwhelms your senses. Full bodied, intense and mouth-filling, the wine coats your palate with, rich dark, opulent layers of fruit. Young and not close to mature, because the fruits are so ripe and the tannins and so polished, you can enjoy this now, or wait a decade.

20,743 Views   Tasted
A little more discreet, or quiet than previous bottles, while this lacked some of its showy quality, there was no denying layer after layer of perfectly ripe, earthy fruit, Cuban cigar wrapper, truffle and stone that was found in every sniff. On the palate, the wine is rich, full bodied, deep and impressive. This is drinking great today, and it will only get better over the next several years.

A little more discreet, or quiet than previous bottles, while this lacked some of its showy quality, there was no denying layer after layer of perfectly ripe, earthy fruit, Cuban cigar wrapper, truffle and stone that was found in every sniff. On the palate, the wine is rich, full bodied, deep and impressive. This is drinking great today, and it will only get better over the next several years.

23,126 Views   Tasted
The nose, with its truffle, tobacco, spice box, blackberry, cassis, cigar wrapper and dark cherry nose could not get any better. But the perfume is only part of the show. The main event is on the palate, where this exotic, decadent wine really shows its stuff. Fat, rich and intense, there is intense concentration, silky, tannins and a mouth filling, powerful, yet regal, supple finish that sticks with you for at least one full minute!

The nose, with its truffle, tobacco, spice box, blackberry, cassis, cigar wrapper and dark cherry nose could not get any better. But the perfume is only part of the show. The main event is on the palate, where this exotic, decadent wine really shows its stuff. Fat, rich and intense, there is intense concentration, silky, tannins and a mouth filling, powerful, yet regal, supple finish that sticks with you for at least one full minute!

25,691 Views   Tasted
Still showing a lot of color, smoke, licorice, truffle, forest floor, fresh herbs, leafs, cigar wrapper, Asian spice and cedar chest make a compelling perfume. On the palate, the wine is powerful, dense and mouth filling, yet equally balanced, supple and rich. Everything is exactly where it should be. This is not a candidate for 50 years of aging like 1989 or 1990, but in its own way, it’s close to the same level of quality. The finish remained alive for more than 60 seconds. Bravo! This could be the wine of the vintage! The wine was produced from a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot.

Still showing a lot of color, smoke, licorice, truffle, forest floor, fresh herbs, leafs, cigar wrapper, Asian spice and cedar chest make a compelling perfume. On the palate, the wine is powerful, dense and mouth filling, yet equally balanced, supple and rich. Everything is exactly where it should be. This is not a candidate for 50 years of aging like 1989 or 1990, but in its own way, it’s close to the same level of quality. The finish remained alive for more than 60 seconds. Bravo! This could be the wine of the vintage! The wine was produced from a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot.

30,309 Views   Tasted
Tobacco, cedar chest, cassis, forest floor, espresso and cigar box aromas make their way to the perfume. On the palate, the wine is all about power matched with grace and elegance. Long and intense, with sweet, roasted berries, slightly dusty tannins and cassis in the finish. Drink this now, or age it for years.

Tobacco, cedar chest, cassis, forest floor, espresso and cigar box aromas make their way to the perfume. On the palate, the wine is all about power matched with grace and elegance. Long and intense, with sweet, roasted berries, slightly dusty tannins and cassis in the finish. Drink this now, or age it for years.

28,147 Views   Tasted
2003 Chateau Montrose hooks you with the first sniff of its exotic, liqueur aromas complicated by wet earth, incense, blackberry jam, cassis, cedar wood, tobacco and truffle. This is so rich, you can drink it or eat it. The ripe tannins are incredibly silky and lush. The expansive, palate coating finish gets better and better as it remains on your palate for over 60 seconds. This is worth buying today. While it’s not cheap, few wines are this good.

2003 Chateau Montrose hooks you with the first sniff of its exotic, liqueur aromas complicated by wet earth, incense, blackberry jam, cassis, cedar wood, tobacco and truffle. This is so rich, you can drink it or eat it. The ripe tannins are incredibly silky and lush. The expansive, palate coating finish gets better and better as it remains on your palate for over 60 seconds. This is worth buying today. While it’s not cheap, few wines are this good.

30,019 Views   Tasted
Very lush, powerfull and concentrated. The mouth feel is opulent. Floral aromas, wood and red with black fruits. This is a knockout

Very lush, powerfull and concentrated. The mouth feel is opulent. Floral aromas, wood and red with black fruits. This is a knockout

25,977 Views   Tasted

When to Drink Chateau Montrose, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau Montrose is a wine that demands time in the cellar. Due to the large amount of tannins, concentration, and structure, the wine is always better with at least 10-20 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage.

Chateau Montrose offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 15-50 or more years after the vintage. Young vintages should be decanted for at least 2-4 hours. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment

Chateau Montrose Style and Character of the Wine

Chateau Montrose at its best is powerful, refined, masculine, elegant, and complex. The fruit has a richness that fills your mouth and coats your palate. But the wines are also firm and tannic.

The wine of Chateau Montrose can age and evolve for decades. In fact, purchasers should know, that in the best vintages, the wine requires decades to develop. Chateau Montrose is seldom a wine that is fun to taste in its youth. It's a very long, lived wine.

The 1921 Montrose tasted recently was still in top form! If you've ever wondered why Chateau Montrose is prized by Bordeaux lovers all over the world, 1989 Chateau Montrose is the wine to buy.

That being said, for a Montrose to age, the 2009 Chateau Montrose is off the charts, deserving its 100 Pt score and a place in your cellar, if you can afford it! Chateau Montrose has been one of the top producers in Bordeaux for decades. However, under the direction of Herve Berland, it looks like the best is yet to come.

Serving Chateau Montrose with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Chateau Montrose is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.

Chateau Montrose is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes. Chateau Montrose is a perfect match with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta as well as cheese.

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