2014 Château Montrose, St Estèphe, Bordeaux []

A dark black-red, Montrose is brooding in the glass. Complex and concentrated on the nose, there are blackcurrants, liquorice and hints of mint. There is a nice intensity on the palate, quite firm, full-bodied and full of minerals and spice. Perhaps more refined than usual, the wine is really rewarding and quite generous with notes of fleshy dark cherry and blackcurrants. There is an inherent richness here, a lovely dark fruit profile and pure, focused tannins which are typical of this great estate. This is a really fine effort, engaging, atypical of the great commune of St Estèphe and one of our favourites from the vintage. Modern and pure, it is a perfect expression of modern Ch. Montrose.

30% Merlot, 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Petit Verdot, 8% Cabernet Franc