Chateau Montrose   Montrose

1999 Montrose

By Chateau Montrose

1999 Montrose from Chateau Montrose, St-Estephe, Bordeaux

Akin to a finely-tailored suit from Savile Row, the 1999 Montrose from Chateau Montrose has been crafted with the kind of meticulous attention to detail that is the hallmark of this esteemed St-Estephe estate. The vintage itself was not without challenge; 1999 saw an untypically damp August, succeeded by resplendent September sun. These conditions set the stage for a harvest that required masterful selection and a keen eye for precision.

 

Unique Expressions of a Singular Vintage

With two decades of careful cellaring under its belt, the 1999 Montrose presents an intriguing panoply of attributes. Evidencing the estate’s adept handling of variable climatic cards, this vintage offers investors a unique narrative within their portfolio. Indeed, it is not merely about seeking out 'the stars’ amongst vintages but appreciating the nuances elicited by Bordeaux's capricious weather patterns.

 

Celebrating Maturity: A Wine at Its Apogee

On the palate, the 1999 reveals a rich tapestry of evolved flavours. Currants and ripe black cherries prevail, melded with subtle undertones of cigar box and truffle – a nod to Pauillac's old-world nobility across the Gironde estuary. Tannins, once robust and assertive, have softened into graceful structures which unveil the wine’s mature complexity in balanced measures.

For an astute fine wine investor, the 1999 Montrose stands as a prime example of St-Estephe's potential in crafting wines that stride impressively through their ageing journey. This maturity offers not just drinking pleasure but also appreciation as an asset that has navigated two decades with poise and finesse. As such, it exemplifies an intriguing opportunity for diversification and enrichment within one's collection.

In summary, the 1999 Montrose from Chateau Montrose resonates with the confidence of a vintage that has reached its prime. It characterises both a ripe investment opportunity and an elegant choice for sophisticated palates seeking Bordeaux wines with stories to tell – narratives woven between the vines and skies of St-Estephe.

Market price (SGD)

$3,010.00

12x75cl

Highest score

90

POP score

180

Scores and tasting notes

90

The black/purple-colored 1999 Montrose offers up notes of pure black fruits intermixed with minerals, smoke, and earth. It is extremely concentrated, surprisingly powerful and dense, with moderate tannin. Its size, strength, and medium to full-bodied personality are atypical for the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2025.

Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #140 Apr 2002

90

Tasted at the château, the 1999 Montrose is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot picked between 16 September and 1 October. It has an attractive bouquet with black fruit, iodine, tar and sandalwood: fresh and vibrant with commendable focus. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, masculine as usual for Montrose with a fine grip in the mouth. There is backbone and structure to this Montrose, counterpoised with a keen line of acidity and lovely cedar and pencil box notes towards the almost Pauillac-like finish. Whilst not the most exciting Montrose on the block, the 1999 will satiate those who like classic Saint Estèphe that is conservative, yet would complement whatever is at the dinner table. Tasted September 2016.

Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 31 March 2017

88

Tasted at the 1999 horizontal at Bordeaux Index. Again, this has a rather introverted, foursquare nose, tertiary like Calon-Segur, a touch of sandalwood, cigar box, a touch of garrigues (faint hint of white fennel and then

Neal Martin - Wine Journal Jul 2009

Vintage performance