Montrose 2005

Tasted at BBR’s 2005/2009 tasting in London. This has a superb nose with redcurrant, cranberry, limestone, a hint of cedar and graphite all very finely tuned. Intense rather than powerful. The palate is medium-bodied with a chalky entry, good acidity and tension, a firm masculine structure typical of Montrose with a terse grippy finish, sous-bois lingering beautifully in the mouth. Superb. Tasted July 2011.

In 2005, a very serious drought year stressed most vineyards in Bordeaux, which are all dry-farmed. The volume of rainfall was less than half the average of the previous 30 years. The clay subsoils at Montrose have always played a major role in not only dry years, but also in extremely hot ones, such as 2003, as they retain more moisture. The grapes were harvested between September 23 and October 9. This is a very powerful, full-bodied wine that is quite tannic, but the tannins are relatively velvety. The wine is rich, complex, majestic, multi-dimensional and also avoids any of the austerity that some 2005s possess. It has done quite well in its bottle evolution and should turn out to be a great Montrose, capable of lasting 30 to 50 years.

What wonderful nose of minerals, spices, dried flowers and currants. Full and dense, with lovely ripe fruit, yet reserved and telling you that there is so much more to come. Give it at least three to four more years of bottle age. This is just a baby. Tannic!