{"product_id":"2020-chateau-montrose-la-dame-de-montrose-saint-estephe","title":"2020 Château Montrose La Dame de Montrose Saint-Estèphe","description":"\u003cp\u003e2020 La Dame de Montrose is the refined second wine of the legendary Château Montrose in Saint-Estèphe, crafted to the same exacting standards as the grand vin and sourced from the same gravelly vineyards overlooking the Gironde. Dominated by plush, silky Merlot and supported by Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it offers a more approachable, seductive interpretation of this prestigious terroir. Created in 1983 as a homage to Yvonne Charmolüe, who single-handedly managed Château Montrose from 1944 to 1960, La Dame de Montrose has become one of Bordeaux’s benchmark second wines, prized for its consistency and early-drinking charm.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the glass, the 2020 La Dame de Montrose shows a deep, vibrant ruby-purple hue, hinting at both concentration and freshness. The nose is perfumed and lifted, with pure black cherry and blueberry notes wrapped in violets, rose petals and a touch of graphite, supported by subtle hints of cedar, cocoa and sweet spice from its time in French oak.\n\nThe palate is supple yet structured, with the generous, velvety texture of ripe Merlot giving immediate pleasure. Dark berries, black cherries and plums are layered with notes of crushed flowers, wild herbs and a delicate mineral edge typical of Saint-Estèphe. Fine-grained tannins and lively acidity provide balance and energy, making the wine already very accessible in its youth. While this vintage does not require decades in the cellar, it should evolve gracefully over 8–15 years, gaining softness and complexity while retaining its vibrant fruit.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduction\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe fruit for La Dame de Montrose comes from the same prime Saint-Estèphe vineyards as Château Montrose, planted on deep gravel mixed with sand and clay, facing the Gironde estuary. This classic Médoc terroir provides excellent drainage and a cooling influence, allowing Merlot and Cabernet varieties to ripen slowly and evenly while preserving aromatic freshness. Grapes are meticulously sorted and harvested parcel by parcel at optimal ripeness, then vinified with the same care as the grand vin. The blend, led by more than 50% Merlot and completed by Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, is aged for around 12 months in French oak, about 30% of which is new, adding polish and subtle spice without overpowering the fruit.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood \u0026amp; Serving\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis 2020 La Dame de Montrose is an excellent partner for classic French bistro dishes such as entrecôte with herb butter, roast lamb with thyme, duck breast, or a rich beef stew like boeuf bourguignon. It also pairs beautifully with mushroom dishes, roasted root vegetables, hard cheeses such as Comté or aged Gouda, and charcuterie. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F) for optimal expression. In its youth, a light decanting of 30–60 minutes helps the aromas open and the tannins soften; as it gains a few years in bottle, a shorter aeration will be enough to bring out its refined bouquet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eChâteau Montrose is one of the great historic estates of Saint-Estèphe, classified as a Second Growth (Deuxième Cru Classé) in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification and renowned for producing powerful, long-lived wines from its gravelly, riverside terroir. Under visionary ownership and investment over recent decades, Montrose has become a reference point for precision and sustainability in the Médoc, consistently matching or surpassing many higher-ranked estates. La Dame de Montrose, introduced in 1983, has played a key role in this success by allowing the château to refine selection for the grand vin while offering wine lovers a more approachable, earlier-drinking expression of Montrose’s exceptional vineyards and winemaking expertise.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Château Montrose","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54255189328209,"sku":"GCW-MONT-20203-1","price":59.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0874\/0614\/9969\/files\/2018_Chteau_Montrose_La_Dame_de_Montrose_SaintEstphe_1_1.png?v=1783457084","url":"https:\/\/bottlehero.com\/products\/2020-chateau-montrose-la-dame-de-montrose-saint-estephe","provider":"Bottle Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}