{"product_id":"2020-chateau-montrose-saint-estephe-grand-cru-classe","title":"2020 Château Montrose Saint-Estèphe Grand Cru Classé","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe 2020 Château Montrose Saint-Estèphe Grand Cru Classé is a benchmark Left Bank wine, uniting power, precision and aristocratic elegance in one of Bordeaux’s greatest terroirs. Crafted from a rigorously selected estate harvest and primarily Cabernet Sauvignon, it captures the deep, structured character that has made Saint-Estèphe famous, while remaining remarkably refined and polished. Highly acclaimed by critics – including a near-perfect 99–100\/100 from Antonio Galloni – this is a modern classic with a long life ahead of it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the glass, the 2020 Château Montrose shows a deep, saturated garnet-purple hue, almost opaque at the core, hinting at its concentration and youth. The nose unfolds gradually, beginning with blackcurrant and black cherry compote, then moving into layers of warm cassis, ripe plum, and blackberries, intertwined with notes of dark chocolate, licorice, cardamom, graphite and a delicate floral lift reminiscent of candied violets and dried rose petals. Subtle hints of cedar, tobacco leaf and crushed stone reflect both its élevage in fine oak and its gravelly terroir.\n\nOn the palate, this is medium to full-bodied yet beautifully poised, with impressive intensity delivered in a remarkably elegant, almost weightless frame. The core of ripe black fruit is pure and focused, framed by super-fine, ripe tannins that feel velvety rather than austere. Fresh acidity brings energy and length, carrying flavors of blackcurrant, plum, cocoa, spice and a touch of saline minerality through a very long, layered finish. Still firmly structured in its youth, this Montrose has excellent aging potential; it will benefit from 8–10 years of cellaring and should continue to evolve gracefully for 25+ years in a good cellar.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduction\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eChâteau Montrose is set on one of Saint-Estèphe’s greatest gravelly hilltops overlooking the Gironde estuary, a prime site that combines deep gravel, clay and sand with the moderating influence of the river. The 2020 is primarily Cabernet Sauvignon complemented by Merlot, Cabernet Franc and a touch of Petit Verdot, all sourced from meticulously tended estate parcels. Vineyard work is highly selective, with strict green harvesting and careful bunch selection to ensure perfect ripeness. Grapes are hand-harvested parcel by parcel, then sorted with great precision before vinification. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled vats, with gentle extraction to capture both density and finesse. The grand vin is then aged for around 18 months in French oak barrels, a significant proportion new, to add complexity, polish the tannins and underscore the wine’s impressive structure without overpowering its pure fruit and terroir expression.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood \u0026amp; Serving\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis powerful yet finely tuned Saint-Estèphe calls for equally refined cuisine. It is superb with roasted or grilled lamb (rack of lamb with rosemary and garlic, lamb saddle, or slow-braised lamb shoulder), prime rib or entrecôte, venison and other game, as well as classic Bordelais dishes such as entrecôte à la bordelaise. It also pairs beautifully with dishes featuring wild mushrooms, truffle, or root vegetables, and with aged hard cheeses such as Comté, Manchego or mature cheddar. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F) for optimal expression. In its youth, decant for 2–3 hours to let the bouquet open and the tannins soften; with more bottle age, a gentle 1-hour decant is enough to remove sediment and allow the wine to blossom.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eChâteau Montrose is one of the great names of the Médoc, classified as a Second Growth (Deuxième Grand Cru Classé) in the historic 1855 Bordeaux Classification. Located in Saint-Estèphe on a superb gravel plateau overlooking the Gironde, it has long been recognized for producing some of the most powerful, long-lived wines of the Left Bank. Under modern ownership and meticulous management, Montrose has combined its traditional strength and structure with greater precision, purity of fruit and environmental commitment, including sustainable and increasingly organic practices. Frequently rated at the very top of its appellation and often competing with First Growths in critical acclaim, Château Montrose is considered a reference point estate for collectors and serious Bordeaux lovers worldwide.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Château Montrose","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54251848106321,"sku":"GCW-MMUI-2092601","price":259.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0874\/0614\/9969\/files\/2019_Chteau_Montrose_SaintEstphe_Grand_Cru_Class_1.png?v=1783441823","url":"https:\/\/bottlehero.com\/products\/2020-chateau-montrose-saint-estephe-grand-cru-classe","provider":"Bottle Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}