20 Rene Gabriel
Unglaublich, dicht, fast schwarz, undurchdringliche Mitte. Viel Würze, mehr Würze wie Frucht im Moment, Rauch, Trüffel, ein Hauch Korinthen, Mokka, dunkle Edelhölzer, Havannakiste, extrem tiefschürfend, erinnert nicht wenig an seinen eigenen 2003er. Im Gaumen monumental, deutlich fordernde Adstringenz, nicht masochistisch, aber doch verlangend, die fleischigen Tannine sind mit erstem Schmelz umgeben und zeigen so die Sonderklasse der eigenen Gerbstoffe, im Finale schon fast dramatisch mit ellenlangem Nachklang. Von der Grösse her am ehesten eventuell mit dem 1989er zu vergleichen. Doch dieser wirkt halt leider von der Vinifikation her improvisiert. Dieser 2009er ist von der Machart her absolut perfekt. warten (2019 - 2060)
100 Robert Parker
A brilliant wine that stands out as one of the high points of the vintage, the 2009 Montrose unwinds in the glass with a rich and incipiently complex bouquet of dark berries, cigar wrapper and loamy soil, framed by a deftly judged touch of new oak. Full-bodied, broad and enveloping, it's a velvety, layered and impressively dynamic wine that's deep and concentrated, exhibiting terrific balance and a long, resonant finish. While it is still five or six years away from showing all its cards, I have drunk this benchmark for contemporary Montrose with immense pleasure three times this year. In style, it's hard to find an obvious comparison (and I have drunk Montrose back to 1895), but I would be inclined to invoke a fresher, more complete and more powerful version of the estate's very successful 2003.
100 Robert Parker
A brilliant wine that stands out as one of the high points of the vintage, the 2009 Montrose unwinds in the glass with a rich and incipiently complex bouquet of dark berries, cigar wrapper and loamy soil, framed by a deftly judged touch of new oak. Full-bodied, broad and enveloping, it's a velvety, layered and impressively dynamic wine that's deep and concentrated, exhibiting terrific balance and a long, resonant finish. While it is still five or six years away from showing all its cards, I have drunk this benchmark for contemporary Montrose with immense pleasure three times this year. In style, it's hard to find an obvious comparison (and I have drunk Montrose back to 1895), but I would be inclined to invoke a fresher, more complete and more powerful version of the estate's very successful 2003.
100 James Suckling
Blueberries, currants and Indian spices on the nose follow through to a full body, with ultra-fine tannins and a lovely finish. It's intense and refined. A beauty. It goes on for minutes. Speechless. Better and cleaner than the great 1990. Try in 2022.
20 Rene Gabriel
Unglaublich, dicht, fast schwarz, undurchdringliche Mitte. Viel Würze, mehr Würze wie Frucht im Moment, Rauch, Trüffel, ein Hauch Korinthen, Mokka, dunkle Edelhölzer, Havannakiste, extrem tiefschürfend, erinnert nicht wenig an seinen eigenen 2003er. Im Gaumen monumental, deutlich fordernde Adstringenz, nicht masochistisch, aber doch verlangend, die fleischigen Tannine sind mit erstem Schmelz umgeben und zeigen so die Sonderklasse der eigenen Gerbstoffe, im Finale schon fast dramatisch mit ellenlangem Nachklang. Von der Grösse her am ehesten eventuell mit dem 1989er zu vergleichen. Doch dieser wirkt halt leider von der Vinifikation her improvisiert. Dieser 2009er ist von der Machart her absolut perfekt. warten (2019 - 2060)
100 James Suckling
Blueberries, currants and Indian spices on the nose follow through to a full body, with ultra-fine tannins and a lovely finish. It's intense and refined. A beauty. It goes on for minutes. Speechless. Better and cleaner than the great 1990. Try in 2022.
97 Wine Spectator
A bit of a brute, with a very chewy bittersweet ganache, tobacco and roasted fig core splayed open right now by a dagger of roasted apple wood, allspice and cedar. Long and dense through the finish, with a strong singed iron edge. The stuffing is certainly there, but this will take a while to come together as it's running unbridled right now. Proves you can still get classic old-school Bordeaux. Best from 2020 through 2040. 17,000 cases made. –JM
97 Wine Spectator
A bit of a brute, with a very chewy bittersweet ganache, tobacco and roasted fig core splayed open right now by a dagger of roasted apple wood, allspice and cedar. Long and dense through the finish, with a strong singed iron edge. The stuffing is certainly there, but this will take a while to come together as it's running unbridled right now. Proves you can still get classic old-school Bordeaux. Best from 2020 through 2040. 17,000 cases made. –JM
