Purple in color. The nose is earthy with cassis, graphite and smoke. On the palate, this has ripe fruit. Cassis with underlying spice and char. The tannins are slightly drying. Overall a nice complexity. This wine is about as good as it will get but should be good for ten to fifteen more years. It will go well with roasted fowl or meats.
Great showing for this chateau that I don't believe I had ever heard of much left tried. It is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with some Cabernet Franc. Purple in color. The nose is earthy with cassis, and some spice. On the palate, this has ripe fruit. A nice complexity and depth. Cassis layered with earth and gravel. Some tannins. This probably won't improve from here but it should be good for another ten years at least. It will work well with roasted meats or fowl and drinks well on its own. A great value.
A blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose has cherries, cassis and coffee. On the palate, this has a nice depth and complexity. Cassis fruit layered with spice and slight earthiness. Soft texture. Medium tannins. Good finish. This is a very pretty wine that just now seems to be closing in on peak. There is some more upside to this wine. It will work well with roasts or grilled foods.
This showed well if a bit less than hoped. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose has nice cassis fruit with some underlying baking spices. On the palate, this is a bit thin but nice cassis fruit. Sinewy texture. Tannins seem resolved. Drinks easy but tasty. Moderate finish. This seems like it is at peak and probably should be consumed in the next five to ten years. It will go well with stews or chili.
Labelled as Cru Bourgeois, half of this wine's production is typically kosher although this bottle was not so marked. A blend of 45% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot. Purple in color. The nose has plenty of barnyard with some cherries. On the palate, this is soft, but has a nice complexity. Plums and cherries. Light tannins. Moderate finish. This probably won't get better but should maintain this level for another ten to twelve years. It will go well with stews and casseroles.
This is a blend of 85% Merlot.
Deep golden on color, not quite brown. The nose has some slight smoke, slight lime and some walnut. On the palate, this is slightly oily. Some lanolin. Not much if any fruit left. Slightly bitter on the finish. I found it drinkable and interesting. Certainly over the hill, but not dead yet. Those more sensitive to oxidation had more issues with it. It certainly was far more oxidized than the 2009 consumed alongside it.
Light golden in color. The nose has smoke, lanolin and lemon peel. Medium bodied. On the palate, a slightly oily texture. Limes. Slight depth. Slightly bitter on the finish. At age eleven this is drinking well but probably past prime. It will last but it seems to be losing its fruit. Probably best to drink now. Will work with lighter food, perhaps chicken salad.
This is always a nice value in Sauternes. Its good without being crazy priced and in 2005, they rocked. Light golden in color. The nose has honey, pineapple, slight peach a ginger. Slightly viscous. The palate is sweet without being flabby. Honey and peaches. Clean finish. This is drinking well now and should continue for the next fifteen years. A nice match with a peach cobbler or less sweet fruit dessert.
Although 2003 was not a classic vintage in Bordeaux (it was extremely hot), this is a classic styled Montrose at age 17. 2003 Château Montrose is a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. Purple in color. Opaque and bright. The nose has some barnyard along with cassis, and a slight char. What a great texture. Luxurious, almost gelatinous. Lots of cassis fruit over some char and earth. Complex layers. Long finish. This seems to be at or close to peak but should be here for at least a decade. Drinking very well on its own and will work w
