2003 Château Montrose, France, Bordeaux, St. Estephe, Wine Review

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 with most meat or roasts.

Grade:

A+

Score:

Vintage:

2003

Current Price:

$210.00USD

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Bordeaux First Growths: Chateau Lafite, First Amongst First Growths

Of all Bordeaux first growths, perhaps none is as well known, both inside and outside of the wine world, as Chateau Lafite Rothschild. Its name transcends wine, standing as a symbol of luxury. How did it get this lofty reputation? And, more importantly is, it deserved? The answer to the second question is a definite yes. This article will explore the first question in more detail. The History: Records of this estate stretch as far back as 1234 when Gombaud de Lafite, abbot of the Vertheuil Monastery north of Pauillac, owned the property. The name Lafite comes from "la hite", a Gascon expression meaning "small hill." Records from the 14th century indicate that it was not a vineyard, but what the French call a seigneurie. This is an estate run by a lord and others who are effectively sharecroppers. The manor house was constructed in the 1500s and still standing today. Read part one of the First Growths Series. The Ségur family bought the property in the 1600s. Jacques de Ségur planted the vineyard in 1680 although grapes were no doubt grown before that. By the early 1700s, thanks to Nicolas-Alexandre, Marquis de Ségur, Chateau Lafite wines were very popular with those wealthy enough to afford them, first in English Society (where it was a favorite of Prime Minster Robert Walpole) and later in French society.

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Cheval Blanc: The “First Growth” of the Right Bank

When the wines of Bordeaux were classified in 1855 all of the wines were from the Left Bank of the Gironde River. In fact, with the exception of Haut Brion, which is from Graves, all of the wines classified were from the Medoc. Since that time, the winemaking areas of Bordeaux have greatly expanded. Some of the best wines in Bordeaux are now made on the Right Bank including some of the most expensive wines in the entire world. While there is no official classification system for all of Bordeaux, there can be no doubt that if such a system was implemented today, at least a few Right Bank wineries would make the list. Perhaps no winery deserves the mythical first growth of the Right Bank title more than Cheval Blanc. In fact, the wines of Saint Émilion, a commune on the Right Bank, were ranked in 1955 and Cheval Blanc was one of two that received the highest rank of Premier Grand Cru Classé (A). Those rankings were redone in 1969, 1986, and 1996 and most recently in 2006 (although that ranking is the subject of an ongoing legal dispute not relevant to Cheval Blanc) and Cheval Blanc has remained a First Growth in every subsequent ranking.

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2003 Château Montrose, France, Bordeaux, St. Estèphe,Wine Review

Vintage:

2003

Score:

Grade:

A+

Pop and pour and consumed over two nights. Much better on night 2. I know many people say 2003 was such a warm vintage that the wines are already mature. That might be true, but this one's best days are still to come. 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. Purple in color. The nose has cassis, graphite, cedar, and smoked cigar. On the palate, this is full bodied with medium tannins. Lush cassis and black cherry fruit layered with forest floor, damp earth and tobacco. Tightly layered. Long finish. This is delicious but very much from Bordeaux a

2016 La Dame de Montrose, France, Bordeaux, St. Estephe, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

Score:

Grade:

B+

Current Price:

$42.00USD

This is a second wine of Chateau Montrose. Tasted blind, with a tasting group, this was disappointing. It finished in last place for me and close to that for the group. It is a fine wine, but more was expected once the label was revealed. Purple in color, shimmering bright and opaque. The nose has cherries, black cherries and spice. On the palate, light tannins and sour cherries. Easy drinking. It is a blend of 52% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 13% Cabernet Franc. Right now, the Merlot dominates. Of course, with some, the Cabs could wake up and get the party started. Based

Borgueil: The Unpronounceable, Unforgettable King of Cabernet Franc

When I think of wine that is interesting, unique, obscure, high-value, and small-production, I think of Borgueil – the small wine region in France’s Loire Valley that produces almost exclusively Cabernet Franc.

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2003 Château Montrose, France, Bordeaux, St. Estephe, Wine Review

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Borgueil: The Unpronounceable, Unforgettable King of Cabernet Franc