Saint Estephe

This is the second wine of Chateau Montrose.  The blend is 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot.  Purple in color, shimmering bright and opaque.  The nose has cassis, sandalwood, spice, and tobacco.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is deep and powerful.  Cassis, and earthy with some char.  Long finish.  This will drink well for another ten years.  It will go well with a steak but also a home made Macaroni and Cheese.

Ruby in color with a purple core, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has sour cherries, some cassis, and slightly earthy with some attic dust.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate sour cherries and black cherries.  Nice finish.  A nice wine, but the tartness will require some food to balance.  Perhaps Roasted Duck would work nicely.  Drink over the next seven to twelve years.  

This is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 25% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot from the very good 1996 vintage in Bordeaux.  purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  There is some cassis but mostly dried fruits, tobacco, cigar box, dried leather and some spice.  Medium bodied with good acidity.  On the palate, this is complex and fully mature.  It doesn't seem much past though (depending on how you like older Bordeaux).  Black cherry fruit, dried cherries, forest floor, and slight spice.

A good vintage if better on the right bank, this wine is drinking at or maybe slightly past peak, but still very nice.   It is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.  Old school in style.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with tobacco, cassis, forest floor and spice.  Full bodied.  On the palate, cassis, tobacco with underlying earthiness.  Good texture.  Complex.  Long finish.  This is great on its own and will work nicely with lamb chops.  Drink over the next few years.  

Classic Cos from the great B2K vintage.  This has been a very slow developing vintage and the better wines are finally showing their wares.  Purple in color with slight ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is vibrant with cassis, black cherries, soy sauce, spice, and leather.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, Cassis, black cherries, some dried cherries with underlying spices.  Some mint on the finish. This is just starting to approach peak and should drink well for the next twelve to fifteen years.  A nice match for roasted fowl.  

Great showing for this wine.  The vintage was good if not great, but at age 20, this is vibrant and youthful.  Purple in color with some ruby swirls, opaque and bright.  The first sniff has that classic soy sauce note often found in Cos.  Also black cherries, cigar box, and slight roasted meats.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this has a great lush texture.  Medium tannins.  Lots of cassis with some smoke and a bit of earthiness.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This was pop and pour and really could have used an hour or so in a decanter.  It needs a few more years until maturity but no harm in

consumed after a few hours in a decanter.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis, char, and spice.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this has a silky lush texture.  Very tannic.  Lots of cassis with some smoke/char.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  This needs another seven to ten years to get close to maturity, then it should drink well for ten to fifteen more.  This will need big flavors in food to not get overwhelmed.  Maybe a Bacon, Mushroom, Cheeseburger?  

From the great 2018 vintage, this is one that is drinking quite well at this young age with just a bit of air.   It is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis, cinnamon, spice and black cherries.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is showing a nice depth and complexity.  Delicious.  Medium but firm tannins.  Flavors of cassis, leather, spice and slight dry earthiness.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  This will continue to mature over the next five to seven years, but drinks well now and will for the n

This is the second wine of Cos D'Estournel.  It is a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc.  Deep purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with dust cassis, cherries, soy sauce, slight tobacco and spice.  A great lush texture.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, cassis, black cherries, with spice and slight tobacco notes.  Long finish.  This needs another seven to ten years to mature and will drink well for ten to fifteen after that.  It will work well with roasted meats such as Roasted Lamb with garlic.  

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