Representing a majestic sweep through the final decade of the Charmolue family's 110 year ownership, this vertical tasting offers our members an emphatic confirmation of the quality and consistency of Chateau Montrose's wines, nuanced across a variety of growing conditions. Richard Bampfield MW will guide us through eight vintages of the grand vin between 1996 and 2005 complemented by a ninth wine, the 2008 vintage of the second wine, La Dame de Montrose.
Positioned on a very well-drained gravelly outcrop in St.Estephe close to the temperature regulating river Gironde, Montrose produces majestic long-lived clarets year after year: structured, powerful, fruit-packed, intense and deep, elegant and refined, with complexity drawn from Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot clearly distinguishable in the predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon blend. Originally that outcrop was clad in pink heather leading to the Chateau adopting sailors' nickname for the hill – Mont Rose.
Few would dispute that Montrose has long been a super-second amongst its peers in that tier of the 1855 classification and making some of the very best wines in Bordeaux. But that is all the more remarkable given that its wines were commanding the requisite level of 1855 auction prices after only forty years under vine. This was the shortest track record within the Classification and a glowing tribute to its first owner Etienne Dumoulin. By the time of his death in 1861 Etienne had expanded the forgotten, uncleared patch of heathland he inherited into the prestigious 95 hectare estate that we recognise today. The Dollfuss, Charmolue and finally the Bouygues families have continued the tradition of tremendous winemaking.
Our tasting represents twenty-five years of curation on the part of your Committee, building on the outstanding 1996 purchased by the Committee in 1998. It promises to be a memorable event which we hope you will find hugely enjoyable. Members will reap the benefit in terms of pricing flowing from our acquisition of the wines on release at prices far below where they trade today.
The evening will be hosted by an old friend of the Society, Richard Bampfield MW and we will taste the Grand Cru from 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 together with the 2008 Le Dame de Montrose; a line-up which includes two wines widely considered amongst the finest wines of the first decade of the new millennium, the 2003 and 2005.
The wines for this tasting come from the Society’s stocks, providing amazing value for members with tickets priced at considerably less than a commercial tasting of this stature. Member tickets are £100 and guest tickets are £120.
If you have any questions, please contact the organiser, Nigel Farr, on 020 7466 2360 or at nigel.farr@hsf.com.