Montrose St-Estèphe 2000

98 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (The Wine Independent): "A blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot, the 2000 Montrose is medium to deep garnet in color, with a touch of brick. It charges out with ready-to-go notes of juicy plums, black cherry compote, and wild blueberries, opening out to a perfume of candied violets, camphor, rose oil, new leather, and fragrant soil. The medium-bodied palate is elegant and very fresh with soft, velvety tannins and bags of vibrant black and blue fruits, finishing long and perfumed. Gorgeous! Alcohol 12.5%. Drink: 2024-2042. (2/28/24)"

98 points (19/20) La Revue du Vin de France (Jan 2006).

96 points Wine Spectator: "Aromas of mint, berry and licorice follow through to a full-bodied palate that is thick and rich yet refined and reserved. This is dense and well-structured, with loads of vanilla, berry and lightly roasted fruit. Powerful but still holding back. Compacted and dense.--Non-blind Château Montrose vertical. Best after 2010. (12/31/05)"

96 points Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2000 Montrose is a straight-up gorgeous bottle of wine that while, still young, is offering up tons of pleasure. Classic Saint Estèphe notes of blackcurrants, damp earth, tobacco leaf, cedar, and hints of truffle all emerge from this dense, concentrated, powerful red that has the classic 2000 structure and richness. With sweet tannins, full body, impeccable balance, and a great, great finish, it’s at the early stages of its drink window and has another 3+ decades of longevity ahead of it. (3/27/19)"

96 points James Suckling: "Just starting to open, it shows beautiful spices and dark fruit on the nose and palate. It’s full-bodied with ultra-fine, integrated tannins and an extremely complex, refined finish. Drink or hold. (4/27/14)"

96 points Bettane & Desseauve's Guide to the Wines of France: "A crimson color with admirable luminosity, noble and spicy aromas, and a superlative body with a small dab of austerity: this is high-class wine, living up to its stardom in this vintage. 2011 up to 2025. (2011)"

95+ points Robert Parker: "Originally rated 96, this wine confirmed its early rating, although again, the backwardness and still very obvious tannins suggest another 7- to 8-year wait. Dense ruby/purple, with a bouquet of blueberry, crushed rock, and some floral notes, the wine is medium to full-bodied , rich, powerful, but again very tannic and still strikingly youthful. For a wine that is already 10 years of age, it remains infantile. This blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot is indeed a special wine and should hit its prime in about 2020 and last at least 30 years afterward. (6/28/10)"

95 points Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux): "(63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot). Still extremely young, feels significantly more closed than the 1996, with a geater emphasis on spicy black pepper and cassis, and still firm tannins. You feel the tannins pressing in on the close of play, whereas in the 1996 the tannins are now like spun silk, fully integrated. I last tasted this wine two years ago, and it is clearly starting to move into the next phase now after a stubborn beginning, coming out of itself and showing the finesse and the elegance of the vintage. The tobacco and crushed mint leaf notes emerge after five minutes of swirling and sniffing, and this has a long future ahead and is packed with appellation typicity. Harvest September 22 to October 7. First year in the new stainless steel vat room with bigger capacity and smaller sized vats covering 50hl, 80hl, 100hl, with just a few 200hl vats for the blend (previously entirely 200hl wooden vats). Drink: 2021-2050. (6/24/21)"

95 points Jeff Leve (The Wine Cellar Insider): "Slow, steady, and holding its course on the way to maturity, the wine is still youthful, with all of its currants, spicebox, tar, blackberry ad black currants held in check. Tannic, but not overly so, the wine is a modern classic that will age for another 40 years. Drink from 2025-2060. (Oct 2022)"

95 points Jane Anson (Decanter): "Just beginning to soften and open after a stubborn few decades. Tobacco and crushed mint leaf sit against blackberry and bilberry fruits that continue to be held by a firm frame of tannins. A stately Montrose that has a long future ahead, and is packed with the power and finesse that is so signature to this estate. Harvest September 22 to October 7. First year in the new stainless steel vat room. 2% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Drinking Window: 2022-2035. (3/17/21)"