Montrose St-Estèphe 2012

95 points/'Cellar Selection,' Wine Enthusiast: "Produced in the magnificent new cellars at Montrose, this big, tannic wine is powerful and concentrated. It has something of the classic severity of a wine from this estate, but that's mitigated by the ripe, generous blackberry fruitiness and the final freshness of a 2012. A great success, to drink from 2022. Alcohol 13.5%. (May 2015)"

95 points Tim Atkin, MW.

94 points Neal Martin (Vinous): "The 2012 Montrose has a taut and focused bouquet with crisp blackberry, tobacco and light earthy scents on the nose. Fine vigour and class evident here. The palate is medium-bodied with chewy tannins on the entry, fine acidity, lightly spiced with a nicely proportioned and focused finish. This is a solid, almost swarthy Montrose, though it is surpassed by more recent vintages. Tasted twice at Bordeaux Index's Ten Year-On tasting and blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting. Drink: 2025-2042. (Sep 2022)"

94 points Sebastian Payne, MW (Decanter): "A proper grown-up claret with uncompromising but well-padded tannin and parity of fruit that still needs five years more to soften. Drinking Window: 2027-2035. (3/3/22)"

94 points Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux): "(57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot). Muscular tannins, bitter chocolate shavings. Feels upright and military, the polar opposite to Cos d'Estournel, in the way that Mouton is so different to Lafite. It's enjoyable, has a long life ahead, still austere at 10 years old, tobacco, cigar, you feel the architecture and the confidence as it sretches out through the palate, successful but reserved. Harvest September 24 to October 20. Alcohol 13%. Drink: 2022-2036. (3/3/22)"

94 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (The Wine Independent): "The 2012 Montrose is medium to deep garnet colored. It needs a little coaxing to draw out scents of baked plums, Christmas cake, and cassis with hints of dried herbs, cracked black pepper, and pencil lead. The medium-bodied palate has taut, muscular black fruits with a firm, grainy texture and an earthy finish. It needs time! Alcohol 13%. Drink: 2022-2032. (2/16/23)"

94 points Andrew Jefford (The World of Fine Wine): "Deep, dark black-red in color. Brooding and earthy, with the same combination of dark clay slabbiness, warm black fruit, and pressed leaf that the Dame showed, though this has more lift, articulacy, and expansiveness. The class shows through—there is also a perfumed, cologne-like note, and some moist licorice… All very alluring, though this is an unopulent property in an unopulent year, so it’s modestly buttoned up and no cleavage showing. Some might object to the pressed leaf; some might love its implied freshness. On the palate, this is dark, full, energetic, perhaps a little less richly textured than I was expecting but every bit as detailed and rewarding. The tannins are very fine-grained, but packed with flavor, as is the discreet acidity; very much a seamless whole. You won’t have to wait an age for this, and you’ll never be disappointed, either: fine, classy, and classic. 2019–30. (Dec 2016)"

94 points (17/20) La Revue du Vin de France: "While it may not be the most dense of recent Montrose vintages, the 2012 boasts superb tannic definition and a solid structure. (Jan 2014)"