Montrose St-Estèphe 2016

100 points Jeb Dunnuck: "Unquestionably one of the top 2-3 wines of the vintage, the 2016 Château Montrose is a monument in the making. Checking in as a blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 7% Cabernet Franc raised in 60% new French oak (the balance was in once-used barrels) and representing a tiny 36% of the production, this deep purple-colored 2016 possesses powerful, incredibly classic Saint-Estephe notes of creme de cassis, graphite, damp earth, lead pencil shavings, and burning embers. With a powerful, full-bodied style on the palate, a huge mid-palate, lots of underlying structure and tannic grip, and perfect balance, this magical wine will need upwards of a decade or cellaring and keep for 40-50 years. Drink: 2029-2079. (2/28/19)"

100 points Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux): "(68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 7% Cabernet France). One of the greatest Montrose of the new millennium, this is a stunning wine that will give pleasure for decades to come. The richness of the texture is clear from the first pour, as is the depth of concentration in its plum colour. Powerful, balanced, cocoa bean, liqourice, espresso, slate, cassis, bilberry, damson. Slow progress thorugh the palate, feels supple yet restrained, and only just beginning its progress - one that you can without a shadow of a doubt wait another decade or more before opening. Harvest September 22 to October 17. Hervé Berland director, owned by the Bouygues family. Alcohol 13.5%. Drink: 2022-2050. (10/6/22)"

99 points Chris Kissack (Winedoctor): "The blend is unchanged since the primeurs, being 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc, and it accounts for just 37% of the crop. The élevage lasted 18 months and was conducted in barrels using 60% new oak. The nose is truly striking, showing both intensity and fragrant perfume combined;on one side we have the dark fruits, pure and tightly defined, with notes of peppered blackcurrants and black olives, while on the other the nose is all about floral perfume, violets and verbena. The palate focuses first on the dark and intense side of the nose, textured but well framed, with clean lines of acid and tannin holding in the savoury fruits, which ratchet up the salty, bouillon -like intensity which can be seen in La Dame de Montrose. It is so intense and concentrated, and yet so lightfooted, with such subtle seams of tannins, velvet-like, which caress rather than dominate the palate. This is a stunning wine, clearly a candidate for wine of the vintage, rather as the 2014 was. It lingers long, savoury, bitter and ultimately remarkable. (Dec 2018)"

99 points Neal Martin (Vinous): "The 2016 Montrose has a tightly wound bouquet that is extremely well focused. This is one of the most pixelated aromatics I can remember on a Montrose at this stage, featuring blackberry, boysenberry and cedar and real mineralité underneath. The palate is medium-bodied with fine density and wonderful salinity. There is tremendous precision with razor-sharp tannin, and a brightness on the finish that is exceptional. This is a Montrose that will comfortably sit alongside the canon of great vintages from this Saint-Estèphe estate. As my score implies, it’s up there with the first growths. Stunning. Drink: 2026-2075. (Jan 2019)"

99 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (Wine Advocate): "Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2016 Montrose is a little youthfully shy to begin, but with coaxing, it unfurls to reveal the most beguiling scents of wilted roses, oolong tea, crushed rocks, wild sage, star anise and candied violets over a wonderfully pristine, well-defined core of crushed blackcurrants, black raspberries and kirsch plus wafts of pencil lead and wood smoke. The taut, muscular, medium to full-bodied palate straddles jaw-dropping intensity and finesse superbly, featuring a solid backbone of ripe tannins and giving a firm frame right through the incredibly long, exquisitely nuanced finish. Drink: 2025-2060. (Nov 2018)"

99 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (The Wine Independent): "A blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 7% Cabernet Franc, the 2016 Montrose is deep garnet-purple in color. It is very closed and reticent at this stage, requiring a lot of coaxing to bring out notions of crème de cassis, plum preserves, and juicy boysenberries, plus hints of cedar chest, candied violets, and pencil lead, with a hint of crushed rocks. Medium-bodied, the palate is jam-packed with black fruit and mineral layers, framed by beautifully ripe, grainy tannins and wonderful freshness, finishing long and earthy. It needs a lot of time, but this is going to be a jaw dropper! Alcohol 13.5%. Drink: 2028-2065. (12/8/22)"

98 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2016 Montrose is every bit as impressive as it was from barrel, maybe more. Tightly wound and vertical, with remarkable intensity, the 2016 is simply magnificent. The tannins are there, but they are nearly buried by the sheer intensity of the fruit. All the elements are impeccably balanced in a wine of pedigree, depth and character. The 2016 is going to need a number of years to be at its best, but it is clearly a very special wine in the making. In a word: dazzling. Drink: 2024-2056. (Jan 2019)"

98 points James Suckling: "The floral and fresh aromas to this are mesmerizing. Roses and lilacs galore. The pure cab aromas coming from the glass – blackcurrants and blackberries – are so memorable. Full-bodied, deep and profound. The ultra-fine tannins on the palate are so polished and fine-grained. The finish goes on for minutes with subtle yet superb fruit. It’s all about precision and form here. A modern classic for Montrose. Better after 2026. (1/20/19)"

98 points Andy Howard, MW (Decanter): "Now owned by the Bouygues family and managed by Hervé Berland, formerly at Mouton Rothschild, Montrose is one of the finest classed growths. Structured, long-living, this needs time to settle and open up but will be stunning. Pure dark currant and berry fruit, mineral and menthol notes, glossy oak and tannins and a lingering finish suggest this may be the finest Montrose since 1990. Drinking Window: 2025-2050. (Dec 2021)"