Montrose St.-Estèphe La Dame de Montrose 2014

94 points Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux): "(50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot). Intense, smoky, plenty of black fruit, who doesn't love this 2nd wine of Château Montrose? It's a vintage that is often overlooked, particularly after the run of great years Bordeaux has had recently, but it's at a great moment to open right now, and delivers a ton of St Estèphe and Left Bank typicity, with crayon and graphite. Harvest September 22 to October 16. Alcohol 13.5%.Drink: 2023-2034. (10/20/23)"

93 points James Suckling: "What a nose for a second wine! Lovely cassis and delicately leafy/earthy aromas. It’s a rare beast: a really mineral red Bordeaux. This has excellent balance of ripeness and fresh dry tannins and acidity. Long, clean finish. (2/13/17)"

93 points Wine Enthusiast: "The wine is powerful with fine tannins and concentrated black fruits. The dense texture is lifted by the acidity and beautiful fruit of the vintage. The tannins are dusty, tight and surrounded by beautiful fruit and acidity. This, the second wine of Montrose, will develop surely over the next several years. Drink from 2024. Alcohol 13.5%. (Apr 2017)"

92+ points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "A gorgeous second wine, the 2014 La Dame de Montrose is soft, open-knit and very pretty. Bright floral notes add lift and a measure of elegance to the dark-fleshed fruit. Medium in body, with good depth and fine overall balance, the 2014 is just about as good as it gets for a second wine. I won't be surprised if it is still delicious at age 20, although I think its best drinking will take place earlier than that. Drink: 2018-2029. (Feb 2017)"

91 points Jane Anson (Decanter): "One of the second wines of the vintage for me at en primeur, this has held up well. It's still fairly closed - in fact, even more so than when originally tasted - and it's not yet showing its full potential, although you can see and feel the construction in the slow build-up through the palate. Bilberry and cassis are joined by notes of charcoal and black spice, with good persistence on the finish. Since it takes its time to open, leave it be for a few more years. Drinking Window: 2020-2032. (5/21/18)"

91 points Peter Moser (Falstaff): "Dark ruby garnet, violet reflections, subtle edge brightening, smoky-spicy, dark berry fruit, delicate hints of champagne yeast, raspberry fruit. Medium body, red cherries, fresh acidity, integrated tannins, subtle sweetness in the aftertaste, firm finish, heart cherries in the aftertaste, has potential. (3/17/17)"