Chateau Montrose 2014
Chateau Montrose 2014 is known today for its powerful, full bodied Bordeaux wine. But that is not what the property was originally known for. In fact, before Bordeaux wine was produced at the estate, it earned fame for being a hunting area. That all changed when Alexandre de Segur, who also owned numerous, other illustrious Bordeaux properties such as Chateau Mouton, Chateau Lafite and Chateau Latour, gave the property to his son, Nicolas Alexandre. At the time, the estate was known as La Lande de l’Escargeon. Alexandre did not keep the property long. In 1778, he sold it to Etienne Theodore Dumoulin.
During the early 1800’s what we know of today as Montrose was actually part of the large Calon Segur estate. It was Etienne Dumoulin who created Chateau Montrose, due to its unique, hillside, gravel terroir. What Etienne Dumoulin noticed in those days is thought of as one of the best terroirs in all of Bordeaux today. It is at that point in time, that the true birth Chateau Montrose takes place. The Dumoulin family eventually sold Chateau Calon Segur and retained Chateau Montrose.
Château Montrose is one of the leading wine properties of St.Estéphe, and produces some of the longest-lived wines in the Médoc. Montrose had been owned by Jean-Louis Charmolue from 1962 until 2006, when it was sold to Martin and Olivier Bouygues, owner of the eponymously named construction firm Bouygues, is located in the east of the appellation, just north of the hamlet of Marbuzet, on a gravel knoll only 800 metres from the Gironde estuary. The proximity of the estuary ensures a microclimate that protects against frost, and the vines, which lie on deep clay-gravel soils, benefit from a south-easterly aspect.
Montrose’s wine is typically a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc and is matured in oak barriques (30% new) for 18 months. Montrose wines are traditionally deeply coloured, austere and powerful when young, yet possess superb ageing potential, and when mature are quintessential St.Estèphe clarets. Montrose is classified as a 2ème Cru Classé.
