Château Montrose Saint-Estèphe 2025 - 2nd Grand Cru Classé (Primeurs)

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

The estate belonged to the Charmolüe family (now based in Provence, at Château Romanin) for over a century. Acquired in 2005 by Martin and Olivier Bouygues, the estate has continued on its path to excellence. The new owners and their teams have taken care not to alter the style, but rather to refine viticulture and winemaking to adapt them to the ecological and cultural demands of our time. The second wine, Dame-de-Montrose—produced in significant quantities—has improved in consistency and in its expression of the terroir. The most recent vintages, among the finest in the Médoc, more than hold their own against the First Growths.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

A true timeless classic in the making, Montrose 2025 reveals itself in the glass with notes of black berries, black truffle, glowing embers, and violet, gaining depth and nuance as it breathes. Full-bodied, dense, and elegantly powerful, it features a complex, multidimensional structure, with a fruit core of extraordinary concentration, tannins of exceptional quality, and a long, resonant finish. The 2025 is a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc, sourced exclusively from the estate’s historic heart, located on the fourth terrace directly opposite the château. With a pH of 3.65 and an alcohol content of 13.4%, it remains classically balanced despite its impressive power and intensity. Readers are in for a fascinating journey as they discern the nuances in style and quality between the 2025, 2023, and 2022 vintages over the coming decades!

About the estate:

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

Entrepreneurs Martin and Olivier Bouygues have owned this famous cru classé since 2006. They masterfully cultivate one of the Médoc’s finest terroirs, which has repeatedly distinguished itself in the past by producing wines that can match—or even surpass—the quality of the premiers grands crus classés. In hot, dry years—such as 2003, 2009, 2010, or even 2011—Montrose offers exceptional distinction. Hervé Berland, who now manages the estate, is elevating it to a level of definition and precision never before seen here. It is approaching a third star.

Vinous

About the wine:

Montrose 2025 comes exclusively from the Terrace IV vineyard, as has been the case since the 2023 vintage. The harvest began on August 29 and did not end until September 20, representing a fairly long period, with 16 days of harvesting between those two dates. This vintage is aged 60% in new oak barrels. It has a very intense nose, with a powerful note of graphite that permeates the black fruit, which is beautifully defined yet resolutely classic in style. Wow. The purity of the fruit is exceptional. The palate is medium-bodied, with supple, finely chiseled tannins and exquisite black fruit imbued with minerality. So much freshness and liveliness, a soft yet persistent mouthfeel, and a very precise and refined finish: this is a Montrose that will go down in history. Wow (once again). 2032–2060

Yves Beck

About the wine:

While the Dame de Montrose impresses with its delicate and well-defined character, Montrose immediately establishes itself as the leader. It exudes a dazzling serenity with a wealth of nuances to discover, all while staying true to the style the estate so aptly embodies: elegance! Although there is brilliance, it is restrained; although there is complexity, freshness puts things into perspective by establishing itself as a fundamental pillar of the nose. The attack mirrors the bouquet: intensity is good, but subtlety is better! The wine takes on a slender profile at the start, sculpting a silhouette that gains depth as it unfolds on the palate. The tannins, for their part, reveal themselves very late—precisely where they are best able to demonstrate their supremacy, not through sheer power, but through their ability to deliver that power with precision. They can, of course, count on the essential support of acidity. However, it must be admitted that the acidity tiptoes in, so intimidated is it by such vigor. Yet this power is of the noblest kind, best able to assert itself in a whisper, so evident is its impact. The acidity thus helps define the contours and, to some extent, provide a framework for the assertive tannins. The overarching theme, however, remains unwavering; elegance holds sway over the whole. Only great wines are capable of such achievements.

Falstaff