| Region of Production: | Saint-Estèphe AOP |
| Winery Location: | Saint-Estèphe |
| Year Established: | 1815 |
| Classification: | second growth, Médoc 1855 |
Vineyard Holdings
95 ha
- 65% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 30% Merlot
- 4% Cabernet Franc
- 1% Petit Verdot
Top Wines Produced
- Château Montrose
- Dame de Montrose
Average Total Production
- 320,000 bottles
Summary
Etienne Dumoulin, owner of Château Calon-Ségur, bought the land that would house Château Montrose in 1778, but it was his son Théodore who would first recognize its potential for great wines. He broke ground on the château building in 1815 and planted a few hectares of vines in the years to follow. By 1855 its reputation was sufficiently established to gain the status of second growth. Yet Dumoulin died in 1861, and his children elected not to carry his passion forward and sold the estate five years later. The Charmolüe family controlled the estate throughout the entire 20th century; in 2006 French billionaires Martin and Olivier Bouygues added the château to their already Forbes list-worthy portfolio.
The château itself lies in view of the Gironde, with its vineyards sloping down toward the water’s edge. Unusually for the Médoc, its vines lie within one single parcel.
Style & Vinification Techniques
Unlike Cos d’Estournel, Château Montrose has historically maintained a style congruent with that of Saint-Estèphe as a whole: tough in youth, with austere tannin and submerged fruit; a true vin de garde. It remains a powerful wine in modern vintages, but a more approachable bottle. The estate does not believe in using concentrators, but the ripeness levels are nonetheless high. Élevage lasts for 18 months in about 60% new oak. The amount of Merlot in the grand vin hovers between 25-40%.
Producer Website: Château Montrose