La Dame de Montrose 2019

Made to the same rigorous standards as the First Wine, from grapes grown in the same vineyard, La Dame de Montrose is the second wine of Château Montrose,  a heavy weight from Saint-Estèphe, just north of Pauillac.  Supple and silky Merlot generally predominates in the varietal mix. Its very pronounced red fruit aromas and flavours reflect another expression of the terroir in a distinctive style which is less elaborately complex than that of the First Wine.

Consistently reliable and reaching maturity sooner, the wine was created in 1983 in tribute to Yvonne Charmolüe, who ran Château Montrose single-handedly from 1944 to 1960. Production varies from one year to another but accounts on average for 40-45% of the total production of the Montrose vineyard. Aged for 12 months in 30% new french oak barrels.

''The 2019 La Dame de Montrose is a touch richer and more giving than its 2016 counterpart, delivering aromas of dark berries, cherries and plum liqueur along with licorice and petals. Medium to full-bodied, supple and fleshy, it's velvety and expressive out of the gates, reflecting the dominant presence of ripe Merlot in the blend.'' William Kelley, The Wine Advocate (12/21/2023) Ratings: 90 Drink: 2023-2033

''The 2019 La Dame De Montrose is another impressive second wine and certainly worth seeking out. Ripe darker cherries, currants, leafy herbs, tobacco, and a hint of classic Saint-Estèphe damp earth all emerge on the nose, and it's medium-bodied, with a silky, graceful texture, light tannins, and a great finish. It's everything a second wine should be and will evolve nicely for 10-12 years.'' Jeb Dunnuck, Bordeaux 2019 From Bottle (4/11/2022) Ratings: 91 Drink: 2022-2034