2013 Chateau Montrose Saint-Estephe

Château Montrose rules the Médoc “Super Seconds” because it stacks up with the First Growths: In the 2013 vintage, it tied Margaux and was right on the tail of Mouton and Haut-Brion, all bottles that cost at least 4X more. 

The wine’s striking power and longevity is primarily the product of their extraordinary terroir, which many consider to be the best in Bordeaux’s northern Saint-Estèphe appellation. The 230-acre estate is laden with gravel—Cabernet Sauvignon’s favorite soil—with some vineyard plots boasting gravel depths as great as six feet. The excellent drainage results in smaller grapes with intense concentration, and the property’s proximity to the Gironde estuary protects the grapes from heat and frost damage. 

Montrose was acquired in 2006 by brothers Olivier and Martin Bouygues, who had been introduced to the wines by their father. In 2007, they undertook a massive renovation with four goals in mind: to give Château Montrose the finest winemaking facilities, to save and produce energy, to reduce the estate’s carbon output, and preserve the property’s typical 18th-century style. The success of this adventure can be seen in the cavernous and elegant barrel room, with its 11-meter ceilings, meticulously aligned barriques, and graceful archways.

The 2013 Montrose—the first vintage vinified in the new facility—was hand-sorted after an alacritous harvest, with only the best grapes chosen to have a shot at the Grand Vin. The final blend comprised 68% Cabernet, 29% Merlot, and a smidge of Cab Franc—and it’s one of the top Bordeaux wines of the season.

• Fruit Intensity
• Oak Intensity
• Body
• Acidity
• Tannin

• ABV 13.00%
• 1 hour
• Now – 2035
• 68% Cabernet Sauvignon29% Merlot3% Petit Verdot
• Serving temperature – 58°
• Cork