La Dame de Montrose 1999

La Dame de Montrose 1999

Producer: Château Montrose | Appellation: Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux, France
Vintage: 1999 | Classification: Second Growth, 1855
Blend: Predominantly Merlot with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc
Drinking Window: 2010–2035+ | Aging Potential: 30+ years

The Wine

La Dame de Montrose is the second wine of Château Montrose, one of the great estates of Saint-Estèphe, renowned for its powerful, structured and exceptionally age-worthy wines. Produced from younger-vine parcels and fruit not destined for the Grand Vin, La Dame offers an earlier-drinking expression while retaining the distinctive character of the Montrose terroir.

The 1999 has now reached a lovely stage of maturity, offering the balance and complexity that only decades in bottle can provide. The fruit has developed into a more savoury and nuanced profile, with cassis and dark cherry complemented by cedar, tobacco, leather and earthy notes. There is still plenty of freshness behind the wine, making this a particularly rewarding mature Bordeaux for those who enjoy classic, traditionally styled Saint-Estèphe.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Mature aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry and dried cherry mingle with cedar, tobacco, cigar box, leather, graphite and subtle forest-floor notes.

Palate: Medium to full-bodied, with beautifully softened tannins and a core of mature dark fruit. Notes of cassis, plum, tobacco, spice and earthy minerality add depth and complexity.

Finish: Long and savoury, with lingering cedar, dried fruit, spice and classic Saint-Estèphe character.

Producer Details

Château Montrose sits on an exceptional gravelly rise overlooking the Gironde in Saint-Estèphe. Its wines are celebrated for their structure, concentration and extraordinary longevity. La Dame de Montrose provides a more accessible interpretation of this prestigious terroir, while still carrying the estate's distinctive signature.

Wine Details

Vinification: Fermented in temperature-controlled vats before ageing in French oak barrels.
Alcohol Content: ~12.5–13% ABV
Cellaring: Mature and drinking beautifully now; decant carefully and enjoy over the coming decade.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Ideal with:
– Roast lamb
– Côte de bœuf
– Braised beef
– Venison and other game
– Wild mushroom dishes
– Mature hard cheeses