Chateau Montrose 1994

Parker: Readers must realize that Montrose, often referred to as the poor person's Latour, has been at the top of the Bordeaux heap since the 1989 vintage. They turned out a profound 1989, an exceptionally classic wine in 1990, one of the finest 1991s, and a pleasant, if soft, 1992 and 1993. The 1994 (65% of the crop was kept for the Montrose label) is a 65% Cabernet Sauvignon/25% Merlot/10% Cabernet Franc blend. More similar to the 1990 than the 1989, the 1994 exhibits an opaque purple color. The nose offers intense, overripe cassis aromas mixed with minerals, vanilla, and floral scents. Extremely powerful and remarkably concentrated, this unctuously-textured, massive wine is crammed with highly-extracted fruit that nearly masks a tannin level equal to that achieved in 1990. One of the most promising wines of the vintage, the 1994 Montrose is a candidate for 30-40 years of cellaring. It will not be drinkable before the age of 10. This is another brilliant effort from the Charmolue family!