Montrose @ Bobby Vans 5/13

[jckba]

The Montrose lineup

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There was a free spot in Dale’s monthly Bdx group last night featuring the wines of Chateau Montrose so I jumped at the opportunity to attend. We started off with a pair of 2014 Chassagne Montrachets, followed by a blind white, the 1975 Montrose followed by the remaining Montrose wines broken down into 3 flights of 3 that we served with the main course and as a result there was not much note taking potential as I was devouring my tomahawk so here were my impressions;

2014 Michel Niellon Chassagne Montrachet les Vergers 1er > 2014 Francois Carillon Chassagne Montrachet les Macherelles 1er

The Carillon was not really to my liking on this night as it showed a much riper nose and was considerably more acidic on the palate rendering the wine out of balance (87-89 points) whereas the Niellon was much more up my alley with lemon/lime and minerals on the refined nose and carried a much tastier and more pleasing flavor profile along with a long finish (92-94 points)

The 2014 Chassagne Montrachets

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There was also a blind white served in a decanter which Tali had brought and several of us at the table noted that it smelled like a northern Rhône white while others were in the aged Bdx Blanc camp. When it was then revealed that it was Italian, we were all pretty much stumped. Turns out it was the 2012 Ornellaia Poggio alle Gazze which was 90% Sauvignon Blanc and 10% Viogner which goes to show you that a little Viogner goes a long way! Anyways onto the main event.

[jckba]

1975 Montrose served by itself
Older smelling, fully tertiary aromatics with a little stink and while mid-weight, it did reveal a little bit of a tootsie roll flavor on the palate (90-92 points)

The 1975 Montrose served alongside my veal meatballs

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[jckba]

This was the surprise of the night for me was the fact that the 1986 unanimously bested the 1989. The 1985 had wonderful aromatics with dark fruit, leather and tobacco but was lighter, softer and rounder on the higher toned palate (90-92 points) and especially when compared to its flight-mates. The 1986 had a brooding nose dark fruits, leather, tobacco and led way to a sappy fruited palate that was clearly in the zone (94-96 points) and while the 1989 was similar it did not have the depth and purity of the 1986 on the nose despite having a luxurious mouthfeel and would have probably benefited from more aeration (93-95 points)

1986 Montrose > 1989 Montrose > 1985 Montrose

1980’s flight and my Tomahawk

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[jckba]

The main takeaway with this next flight for me was that the oak on these wines has not fully integrated on the palate when compared to the prior flight, and I am not saying they won’t b/c it’s not like that. The 1995 had a fragrant dark fruited, cedar and leathery nose and was a little leaner on the palate than the next two (90-92 points). The 1998 was similar but more open and in more of giving, entering its peak drinking stage (91-93 points). I’ve had more open btls of the 2000 and I think this would have benefited from a long decant as it was a little closed on the nose and not really giving on the palate (90-92 points) but I revisited it at the end of the evening and it had started to open so maybe an extended decant is advised for this wine to show it’s true colors.

1998 Montrose > 1995 Montrose = 2000 Montrose

1/2 down, 1/2 to go

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[jckba]

By this point, I had finished my steak and in hindsight it would have been good idea to save a few bites as the youth exhibited in this flight was flagrantly obvious coming after each of the previous flights. The 2003 is still youthful but was also very approachable and giving with everything in balance and a long finish (93-95 points). The 2005 was a showstopper, bigger scales and bursting with ripe, sweet fruit and a long finish; this would benefit from a double Blanquito but it is going to be spectacular (94-96+ points). The 2007 paled in comparison to its flight-mates as while it was drinking, it was considerably softer with youthful fruit (90-92)

2005 Montrose > 2003 Montrose > 2007 Montrose

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[DavidG]

Wow, fantastic lineup and report JC.

Thanks to Jacques, I’ve had a couple 2014 Carillons Pulignys, the Champs Canet, and was lovin' it more than your bottle showed. Surprised that the 1989 Montrose didn’t run away with WOTN honors.

I had finished my steak

The picture of that tomahawk brings back memories of the Flintstones. Not sure which is more impressive, that you consumed that entire monster or the amazing lineup of wines.

[Comte Flaneur]

Great notes JC

Should I sell my case of 2000 Montrose, it has been such a curmudgeon?

[Nicklasss]

Nice line up of wines. From your tasting, evidence is that Montrose needs a lot of time... i should have bought some 2005 when it was available here. Montrose is another wine that I did not encountered that often. Let say that I had way more of all the other the Secong Growth, except The two Rauzans, Lascombes, Durfort-Vivens and Brane Cantenac.

If I remember well, I had the 1970, 1975, 1982, 1989, 1993, 1996 and 2003 Montrose.

I agree that this tomahawk steak is a "show stealer".

Nic

[Claret]

Nice lineup. I am a Montrose fan and have a yet untasted 86. Glad to see it performing well.

94 has also been a good tipple. Clean 90's are also impressive.

[jal]

Thanks to Jacques, I’ve had a couple 2014 Carillons Pulignys, the Champs Canet, and was lovin' it more than your bottle showed.

David, we had the Jacques Carillon, JC's wine is made by another estate (owned by his brother) François Carillon. Jacques Carillon makes much better wines.

Great tasting JC, I love Montrose but only have a few 2010s that are waiting patiently. I think backfilling may be in the cards.

[jckba]

The picture of that tomahawk brings back memories of the Flintstones. Not sure which is more impressive, that you consumed that entire monster or the amazing lineup of wines.

Yabba dabba do!

Should I sell my case of 2000 Montrose, it has been such a curmudgeon?

So back in 2011, I had dinner at the Spiced Pear which is located in the Chanler hotel at the beginning of the cliff walk in Newport, RI. I browsed their wine list and quickly picked out 2 different half bottles and ordered them and the Somm disappeared for a bit but ended up coming back empty handed as neither of my initial picks were apparently in stock. So I went back to the drawing board and picked out 2 more splits of which, once again, neither was in stock. The Somm apologized profusely and told me that I could order any 750ml off their list and drink exactly 1/2 the btl for 1/2 of the listed price. So I got Ceil a 1/2 a btl of Sancerre to go with her lobster and I went with 1/2 of a 2000 Montrose for $100 which represented a pretty good price at the time to go with my Kobe steak. The wine was spectacular, so much so that I when I eventually found a couple of cases at Wide World of Wines in DC back in early 2014 during the beginning of their inventory reduction sales prior to their eventual change in ownership at the not so atrocious price of $160/per, I pulled the trigger. I’ve had 2 btls since including the one the other night and neither has been open and drinking like that night in that restaurant. All that to say that I am still undecided about whether I should reduce my exposure and unload one of the cases, but if I do end up doing so I would most likely in turn plow those funds into more of the 2005 as that wine is the real deal Holyfield.

[Michael-P]

JC:
Thanks for the TNs and photos. A wonderful evening.
I've had a few other 00s recently that seemed a bit flat, especially when compared to their reputations. More time?
Michael-P

[Comte Flaneur]

The picture of that tomahawk brings back memories of the Flintstones. Not sure which is more impressive, that you consumed that entire monster or the amazing lineup of wines.

Yabba dabba do!

Should I sell my case of 2000 Montrose, it has been such a curmudgeon?

So back in 2011, I had dinner at the Spiced Pear which is located in the Chanler hotel at the beginning of the cliff walk in Newport, RI. I browsed their wine list and quickly picked out 2 different half bottles and ordered them and the Somm disappeared for a bit but ended up coming back empty handed as neither of my initial picks were apparently in stock. So I went back to the drawing board and picked out 2 more splits of which, once again, neither was in stock. The Somm apologized profusely and told me that I could order any 750ml off their list and drink exactly 1/2 the btl for 1/2 of the listed price. So I got Ceil a 1/2 a btl of Sancerre to go with her lobster and I went with 1/2 of a 2000 Montrose for $100 which represented a pretty good price at the time to go with my Kobe steak. The wine was spectacular, so much so that I when I eventually found a couple of cases at Wide World of Wines in DC back in early 2014 during the beginning of their inventory reduction sales prior to their eventual change in ownership at the not so atrocious price of $160/per, I pulled the trigger. I’ve had 2 btls since including the one the other night and neither has been open and drinking like that night in that restaurant. All that to say that I am still undecided about whether I should reduce my exposure and unload one of the cases, but if I do end up doing so I would most likely in turn plow those funds into more of the 2005 as that wine is the real deal Holyfield.

Thanks for the advice JC. I think I will pencil it in for a double Blanquito, during which the case should continue to rise inexorably in value as it becomes a scarcer commodity.