La Dame de Montrose 2023

Still marked by the élevage, smoky and floral notes, dark fruit; soft attack, well balanced, fine-grained tannins, long aromatic length and a spicy finish. Very well balanced.

Crisp and crunchy cranberry aromas on the nose, fresh and vibrant – herbal, floral, fruity. Smooth and supple, so lively, bright and acidic, really lifted and almost verging on tart. I love it though, it manages to be fresh yet with ripe tannins that slowly expand in the mouth while also giving structure and a well-defined outline. Streamlined and straight. Polished and characterful with lovely purity of fruit. Ageing for 12 months, using 5% foudre, 5% amphora, 10% new oak and the rest aged barrels. 2% Cabernet Franc completes the blend.

61% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc. Cask sample. A touch of sweetness from the Merlot, then acidity and tension. Perhaps a bit lean on the mid-palate. Usually improves in bottle, so it could warrant a higher score. (JL)

The 2023 La Dame de Montrose has a much lighter, airier bouquet compared to the previous vintage, with tobacco-tinged black fruit, hints of liquorice and sea spray. Fine delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with a fresh entry, fine tannins, quite bright and tensile, with noticeable acidity and salinity keeping this on its toes toward the finish. Give this a couple of years in bottle, and you will have a fine Deuxième Vin.

Truffle, smoke, tobacco, flowers, mint, cocoa, and espresso add to the black cherry aromas are front and center in the perfume. Plush, and polished on the palate, the layers of ripe juicy fruits are vibrant, fresh, long, spicy and energetic, giving you lift and length. While the wine is going to offer its significant charms shortly after release, but there is good potential for aging as well. The wine blends 61% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2027-2043.

Dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, delicate edge brightening. Delicate floral cherry fruit, a hint of red forest berries, with candied orange zest in the background. Full-bodied, round and elegant, fine tannins, pleasant acidity structure, already well developed, a multi-faceted food companion.

61% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 48 hl/ha. Delicate bouquet, red currant, chilled wild fruit tea and elegant iris perfume. On the sublime palate, with a silky texture, perfectly balanced verve, a mineral core and a well-trained frame. In the energetic, finely aromatic finish, blue berries, sandalwood and a majestic astringency. One of the best second wines of this vintage.

Skilfully crafted, balanced with supple tannins. This has deepened over ageing, showcasing cassis bud and olive tapenade along with slate, bilberry and salted cracker. To be 100% honest I worried that the introduction of Montrose Terrasse III would take away from the brilliance that is Dame de Montrose, but there seems to be plenty of excellence in 2023 to go around. Pierre Graffeuille director, Vincent Decup technical director.

Score: 91-93. The nose relaxes you, like the warm sea of the Seychelles, with a multitude of ripe, balanced fruits that are nonetheless very refined, airy, and as refreshing as mountain air. This refinement also shows on the palate, very precise, with an aromatic concentration that increases quickly, bringing tremendous energy to the mouthfeel. The fruit is very powerful, with a lively acidity.

Fresh and youthful, the bouquet of La Dame de Montrose sets the tone from the outset. In a fraction of a second, you understand that it has some very sharp assets, geared towards greatness, and, in that spirit, you check the label a second time to make sure you are indeed tasting “

Deep, intense colour. Lovely nose with ripe, subtle fruit. Precise on the attack, very flavoursome mid-palate; the wine melts across the palate, juicy and fragrant on the finish, with no harsh tannic edge. Long and very good.

Aromas of cassis, plums, orange zest and spices introduce the 2023 La Dame de Montrose, a medium- to full-bodied, rich and layered wine with a vibrant core of fruit framed by supple, powdery tannins. It's a blend of 61% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc, incorporating maturation in different vessels (20% foudre and 5% amphora) and fewer rackings to maintain a more reductive profile, better suited to the Merlot-dominant blend.