La Dame de Montrose 2024

Expressive, with clear dark chocolate, floral and smoky notes; on the palate, full and dense yet very elegant, precise tannins, lively acidity, remarkably crisp fruit, long finish, ending on sour cherries coated in chocolate. Punches well above its weight.

Ripe blackcurrant, sweet strawberry and cranberry aromas, expressive and open on the nose, certainly smelling rich and concentrated with a lovely vivid purple colour to the rim. Some inky notes, cool blueberries, iodine and liquorice too. Chewy, so friendly and charming, this is generous in terms of fruit with purity and really lifted acidity yet balanced between acidity and fruit. Finessed tannins, not as much weight as usual, but this is approachable. Ageing will soften the edges. I like the definition though, really high-definition winemaking here. So focused, almost razor sharp. Lightly presented, more sour and sherbet-like. Fun. 3% Cabernet Franc completes the blend. 35% production. 20% in foudre, 15% new oak, the rest in old barrels. pH 3.50.

A hedonistic yet precise wine, brimming with ripe purple fruits, followed by smoky, meaty and floral nuances that captivate and invite you to dive in. On the palate, the substance is broad and fluid, with a caressing, velvety texture.

This has dark fruit character, leafy but nuanced and sculpted, lovely savoury mouthwatering quality on the finish. At Montrose they did some leaf removal even in early June at fruit set, and left grass throughout the vineyard all the way through the season to increase competition, and did some tidying up at the very beginning of veraison to remove any that were clearly a little behind schedule - so basically just had to be extremely reactive at all times. The yield was 38hl/h after farming entirely organically. Harvest 23 September to 8 October. 20% large oak casks, 15% new oak.

Deep, intense, attractive color with garnet highlights. An intense nose of ripe fruit. The palate is immediately flavorful, developing into a pleasant, juicy texture, with a tasty finish and a fine tannic structure. Blend: 73% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc. Alcohol: 13.2% - pH: 3.5. Yield: 20 hl/ha. Aged in 20 hl foudres. New oak reduced by half (15% instead of 30%).

Orange blossoms, flowers, red berries, and black cherry aromas show up with ease. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, vibrant, fresh, long, and spicy. The fruits are clean, energized, and lively. This is going to offer its significant charms shortly after release. The wine blends 73% Merlot, 20 Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc. 13.5% ABV. Drink from 2027-2040. 91-93 Pts