Producers: Château Montrose

In one of the best locations of the Appellation, high up, with a wonderful view of the Gironde, lies Château Montrose. In 2006, a change of ownership took place. Martin Bouygues, one of France's most successful entrepreneurs, acquired this legendary winery for an unknown sum. Bouygues was able to hire Jean-Bernard Delmas as administrator immediately. Delmas retired in 2003, having served Château Haut-Brion for over forty years and, since 1983, his neighbor La Mission Haut-Brion. Delmas was followed by legendary director Mouton-Rothschilds, Hervé Berland. With this change in personnel, the style of the wine has changed. In the past, Château Montrose was sometimes referred to as "the Latour of Saint-Estèphe" because he was usually powerful, dense, very durable and rich on tannins. With the great 2006er the intensity of the tannins has not changed, but its quality. Château Montrose is now to be enjoyed sooner, because the tannin is now more polished and, one would expect, more mature. This is a development that is absolutely desirable and should welcome even purists.