It is always a treat to taste an iconic wine and not have to imagine what it will be when it has had some time in the bottle to settle and start its long journey to full maturity.  I had just that opportunity today as I tasted the 2015 and 2020 vintage of the Right Bank "Super 2nd" Growth Chateau Montrose.  

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon: 67%, Merlot : 29%, and Cabernet Franc : 4%, this Montrose makes me wonder why anyone would pay what is now a $400 price tag for Opus One, when you can have an Icon from Bordeaux for 1/2 the price. 

Tasting notes

Deep in colour, the expressive and elegant nose reveals notes of white flowers. On aeration, more complex aromas of ripe black fruit emerge, smoky and toasty. The attack is clean and elegant on the palate, true velvet supported by silky tannins. Very good balance in a very fine and defined wine. The very long finish reveals notes of oak and liquorice.

94 Points Robert Parker

"The deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Montrose opens with broody black fruits, menthol and anise notes with a core of cassis, blueberries and mulberries plus a touch of cedar chest. The medium-bodied mouth is firm and chewy with a good core of muscular fruit and a long, earthy finish."

If you want a taste of the Chateau but aren't crazy about the outlay required of the 1st wine, try the Le Dame de Montrose 2019 for $49.  It is drinking beautifully NOW.