France · Bordeaux

Chateau Montrose

Château Montrose is a Deuxième Grand Cru Classé estate in Saint-Estèphe, established in 1815 by Étienne Dumoulin on a gravel-rich hillside plateau overlooking the Gironde estuary. The property spans approximately 95 hectares under vine, planted primarily to Cabernet Sauvignon (65%), Merlot (30%), and Cabernet Franc (5%). Montrose built its historic reputation on massive, tannic, age-worthy clarets in the pre-1990 era, with vintages such as 1959, 1961, 1970, and 1989 considered enduring benchmarks. The Bouygues brothers' acquisition in 2006 and subsequent investments in winemaking infrastructure produced a more consistent modern style without sacrificing the structure that defines Saint-Estèphe. Auction data shows 3,090 lots of the grand vin averaging $297 across a $24–$4,182 price range, with 1990 as the most frequently traded vintage. La Dame de Montrose, the second wine, averages $69 across 162 lots. Peak auction prices reflect demand for mature vintages — individual lots in large formats approaching $4,182 typically represent the benchmark 1959 or 1989 in magnum or double magnum. The domaine benefits from one of the northern Médoc's most terroir-distinctive addresses, with iron-rich clay-gravel subsoils and coastal influence producing wines of notable depth. Post-2006 vintages including 2009, 2010, and 2012 have scored 96–100 points and trade actively in the $200–$500 range.