La Dame De Montrose Saint-Estephe 2018
Suggested Food Pairings:
Main characteristics of the vintage:
« Nature can give you everything, just as it can take it all back and surprise you at the end… »
2018 marks an important step in the conversion of our vineyard to sustainable viticulture. The weather conditions resulted in strong pressure from parasites, requiring extreme vigilance. Vineyard management was complex, therefore, but the direction of our environmental approach was firmly maintained. The fine weather and the heat at the end of summer, comparable to 2009, made the vintage, which expressed incredible potential in the cellar.
The year started with a very rainy winter. Spring was wet and warm and bud burst came late. Early flowering came just before some rainstorms in early June, leading to slight problems with poor fruit set. The very strong pressure from mildew did not distract us from our move towards sustainable viticulture and we accepted the prospect of a significant drop in yields.
The hot and dry summer was marked by strong water stress as from the end of July. These weather conditions tended to limit berry growth but strongly increased their concentration.
Harvest took place under perfect conditions. In the cellar, given the small size of the grapes (20% below average) the ratio of skins to juice was definitely in favour of skins. The first extractions, more carefully controlled than ever, quickly yielded very concentrated juices of exceptional richness. Our meticulous work on the press wine continued: 6 very high-quality batches supplemented the 61 batches of free-run and enriched the base for our blends.
The first tastings show the signs of a very great vintage, a subtle combination of the fruity aromatic profile of the 2009 and the precision of the 2016.
Period of harvest: From September 17th to October 5th
Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon: 39%, Merlot: 52 %, Cabernet Franc: 4%, Petit Verdot: 5%
Tasting notes:
The colour is ruby red, bright and intense.
The subtle nose is dominated by black fruits (blueberry, blackcurrant and morello cherry). It also unveils aromas of figs and dried fruits, underlined by well-integrated oak and delicate spicy notes.
The palate is opulent and refined. The silky tannins reveal a beautiful tannic structure. A long and powerful finish. A bright future for a great Dame."
