2025 Château Montrose La Dame de Montrose Saint-Estèphe

EXCLUSIVE - DELIVERY SPRING 2028

The 2025 La Dame de Montrose demonstrates why this wine has been considered one of Bordeaux's strongest second wines for years. While many second wines primarily offer accessibility, La Dame de Montrose possesses a distinct identity and a quality that borders on Grand Vin. In 2025, this is more evident than ever. The wine combines the charm of Merlot with the precision and freshness that make the Montrose terroir so special. The result is an elegant, refined Saint-Estèphe that will provide great pleasure even when relatively young, yet simultaneously possesses sufficient structure for beautiful development in the bottle.

The second wine of an icon

La Dame de Montrose was introduced in 1983 as a tribute to Yvonne Charmolüe, who played an important role in the history of Château Montrose for many years. Since then, the wine has developed into one of Bordeaux's most respected second labels.

While Château Montrose comes from the famous fourth terrace directly in front of the château, La Dame de Montrose comes primarily from carefully selected clay-limestone plots within the estate. These soils yield grapes with a softer structure and a more expressive fruit profile, without losing the recognizable freshness and minerality of Montrose.

For more information about Château Montrose, please refer to the Winery tab.

A modern interpretation of Saint-Estèphe

The 2025 vintage was characterized by a relatively dry growing season with limited rainfall between May and July. However, thanks to the location near the Gironde and a careful approach in the vineyard, the grapes remained perfectly balanced. The rainfall in August brought extra freshness and refinement, allowing the grapes to ripen optimally.

The harvest took place between August 29 and September 20. Each plot was harvested separately to achieve maximum precision. The final blend consists of 82% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc. This makes the 2025 vintage one of the most Merlot-driven editions of La Dame de Montrose in recent years.

A slightly different approach was also chosen in the cellar. Only 15% of the wine ages in new oak barrels. In addition, foudres and amphorae are used, allowing the fruit to be expressed even more purely and precisely. This vinification aligns perfectly with the elegant character of the vintage.

Scent, taste and character

The 2025 La Dame de Montrose opens with seductive aromas of red cherries, wild strawberries, red currants, and violets. As the wine develops further, notes of herbs, spices, oyster shell, graphite, and subtle earthy nuances emerge, hinting at its origin in Saint-Estèphe.

In comparison to the Grand Vin, the focus here is not on power, but rather on refinement and directness. The fruit is bright, pure, and inviting. The high Merlot component ensures a velvety texture, while the Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc provide extra tension and structure.

On the palate, the wine displays a beautiful balance between ripe fruit, fresh acidity, and refined tannins. The structure is supple but certainly not simple. Beneath the attractive fruit lies sufficient depth to keep the wine interesting for years to come.

The finish is fresh, energetic, and strikingly mineral, with notes of redcurrant, cherries, chalky tension, and a subtle salty touch that lingers for a long time.

Professional reviews

The international wine press received the 2025 La Dame de Montrose with particular enthusiasm.

James Suckling: 93-94 points
Suckling praises the freshness, energy, and refinement of the wine, with aromas of red berries and a crisp, mineral finish.

The Wine Advocate: 91-93 points (William Kelley)
Kelley emphasizes the depth, the layered fruit core, and the lively structure of this Merlot-driven blend.

Vinous: 90-92 points (Neal Martin)
Martin calls the wine irresistible thanks to its combination of red fruit, tension, and accessibility. According to him, this wine will provide great drinking pleasure relatively soon after bottling.

In addition, La Dame de Montrose received excellent reviews from, among others, Yves Beck (96-97 points), Jeb Dunnuck (93-95 points), Colin Hay of The Drinks Business (93-95 points), and Bernard Burtschy (94-95 points), placing the wine among the absolute top of second wines in Bordeaux.