Saving the best until last? Montrose has arguably been the form property of the last five years and many tip the 2025 to be the wine of the vintage. Having tasted at the Château with winemaker Pierre Graffeuille it’s hard to disagree – and the price relative to other top wines makes it one of the best value buys of the year. From grapes entirely from the legendary ‘Terrace 4’ and a blend of 77% cabernet sauvignon, 19% merlot, and 45% cabernet franc, Montrose in 2025 was already the most complex and nuanced wine of the vintage, with aromas of dark berry fruit, graphite, saffron, and such minerality and freshness. The palate is hugely concentrated with muscular but never intrusive tannins, with weight, presence, and an incredibly long finish. Very classic in style and distinctly Saint Estèphe with a touch of herb on the finish, ‘stunning’ was my final note, and it seems most agree. This wine comes in a wooden case. Drink from 2035 to 2055. 13.4%
