1982 Montrose
By Chateau Montrose
1982 Montrose from Château Montrose, St-Estèphe, Bordeaux, France
The 1982 vintage from Bordeaux is universally lauded for its exceptional quality and cellar longevity. A stellar example amongst these, the 1982 Montrose from Château Montrose remains a paragon of this illustrious year. Having closely monitored this vintage's evolution, I am continually in awe of its resilience and finesse.
An Ensemble of Excellence
Revered by connoisseurs and savvy fine wine investors alike, the 1982 Montrose showcases the deft craftsmanship synonymous with Château Montrose. The château's gravelly soils and proximity to the Gironde estuary have imbued this St-Estèphe stalwart with remarkable complexity and a robust structure worthy of the finest cellars. Primed for long-term aging, this vintage has proven that it can transcend decades with grace.
An Iconic Vintage for Discerning Palates
The conditions leading to the harvest in 1982 set the stage for an extraordinary showing. With an ideal mix of warm days and cool nights during the growing season, the Cabernet Sauvignon-led blend reached optimal maturity, giving the 1982 Montrose an enviable concentration and balance. On the palate, one is greeted by layers of dark fruit such as blackcurrant and plum, interwoven seamlessly with secondary aromas of cigar box, truffle, and a hint of graphite—a true reflection of its terroir. The tannins are incredibly well-resolved, a testament to its age, while maintaining a vivacity that promises further maturation potential.
For fine wine investors seeking out the quintessentials of Bordeaux’s past, securing parcels of the 1982 Montrose secures not just a liquid treasure but an emblematic piece of winemaking history – a wine that so eloquently captures both time and terrain.
Investing in Elegance
Unquestionably one of St-Estèphe's crowning jewels, this remarkable cuvée will resonate with both collectors and connoisseurs aiming to expand their portfolios with elite Bordeaux wines. As prices continue to appreciate, the 1982 Montrose from Château Montrose stands out as a stellar investment opportunity. It harmoniously encapsulates power and poise—an asset that transcends mere pleasure and stakes its claim within the annals of vinous investment portfolio must-haves.
Market price (USD)
$1,980.00
12x75cl
Highest score
89
POP score
180
Scores and tasting notes
Tasted at Pebbles/Zachy's 1982 dinner in Hong Kong. The Montrose '82 has never been able to hold a flame to either the 1989 or 1990. Here at 30 years of age it has a slightly enervated bouquet: a little dusty with earthy black fruit that has mutated into secondary aromas; leather and sous-bois. The palate is balanced but not complex and feels like a runner who has completed one lap too many. There remains a pleasant Merlot core lending this Saint Estephe with approachability, but overall, it is missing both tension and pedigree. Tasted November 2012.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal Jan 2013
This vintage had exceptional growing conditions with a good spring, a very early and generous flowering in the beginning of June without any of the flowering mishaps that such as coulure and millerandage. while July, August and September were extremely hot, sunny and drought-like. The harvest started on September 14 and was completed on September 29. The final blend for the 1982 Montrose was relatively classic, and this wine, never one of my favorites of the vintage, shows plenty of brick at the edge, a big, spicy, oaky nose with oak in the background, notes of Chinese black tea, new saddle leather and unsmoked cigar tobacco, as well as red and black currants. It is medium-bodied, elegant, and fully mature. By no means one of the stars of the vintage, it is also quite spicy. Drink over the next 10-15 years.
Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #214 Aug 2014
Tasted at the Montrose vertical in Stamford, the 1982 Montrose remains a delightful Saint Estèphe, albeit not one of the stars of the vintage. And it never has been. It was picked between 14 and 29 September after weeks of hot weather. The bouquet is attractive as it leans towards red berry fruit, freshly rolled tobacco and leather, perhaps conservative in the 1982 scheme of things. The palate is medium-bodied with a little graininess to the texture. It is not overly complex, though it is nicely balanced. What is missing is the substance, that insistent grip in the mouth and that peacock's tail of a finish that reveals a hint of iodine on the aftertaste. It is a Montrose that continues to give pleasure, one that does not seem to have changed much in recent years, but by now you know that it will never catch up with say the 1982 Cos d'Estournel or the first-tier growths. Enjoy this with modest expectations. Tasted May 2016.
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 31 March 2017