Chateau Montrose Saint Estephe 2004

Chateau Montrose Saint-Estèphe 2004 is a Second Growth Bordeaux red wine from the northern Médoc, bottled at 13% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Both Wine Spectator and Neal Martin for The Wine Advocate scored this vintage 92 points, recognizing its balance of dark fruit intensity and savory depth within a challenging vintage.

Quick Facts: ABV: 13%  |  Origin: Saint-Estèphe, Médoc, Bordeaux, France  |  Vintage: 2004  |  Estate: Château Montrose  |  Classification: Deuxième Grand Cru Classé (1855)

Production & Heritage

Château Montrose has stood among the elite estates of Saint-Estèphe since its inclusion in the 1855 Classification as a Second Growth. The 2004 vintage is a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, matured for 18 months in 60% new French oak barrels. Montrose distinguishes itself through traditional gravity racking — transferring wine barrel to barrel so clear wine separates naturally from its lees — and fining with fresh egg whites, a practice only around 20 estates in Bordeaux still maintain instead of using powdered egg whites or other modern agents.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with blackberry, currant, and black plum before unfolding into layers of smoked meat, tobacco, cedar, and cold steel. With time in the glass, subtle notes of mint, jasmine, and earthy undergrowth emerge alongside a touch of mocha.

Taste: Medium to full-bodied on entry, the palate delivers dark cherry and cassis framed by subdued but gripping tannins. Mid-palate flavors shift toward savory territory — tobacco, earth, bacon fat, and plum — while mocha and spice notes provide richness. The texture is smooth and velvety yet retains brightness and a penetrating vinous character.

Finish: The finish is long and harmonious, carrying lingering impressions of licorice, cedar, and forest floor. Tannins resolve gently, leaving a savory, earthy echo that rewards patience.

How to Drink Montrose 2004

This wine is best served neat in a large-bowled Bordeaux glass at around 16–18°C (61–64°F), ideally decanted for 60–90 minutes to allow its secondary aromas to fully develop. At two decades of age, the 2004 is drinking in a mature window where its tannins have softened and its savory complexities are most expressive. Pair it thoughtfully with food rather than mixing in cocktails — this is a wine that demands the table.

Best For

• Serving alongside a formal dinner featuring red meat or game
• Gifting a Bordeaux collector with an interest in mature Second Growths
• Exploring how Saint-Estèphe terroir evolves over 20 years of bottle age
• Building a vertical tasting of Montrose across multiple vintages

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Montrose 2004 taste like? Montrose 2004 is a medium to full-bodied Bordeaux dominated by dark cherry, cassis, tobacco, and earth, with smooth tannins and a long, savory finish marked by cedar and licorice.

How does Montrose 2004 compare to Cos d'Estournel 2004? Montrose and Cos d'Estournel are perennial Saint-Estèphe rivals; the 2004 Montrose tends toward a more classically structured, savory profile with prominent cedar and earth, while Cos d'Estournel in the same vintage is generally described as richer and more exotically spiced. Both received strong critical scores for the vintage, making them close competitors at the Second Growth level.

Is Montrose 2004 good for drinking now? Yes — Robert Parker noted the wine drinks well with 15+ years of age, and at two decades old, the 2004 has entered a mature window where its tannins have softened and its secondary flavors of tobacco, forest floor, and spice are fully developed.

Where is Montrose 2004 made? Château Montrose is located in the Saint-Estèphe appellation in the northern Médoc, part of Bordeaux's Left Bank in southwestern France. The estate's vineyards sit on a gravel rise overlooking the Gironde estuary.

What foods pair well with Montrose 2004? Grilled lamb chops complement the wine's cedar and earthy tannins. Braised short ribs mirror its savory depth and velvety texture. Roasted duck breast matches the dark fruit and spice. Aged hard cheeses like Comté or aged Gouda echo the wine's mature, nutty undertones. A black truffle risotto would highlight the forest floor and earth character.

What sizes does Montrose 2004 come in? Château Montrose 2004 is most commonly found in the standard 750ml bottle, though larger formats such as magnums (1.5L) and double magnums (3L) were produced and may be available on the secondary market.

Is Montrose 2004 worth the price? Montrose 2004 positions as a premium mature Bordeaux from a classified Second Growth estate, carrying dual 92-point scores from Wine Spectator and The Wine Advocate. For drinkers seeking an age-worthy Saint-Estèphe at a lower price point than marquee vintages like 2005 or 2009, the 2004 delivers considerable complexity and drinking pleasure relative to its market position.

Why Montrose 2004?

The 2004 vintage at Montrose stands out as an overperformer — a wine that earned 92-point recognition from both Wine Spectator and Neal Martin despite a vintage that tested many Left Bank estates. Its traditional production methods, including gravity racking and fresh egg-white fining, reflect an estate committed to detail at every stage. Now fully mature, this bottle shows the kind of savory, tobacco-laced complexity that defines Saint-Estèphe at its best, backed by a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blend aged in carefully measured new oak. For collectors and drinkers drawn to the quieter strengths of Bordeaux — structure, terroir expression, and graceful evolution — the 2004 Montrose is a compelling example of patience rewarded.