Château Montrose 2020 Saint-Estèphe Grand Cru Classé *

Considering the health crisis and the very contrasting weather conditions, 2020 will be remembered as a considerably challenging year; human intervention was crucial for this vintage. In 2020, a relatively mild winter was followed by one of the warmest springs since the beginning of the 20th century. Heavy rainfall from May to June led to high mildew pressure from the beginning of the season through to flowering. Encouraged throughout the cycle by temperatures above seasonal norms, the vegetative period remained 3 weeks ahead of schedule until full flowering on May 22nd. We then observed a fewer number of clusters, counting only four clusters per vine instead of the usual six. An exceptionally dry start to the summer was marked by two heat waves at the end of July and midAugust, generating fears of water stress, quickly moderated by rain at the end of August as well as the water-regulating capacity of the deep clay of our terroir. Veraison was early with the first coloured berries appearing on July 29th. It then continued unevenly due to drought and high temperatures. Early development continued through to the beginning of the harvest, on September 10th. Despite the health situation and some rain towards the end of the harvest, picking took place in good conditions and was completed on September 29th. The grapes delivered to the winery were fully ripe and in perfect sanitary condition. While the berries were of good size, clusters were 10 to 20% smaller, a loss mainly due to the weather conditions that affected the development of clusters. Initial tastings place this vintage among the great successes of Château Montrose. Rich and wellbalanced, the 2020 vintage is a subtle combination of the aromatic and structural profile of the 2019 and the acidity/alcohol balance of the 2016. It is a perfect reflection of the signature of our terroir