Château La Dame de Montrose, St. Estephe, FR, 2023

Château La Dame de Montrose 2023 — professional reviews and ratings

Professional scores (2023 vintage)

Across major critics, the wine generally falls in the 91–94 point range, with some barrel samples slightly higher:

• 93/100 – Wine Advocate (William Kelley)
• 93/100 – Inside Bordeaux (Jane Anson)
• 91–93/100 – The Wine Independent (Lisa Perrotti-Brown)
• 92–94/100 – Vinous (Antonio Galloni)
• 94–95 (barrel range) – James Suckling
• 93 points – Falstaff

Consensus: roughly 91–94 points for the finished style, with higher barrel estimates in some cases.

Tasting profile (critic consensus)

Aromatics and fruit

• Blackcurrant, blackberry, plum, dark cherry
• Violet, floral lift
• Subtle graphite and spice notes

Palate and structure

• Medium to full body
• Fine-grained, polished tannins
• Fresh acidity giving tension and lift
• Saline/mineral-tinged finish typical of Saint-Estèphe

Style notes

• Merlot-driven blend with Cabernet Sauvignon structure underneath
• Designed to be more approachable than the Grand Vin while still serious and ageworthy
• Emphasis on purity and balance rather than extraction

Critical consensus

1. One of the strongest second wines in Bordeaux in 2023
2. Very consistent praise for balance between ripeness and freshness
3. Seen as approachable earlier than Château Montrose but still capable of aging well

Drinking window (typical critic view)

• Early drinking: around 2027 onward
• Peak: roughly 2030–2040+ depending on storage

The 2023 La Dame de Montrose is a rich, heady wine. Succulent dark cherry, plum, new leather, spice, menthol, licorice and mocha are beautifully amplified. Explosive to the core, the 2023 possesses tons of aromatic intensity and pure volume. This showy, Merlot-based Dame is quite alluring.

• Jeff Leve (The Wine Cellar Insider): described it as "classy, especially for a second wine," with sweet, ripe red fruits and spice.