1952 Château Montrose – Saint-Estèphe

1952 Château Montrose – Saint-Estèphe

Score: 94/100

The 1952 Château Montrose is a fascinating look at a historic vintage from one of the Médoc’s most structured and long-lived estates. Situated in Saint-Estèphe, Montrose is known for its deep, powerful wines that require decades to reach their peak. The 1952 vintage, while not as celebrated as 1949 or 1953, produced wines of elegance and longevity, especially from top terroirs like Montrose’s gravelly plateau overlooking the Gironde.

The 1952 Vintage in Bordeaux

The growing season was warm and steady, with a dry summer, leading to a successful harvest of ripe yet balanced fruit. While not an opulent year, 1952 favored classic, medium-bodied wines with freshness and structure. Left Bank wines, particularly from well-drained vineyards, have aged gracefully, developing complex tertiary aromas while maintaining the firm backbone that defines Montrose.

Tasting Notes

Appearance:

The wine exhibits a deep garnet core with a fading brick-orange rim, showing its remarkable evolution. The clarity is still impressive for a wine of this age, a testament to its structure and careful cellaring.

Nose:

The bouquet is richly layered, with notes of dried blackcurrants, cedar, and tobacco leaf. Secondary aromas of leather, graphite, and truffle emerge, accompanied by a delicate touch of dried violets and cigar box spice. There’s a subtle iodine-like minerality, a hallmark of Montrose’s terroir.

Palate:

Despite its age, the wine retains a firm yet refined structure, with softened tannins that have melded seamlessly into the wine’s earthy, dark-fruited core. Flavors of blackberries, dried cherries, and forest floor are complemented by notes of old leather, smoky cedar, and a hint of dark chocolate. The acidity, though subdued, still provides enough lift to balance the wine’s tertiary depth. The finish is long and persistent, leaving echoes of dried fruit, spice, and a whisper of iron minerality.

Conclusion

The 1952 Château Montrose is a refined, historic Médoc that showcases the estate’s signature power and aging potential. While not as robust as Montrose in great vintages, it has evolved into a beautifully structured, complex wine that rewards those who appreciate mature Bordeaux at its peak. For collectors and enthusiasts of old-school Saint-Estèphe, this is a rare and memorable experience.