2009 La Dame de Montrose, St Estèphe, Bordeaux

La Dame de Montrose is often an extremely austere wine to taste en primeur with the linear tannins of St Estèphe sometimes obtrusively firm. Not so in 2009, where the massive level of tannins are wonderfully succulent and ripe. Dark bramble fruit dominates the nose and the palate is concentrated yet brooding with a gravelly, mocha darkness. This is a very attractive wine.