Château Montrose, Ch. Montrose 1996

96 / 100 Robert Parker
Tasted at the property, the 1996 Montrose is a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot picked between 23 September and 6 October. It was served alongside the 1986 Montrose, but for me, this is a far better wine and reconfirms Robert Parker's remarks at his own vertical at the property in 2014. For me, it is that loamy character that defines the nose, freshly tilled, damp soil that tinctures the black fruit that takes you straight to this particular château. This is classic through and through and very well defined. The palate is wonderful with very fine delineation, pitch perfect acidity, touches of graphite infusing the red and black fruit that dovetails into a very pretty, floral finish. This is clearly one of the great wines of the 1996 vintage and I would be stocking up as much as I can because it will give 30-40 years of pleasure. Tasted July 2016.
227, The Wine Advocate

92 / 100 Wine Spectator
Beautiful aromas of crushed berries and vanilla, with hints of licorice. Full-bodied, with sweet fruit and silky tannins. Long and caressing. Beautiful now; may improve a bit with age, but why wait? I thought it was one of the wines of the vintage years ago. Not so. Drink now. 17,600 cases made.
http://www.winespectator.com/wine/detail/source/search/not..

17 / 20 Jancis Robinson
Served blind. Mid ruby with lots of evolution at the rim. Very mature and nicely sweet and evolved, with the acidity and light to medium body of 1985. But no, it’s a 1996! Hervé Berland admits it looks older than it is. One of Martin Bouyges’ favourite vintages.
http://www.jancisrobinson.com/tastings/search?keywords=mon..