Wine Of The Week: Château Montrose Saint-Estephe 2016

A new vintage from a Bordeaux legend.

Located in a famed wine-producing commune in Medoc, France, this classified second growth vineyard was planted way back in 1855. Today,  Château Montrose still makes earnest, dedicated wines in true Left Bank fashion.

Despite the old school providence, the winery employs lots of forward thinking initiatives — 3,000 square meters of solar panels, 14 electric tractors, and a system to recycle waste into compost. In the late summer, sheep will graze over the vineyards to trim the vines and greens before harvest.

Despite the greener ethos, this is excellent Bordeaux through and through; elegant on the nose with deep notes of blackberry, violet, and cherry. 2016 is an excellent vintage and drinking beautifully – still fresh but well-balanced, juicy but silky on the palate with a beautiful minerality. $238

Kate Dingwall is a WSET-trained sommelier and spirits writer. Her work has appeared in Wine Enthusiast, Eater, Forbes.com, and Food & Wine, and she pours wine at one of Canada’s top restaurants.