Excellent red-ruby color. Plum, currant, animal fur, smoked game, roasted nuts and graphite on the nose, plus a note of toffee. Lush and smooth in the mouth, with notes of minerals, leather and game. Still rather tightly wrapped following the mise, but very nicely balanced from the outset. Firm acidity gives the wine superb delineation and grip. Tannins are dusty and firm-and more obvious today than in the '97, despite the fact that the later year featured higher polyphenol levels.

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An explosively rich, exotic, fruity Montrose, the 1995 displays even more fat and extract than the 1996. There is less Cabernet Sauvignon in the 1995 blend, resulting in a fuller-bodied, more accessible and friendlier style. The wine exhibits an opaque black/ruby/purple color, as well as a ripe nose of black fruits, vanillin, and licorice. Powerful yet surprisingly accessible (the tannin is velvety and the acidity low), this terrific example of Montrose should be drinkable at a young age.

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Aromas of Indian spice, blackberry and currant. Subtle. Full-bodied, with slightly angular tannins, but soft and caressing in the finish. A little hollow but pretty.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Drink now. 17,600 cases made.

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Cedar, and mild cassis. Very slight thinning at the edge. Color deep red/ purple/slight brown. Almost but not quite opaque. Mildly astringent tannins. Don't think this will improve but now drinking well.