Montrose's second wine has something of the same gravity as the top wine from the estate. It shows firm tannins as well as black currant fruits. These flavors are followed by spice, leather and drying tannins. It does have a sense of elegance that promises well for its mid-term aging,

Cherry fruit is to the fore in this wine, with polished wood and a certain dark, deep, cedar and spice depth of plummyness beneath. The palate has lots of flesh, lots of juicy plum and the tart, liquorice plum skin grip. There's a fabulous big raft of sour cherry fruit and acidity, that makes this very juicy against the dryness and weight of tannins. Grippy, structured but with a sense of generosity too.

Tight at the moment, a little work is needed to wake the wine and its crushed stone, herbs and black fruit scents. The tannic wine demands at least a few years in the cellar before the cassis, oak and blackberries come together. This was not showing at its potential best when tasted, with time, this could be a much better wine. As it sells for a fair price, for savvy consumers that like the style, as it sells for a fair price, it's well worth taking a chance on.