Chateau Montrose 2009

That cocoa and licorice note carried through the finish far longer than I expected, while the dark cherry core stayed vibrant the whole time. The saffron touch in there is subtle but gives it a real lift.

Opened this on a quiet evening and the saffron and cocoa notes came through beautifully on the finish. That licorice touch lingered for ages after each sip, making the whole bottle feel like a slow, luxurious event.

The saffron and cocoa notes on the finish really make this stand out, adding depth beyond the typical fruit. It’s still quite youthful and needs a few more years to fully open up, but the structure is impressive. A solid wine for the cellar.