I can see here a comparison with 2009 in terms of generosity and enjoyment. It`s a big wine with lots of structure, so during extractions they had to be careful to stay on the cooler side, between 26°C and 28°C, the lowest since 2014. This has traces of heat, although it has clearly been extremely carefully handled and is well balanced. Ripe black fruits, rosemary and black olive notes are countered by tannins that gather at the end of the palate, showing just how much is going on here. Harvested commenced on 17 September and ran into October. 81IPT. 16% press wine. 91 points

52% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot. Black-cherry colour with black core. Fragrant with violets and cassis. So aromatic. Very fine tannins, many layered, dry but not at all obstreperous. Rich in the darkest of rocky black fruit, really ambitious and successful. Deep, long and remarkably juicy. Almost silky on the finish. 17+ points

Composed of 52% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc, harvested from September 17 to October 5, the deep garnet-purple colored 2018 La Dame de Montrose delivers a profound nose of baked plums, blackberry preserves and raisin cake with touches of dark chocolate, licorice, Chinese five spice and sandalwood. Full-bodied, rich and opulent in the mouth, it fills the palate with ripe, generous fruit, backed by firm, rounded tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and spicy. 90-92 points

The 2018 La Dame de Montrose is a wine of pure and total sensuality. Deep, textured and beautifully perfumed, La Dame has so much to offer. Dark red fruit, wild flowers, cedar, sweet tobacco and anise give La Dame striking aromatic presence to play off its rich, layered fruit. Powerful and very Saint-Estèphe in bearing, La Dame is gorgeous in 2018. I won`t be surprised if the 2018 turns out even better than this note suggests. 90-92 points

The second wine this year is 52% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc, picked between September 17th and October 5th, as per the grand vin. This took 37% of the crop. The alcohol level is 14.8%, the same as the grand vin. It begins with a very fragrant nose, showing floral black cherries, with notes of chalk dust, liquorice and violets. A very convincing start on the palate, broad and polished through the middle,with a rich and velvety substance of black cherry, damson, soot and black bean, all laid over polished tannins and a bright acid backbone. Deliciously fresh, integrated, supple and complete, with a medium-bodied presence, never overstated, and a charming round of tannins at the end. This is brilliantly composed, a great second wine. Well done. 94-96 points