Tasted at the Montrose vertical in London, the 1978 Montrose is a vintage that I had not tasted for a number of years. I was in for a pleasant surprise. It was a late picking, passim in Bordeaux, here picked between 3 and 17 October. Clear and graphite on the nose that tips you towards Pauillac in style, not intense but bridled with fine tension. There is a pleasing brightness on the palate, something uncommon with 1978s that can be a bit staid, fresh acidity with tertiary bay leaf notes, leading to a short and structured finish. Well-preserved bottles such as this will continue to give pleasure. Tasted June 2016.

Light-styled for a Montrose, the 1978 has reached full maturity. It offers a straightforward, spicy, earthy bouquet of curranty fruit and damp, woodsy aromas. Medium-bodied, compact, and adequately concentrated, this spicy, earthy style of wine should be drunk over the next 5-8 years. Last tasted, 2/93.