Château Monbrison 1986

Lot presentation

Château Monbrison 1986

The wine

Monbrison is an elegant Margaux. It has an intense and delicate nose, with aromas of bramble. The palate is full, smooth and flavoursome. This wine is structured but has pleasant tannins.

Located a short distance from the cru classés of Tertre and Giscours, Château Monbrison has no reason to envy its illustrious neighbours, with whom it shares a remarkable gravel terroir. The property's vineyard is relatively old (40 years), and consists of a single 15 hectare block of vines with a mixture of grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon (50%), Merlot (30%), Cabernet Franc (15%) and Petit Verdot (5%). Having already been much appreciated since the mid-1980s, the quality of Château Monbrison's wines improved spectacularly after 1995, due to the approach initiated by the former owner Jean-Luc Vonderheyden, who has since died. His initiative consisted of a return to traditional methods of growing and vinification, resulting in Château Monbrison becoming one of the first cru bourgeois to undertake a quest for irreproachable quality. His brother Laurent Vonderheyden who took over the property and is the current owner, has continued to employ these traditional methods: fermentation in stainless steel vats, ageing for 18 months in oak barrels (of which 40 to 60% are renewed each year, depending on the requirements of the vintage), light fining and no filtration.