Chateau Montviel Pomerol Bordeaux, Complete Guide

Learn everything about Chateau Montviel Pomerol with wine tasting notes and wine with food pairing tips. Learn the best vintages, a history of the property, information on vineyards and winemaking. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

Chateau Montviel History, Overview

Chateau Montviel was the first Pomerol estate purchased by Catherine Pere-Verge. She bought Chateau Montviel in 1985. Chateau Montviel was created from vineyards belonging to three little-known properties including; Bellevue-Montviel and La Croix des Templiers, as well as Montviel.

Following her purchase and creation of the new vineyard for Chateau Montviel, Catherine Pere Verge continued adding to her holdings in Pomerol when she subsequently obtained Chateau Le Gay, located on the famous plateau of Pomerol.

Her next two purchases were Chateau Tristan, Chateau Feytit-Lagrave, and later, Chateau La Violette. La Violette is also located on the prized terroir of the Pomerol plateau. The same technical team that produces Chateau Le Gay and Chateau La Violette also works with Chateau Montviel as well.

In fact, because there is no winery for Chateau Tristan, the wine is produced at Montviel. Starting with the 1988 vintage, Pere Verge brought in Michel Rolland as her consultant.

Chateau Montviel Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

The 10.1-hectare vineyard of Chateau Montviel is planted to 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. However, it is important to note that while the estate has 10.1 hectares of vines, only the 5 best hectares are used to produce Chateau Montviel. The vines for Chateau Montviel are placed in various parcels in the Pomerol appellation giving the estate two distinctly, different soil types.

The majority of their parcels are in terroir with fine, sand, and gravel soil. Their best parcels have terroirs with clay and gravel soil, which are located not far from Chateau Clinet. The vines are planted at a density of 5,500 vines per hectare. On average, the vines are close to 30 years of age.

To produce the wine of Chateau Montviel, the property started using micro vinification techniques starting with the 2013 vintage. The results were so good that starting with the 2014 vintage, they increased the amount of their production vinified in barrels.

Malolactic fermentation is conducted in the barrel with the first two months spent on the lees. Chateau Montviel is aged 100% new, French oak barrels. There is a second wine, La Rose Montviel. Production averages close to 1,800 cases of Chateau Montviel, wine per year.

The best vintages of Chateau Montviel are: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2005 and 2000.

When to Drink Chateau Taillefer, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau Taillefer can be enjoyed on the young side with an hour of decanting. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.

However, I find the wine is usually better with 3-6 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. In the best years, the wine will best between 4 to 12 years of age after the vintage.

Serving Chateau Montviel with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Chateau Montviel is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.

Chateau Montviel is best paired with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes. Chateau Montviel is also good when matched with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta.

Aside from their Right Bank properties, the Pere Verge family also owns Chateau La Graviere in Lalande de Pomerol which produces about 4,000 cases of wine per year. Not content with only making wine in Bordeaux, they also own the well-known property, Monteviejo in Mendoza Argentina. The vineyards are located in Clos de Los Siete, in the Mendoza appellation.

Sadly, Catherine Pere Verge, the grand woman of Pomerol passed away from cancer the day before she was going to present her wines at a dinner for friends and members of the press, April 2013. She will be missed. Today, Chateau Montviel, and all the family-owned estates are owned and ably managed by her son Henri Parent.

www.montviel.com