Mark Flesher

9.1

You really can't give this one a very true rating right now. This bottle still has a lot of red fruited baby fat. After about 3 hours of air, it started to settle into more of a black cherry with hints of blackberry kind of a wine. But it definitely was not like that sooner. It is amazing how 15 years seems to be the dividing line and the characteristics change so much. It took a little coaxing. This one has a fair amount of herb influence. Also has some menthol or eucalyptus. Not sure that was there when I tried one of these even earlier. Overall, I make no apologies for opening this one now. It is still a very good wine. But when you know how these drink at 15 to 20 years, you know that it will continue to develop and change so much. Still a lot of stiff oak astringency at the moment. — 5 years ago

Brian Frizzell

9.3

Good stuff! — 7 years ago

James Webb

9.0

Dark fruit. Sour cherry. Brackish water. Forest floor. Maduro wrapper. Blistered shishito. Palette of dark and sour cherry. Strong acid that guides you to the heavy tannic structure that awaits. Fruit is still holding on to provide some balance. But slightly off kilter (past prime?) to be considered a truly great Montelena. — 8 years ago

Jyoti Kataria

9.9

It was perfect as an after dinner drink. Paired it with Flan. The 1994 vintage blew us away. — 9 years ago

Bryan Vogt

9.1

Excellent considering this is an 11. Needed to breathe for about 45 min — 9 years ago

Lauren Domenech

9.1

It was all still there, very impressed. Golden apple, honeysuckle & good long finish. Hell yeah! — 10 years ago

Christopher McCurdy

9.8

The wine of the night! Head to head with five other high end 2005 Cabernet Sauvignons! Absolutely beautiful expression of CS. Went with everything we ate and was the clear winner in a blind tasting with Chateau Montelena, Robert Mondavi Oakville (finished second), Regusci Angelo's Vineyard, Beringer Private Reserve, and Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste. Not too often that a group can taste this many wines blind and choose a clear winner! Way to go David Ramey, again!! — 10 years ago

Aaron Means

9.1

Focused and balanced fruit to oak treatment. Decent length but lacking compared to the Montelena tasted beside it. — 11 years ago

Nola Pirruccello

9.1

Summer delish! — 11 years ago

Collin-Peter Casey

Northern California Sales Manager Weygandt-Metzler Importing

9.1

It's the "Silverado" bottling. This is the 89, 90 and 91 vintages. It's good. — 12 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.4

Still dark and opaque. Rich fruit nose. Notes of black cherry, mocha, mahogany and a hint of espresso. Rich and silky in the mouth. Long finish. A nice contrast to the Montelena Cab. My last bottle unfortunately. — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Saw an ‘06 on a wine list and grabbed this 12 year-old beauty. Mike Grgich 1st gained international recognition at the celebrated "Paris Tasting" of '76 where a panel of eminent French judges were shocked they chose Mike’s '73 Montelena Chard as the finest white wine in the world! Elegant, rich berry fruit aromas, licorice notes. On the palate blackberry & cherry, bits of cacao and cinnamon, soft fine tannins. Lingering finish ending with soft oaky notes. Opened quickly and drank beautifully. — 7 years ago

Joe Kaiser

9.2

Starting line up this evening. Just beginning to decant. All 2002's Araujo Eisele Vineyard, Bryant Family Vineyard, Chateau Montelena Cab, Diamond Creek, Grace Family Vineyard, Ramey Jericho Canyon & Rubicon Estate & maybe a surprise — 8 years ago

with bill

Chuy Galvan

Sommelier & Educator Titan Wines

9.0

Tastes like aged Montelena, hot Vintage which shows in the cherry reduction character, little mint and chocolate. Solid. — 9 years ago

Anthony Biagi

Winemaker Hourglass, Owner Patria

9.4

Wow In a flight of chateau montelena and caymus 85s this drop kicked them out of the room. Hints of Brett but adds to the complexity of black olive, camphor, Dried fruits and herbs. Patrick Campbell made so many great wines and does not get enough credit this wine sings, bravo. — 10 years ago

Cory Fierro

9.1

Gifted a taste by a friend. Trying this immediately after the Chateau Montelena shows the differences between Calistoga and Oak Knoll, with this being more vegetal and "harder" on the nose. There's less sweetness and more of a ripe character, and that transfers onto the palate as well, with a juicy bell pepper and underripe raspberry quality showing forth. It's a beautiful wine made in a masculine cabernet style. — 10 years ago

with Liz

Charles Antin

Senior Wine Specialist/Auctioneer Zachys

9.3

Also fun--this vineyard goes into Montelena Chardonnay, tasted a few days ago. Always fun to see different expressions of same grapes. — 11 years ago

Kelly O'Connor

10

Not too bad... — 11 years ago

Mike Mighetto Hoefling

9.0

Reminds me of Montelena Chard — 12 years ago

with Rebecca

Jay Hamilton

10

I wish they came in bigger bottles. Good to pull out at parties — 13 years ago

David Peifer

9.5

2000 vintage. Tasting beautiful 19 years in the making. — 7 years ago

Geoffrey Green

9.6

Pristine cork, decanted for 5 hours: still balanced, complex, and harmonious as a 20 year old in a challenging vintage. Fruit still lively, with mellow tannins—this still has a few years left. Came out best for me in an evening of great old wines: ‘98 Corison, ‘98 Montelena Estate, plus de la Tour ‘99. Never underestimate the consistency of a great estate, year after year. Glad I have another bottle or two. — 7 years ago

Laura Purdy

9.2

Needed a good hour plus decant. Big oaky flavor with a bit of vanilla on the finish.

Happy NYE! — 8 years ago

B

10

Magnum 1997 Harlan CS. Dinner at Fstead. Drank after the '91 Chateau Montelena out of magnum. — 9 years ago

David L

9.5

13' Edge Hill Bacigalupi Chardonnay. @Martin G Rivard Thank you for this must have bottle of wine. This 4 acres made up 40% of the Château Montelena 1973 chard. Decant this for 1 hour and enjoy. Wait patiently for 2/3 years. — 9 years ago

Skip Smyser

9.4

Having lunch at Chateau Montelena . They surprised us with this treasure🍷🍷🍷 — 10 years ago

Richard Toscan

9.8

This '12 is reminiscent of those fine Cal Chardonnays from the early '80s (Ch. Montelena among them), distinctly French in style. — 10 years ago

Brandon Thomas

9.0

Still alive and well. — 11 years ago

Vinny Eng

10

'96 Chateau Montelena 'St. Vincent' - primitivo, zin, sangiovese @StVincentSF courtesy of @daniel_petroski. Blessed are we, Cali. — 11 years ago

with David, Jasmine and 3 others

Bill Bender

9.1

3 years since my last bottle and some time has transformed this wine from an impenetrable black beast in to a refined beauty. A eucalyptus nose like an older Montelena and a juicy Beyoncé backside. — 12 years ago