Rick Riddle

9.4

They didn’t rest on their laurels after the Judgement of Paris! Chateau Montelena’s Calistoga Zinfandel is overloaded with notes of Red Cherries with an aged bourbon finish. Light bodied, garnet red with minimal tannins, excellent alone or with a bit of truffle salted mozzarella. — 7 years ago

with Meagan

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

Young Choi

9.1

wow what a big zin! even at 13 years! lovely notes of berries and strong pepperiness. would love to try this again in 5 years! — 8 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

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. — 9 years ago

with Liz

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

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

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. — 11 years ago

Shengli Hu

9.0

Fresh plum, juicy raspberry and strawberry, licorice, and red flowers. A hint of sweet spices from neutral oak. Moderate plus acid, medium (minus) smooth tannins, full body. — 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! — 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. — 8 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! — 9 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!! — 9 years ago

Brandon Thomas

9.0

Still alive and well. — 10 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

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. — 11 years ago

Laura Purdy

9.3

This is the most tropical Riesling ever. So. Much. Pineapple. Wow! — 7 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

B

10

Magnum 1997 Harlan CS. Dinner at Fstead. Drank after the '91 Chateau Montelena out of magnum. — 8 years ago

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. — 8 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. — 9 years ago

Skip Smyser

9.4

Having lunch at Chateau Montelena . They surprised us with this treasure🍷🍷🍷 — 9 years ago

Blake Oliver

9.0

Had this 1998 vintage on May 2, 2005. I added the picture of another bottle I have from the same case to this app in 2015 when I joined, so it says that is when I drank it, so Iwanted to correct that. The rating is from the bottle I had in 2005. — 10 years ago

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. — 10 years ago

Kelly O'Connor

10

Not too bad... — 11 years ago

Mike Mighetto Hoefling

9.0

Reminds me of Montelena Chard — 11 years ago

with Rebecca

Jay Hamilton

10

I wish they came in bigger bottles. Good to pull out at parties — 12 years ago