Chateau Montelena
The Montelena Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California, USA
Dark scarlet center with tawny rims. Opaque. Notes of dark fruit, violets, tobacco leaf, some black licorice, herbs and sage. Stark contrast of fruit and structure in the mouth. Has a green element that is more evident as the wine gets air. This did not show as well as I had hoped.
Dark scarlet center with tawny rims. Opaque. Notes of dark fruit, violets, tobacco leaf, some black licorice, herbs and sage. Stark contrast of fruit and structure in the mouth. Has a green element that is more evident as the wine gets air. This did not show as well as I had hoped.
Nov 25th, 2020
Fantastic tonight. Wonderful depth of fruit and all kinds of flavors dancing across the palate. No hard edges with a certain sophistication. Wow.
Fantastic tonight. Wonderful depth of fruit and all kinds of flavors dancing across the palate. No hard edges with a certain sophistication. Wow.
Dec 10th, 2017Very good body, traditional mature California cab bouquet. Smooth, well-balanced, lively for a 20+ year-old wine.
Very good body, traditional mature California cab bouquet. Smooth, well-balanced, lively for a 20+ year-old wine.
1 person found it helpfulDec 29th, 2015A nice drinking bottle. This had everything in place and a nice feel.
A nice drinking bottle. This had everything in place and a nice feel.
Mar 26th, 2017Decanted and poured. Murky dark purple with tawny rims. Opaque. Great nose of black fruit, mocha and hickory. Nice secondary flavors. Expansive in the mouth. In a great zone now but no sense this declines anytime soon.
Decanted and poured. Murky dark purple with tawny rims. Opaque. Great nose of black fruit, mocha and hickory. Nice secondary flavors. Expansive in the mouth. In a great zone now but no sense this declines anytime soon.
Feb 19th, 2017Really good. Dark cherry, currant, dust, anise/fennel, black tea and hints of leather. Smooth tannins and a delicious finish, which pleases for 45+ seconds.
Really good. Dark cherry, currant, dust, anise/fennel, black tea and hints of leather. Smooth tannins and a delicious finish, which pleases for 45+ seconds.
Feb 4th, 2017
A wonderful experience for 22 year old #napavalleycabernet #chateaumontelena #estate #1994
A wonderful experience for 22 year old #napavalleycabernet #chateaumontelena #estate #1994
Dec 20th, 2016Dark ruby. A little cloudy, almost opaque. Briary red fruit, wood and dust. Big rich and round in the mouth. Long finish. Needs air to show its stuff. Very nice.
Dark ruby. A little cloudy, almost opaque. Briary red fruit, wood and dust. Big rich and round in the mouth. Long finish. Needs air to show its stuff. Very nice.
Jun 12th, 2016
Plummy fruit, still structured, less evolved than the last bottle of 1994 from a few years ago, long, lingering finish, really an excellent older CA Cab with some rib roast for dinner.
Plummy fruit, still structured, less evolved than the last bottle of 1994 from a few years ago, long, lingering finish, really an excellent older CA Cab with some rib roast for dinner.
Dec 23rd, 20231994. Aerated and decanted for a couple of hours. Amazing how it changed over time. At first sip it was OK. Walked a lap and came back to it. Felt like I was drinking a European red. Just keeps getting better with every sip. What a treat for a bottle we almost tossed (cork disintegrated and first sip before decanting was questionable)
1994. Aerated and decanted for a couple of hours. Amazing how it changed over time. At first sip it was OK. Walked a lap and came back to it. Felt like I was drinking a European red. Just keeps getting better with every sip. What a treat for a bottle we almost tossed (cork disintegrated and first sip before decanting was questionable)
Sep 27th, 2021