Chateau Montelena
The Montelena Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California, USA
Fully mature, essential Napa Cabernet. Plum, cedar, short bread, licorice. A hint of slightly savory A1. Elegant mouthfeel with a slightly receding mid palate. Surprisingly firm tannins. Drink now. Perfect with lamb chops.
Fully mature, essential Napa Cabernet. Plum, cedar, short bread, licorice. A hint of slightly savory A1. Elegant mouthfeel with a slightly receding mid palate. Surprisingly firm tannins. Drink now. Perfect with lamb chops.
Mar 6th, 2021In the window. Very generous right now.
In the window. Very generous right now.
Sep 2nd, 2017
Ripe cassis and blackberries with mint. Perfect balance of tannins, acid and alcohol. Delicious with flat iron steak.
Ripe cassis and blackberries with mint. Perfect balance of tannins, acid and alcohol. Delicious with flat iron steak.
Sep 19th, 2020It was between this and the 1987 Spottswoode. Glad I chose this one. This is a black fruit dominated wine that actually had a rather sweet nose even after 2 hours of popping the cork. There is still so much youth here, but the middle shows an extremely mature integration that only time I can give these wines. Some herbs showing here in the middle. Super impressed, and this one is drinking extremely well. It is not showing the aged black fruit profile that lots of wines of this year are starting to show. If served blind, I would have guessed this was a 2005. Finishes soft, with excellent tanic integration. I still think this bottle would appreciate over the next couple of years, and then it will be at peak for who-knows-how-long. Wow.
It was between this and the 1987 Spottswoode. Glad I chose this one. This is a black fruit dominated wine that actually had a rather sweet nose even after 2 hours of popping the cork. There is still so much youth here, but the middle shows an extremely mature integration that only time I can give these wines. Some herbs showing here in the middle. Super impressed, and this one is drinking extremely well. It is not showing the aged black fruit profile that lots of wines of this year are starting to show. If served blind, I would have guessed this was a 2005. Finishes soft, with excellent tanic integration. I still think this bottle would appreciate over the next couple of years, and then it will be at peak for who-knows-how-long. Wow.
Feb 9th, 2019Sleeper vintage. Spectacular from Magnum. Tannins fully resolved and almost entirely into secondary non fruit character with eucalyptus throughout. Peaking.
Sleeper vintage. Spectacular from Magnum. Tannins fully resolved and almost entirely into secondary non fruit character with eucalyptus throughout. Peaking.
Mar 4th, 2018
Ever since I watched bottle shock with my father, I've been looking forward to a bottle of CM. This 20 YO did not disappoint. After about 20 mins, it opened up to raspberries, strawberries, tobacco, and soft tannins. Amazingly smooth.
Ever since I watched bottle shock with my father, I've been looking forward to a bottle of CM. This 20 YO did not disappoint. After about 20 mins, it opened up to raspberries, strawberries, tobacco, and soft tannins. Amazingly smooth.
Dec 26th, 2016
Aromas of ripe berries and pencil lead. The palate has perfect balance of fruit, tannins, and acidity. The dark cherry fruit is plush, tannins are silky, very textural, and ends herbaceous. Quite a mouthful.
Aromas of ripe berries and pencil lead. The palate has perfect balance of fruit, tannins, and acidity. The dark cherry fruit is plush, tannins are silky, very textural, and ends herbaceous. Quite a mouthful.
Oct 9th, 2016
1500 ml of beautiful cab, didnt wait too long so hope tannins woulda smoothened out a bit more but wonderful complexity and structure and long finish and all the hallmarks of the producer and varietal
1500 ml of beautiful cab, didnt wait too long so hope tannins woulda smoothened out a bit more but wonderful complexity and structure and long finish and all the hallmarks of the producer and varietal
Apr 3rd, 2016
Lots of life still left in this beauty
Lots of life still left in this beauty
Mar 16th, 2016