heavy pencil shavings and cigar smoke on the nose. black olive and green bell pepper too. color is definitely what you’d expect in a 20 year old wine. palate is consistent with nose, very bordeaux-lite. heavy cigar box. a lot of olive and herb tapenade character. some black pepper on the finish too. very savory overall. — 3 days ago
Beautiful Cab Sauv from a stellar year in Napa! Can’t beat Montelena for structure, balance and a long shelf life. The only comparable wine (I’ve tasted) from this vintage is Shafer Hillside Select. This wine was fruit forward, mid pallet of aged leather, tobacco, nice tan is and a finish that lasted until the next sip!! Drink now, but would still be a very nice wine 10+ years from now!! — 9 days ago
Deep ruby color.
Aromas of baked blueberry, cherry, vanilla,
Dry. Flavors of baked blueberry, cherry, vanilla, clove.
Intensity: 4/5
Complexity: 3/5
Balance: 4/5
Finish: 4/5 — 14 days ago
2000 vintage. Briar, earth and slight brickish nose. Color as if bottled yesterday. Light-medium/medium body. Throwing some serious sed. Decanted for two hours and a little watery on the concentration but plenty of fruit. I suspect this would have fared better with a six hour decant/lounge sesh. Also follows on the heels of last week’s tasting of the massive and undying 1990 vintage so there’s that. — 11 days ago
Jess
Deep ruby color.
Aromas of ripe black cherry, cassis, vanilla.
Dry. Flavors of ripe black cherry, vanilla, cassis, soft oak spice. Rich, smooth tannins, and great acidic backbone.
Intensity: 4/5
Complexity: 4/5
Balance: 4/5
Finish: 4/5 — 7 days ago