Chateau Montelena
Calistoga Zinfandel
Calistoga, Napa Valley, California, USA
Pretty classic, old school style Zin. Ripe, balanced spicy blackberry fruit, sandstoney gravelly notes. Soft and full in the mouth. Not jammy at all. Less structured than typical Ridge or Storybook benchmarks, but so drinkable. Love the balance on this. Only 14.5%, thank God.
Pretty classic, old school style Zin. Ripe, balanced spicy blackberry fruit, sandstoney gravelly notes. Soft and full in the mouth. Not jammy at all. Less structured than typical Ridge or Storybook benchmarks, but so drinkable. Love the balance on this. Only 14.5%, thank God.
Feb 18th, 2023
Mix of red/black fruit, raisinated voluptuous texture, sweet finish and not bone dry...tannins and acid smooth...delicious and drinkable...
Mix of red/black fruit, raisinated voluptuous texture, sweet finish and not bone dry...tannins and acid smooth...delicious and drinkable...
Nov 4th, 2020Deep Ruby. Big bold berry. Prune. Syrupy texture. Lingering finish. Nice mid-palette.
Deep Ruby. Big bold berry. Prune. Syrupy texture. Lingering finish. Nice mid-palette.
Jan 6th, 2019
This is certainly the most interesting Zinfandel I’ve tasted in quite some time, and also one of the best. Montelena sourced Irish oak from a certain distillery for some of the aging. I found this remarkably right bank Bordeaux like with ripe aromas of plums, blueberry pie, cassis, figs, chocolate, spice box and tobacco leaf. Very complex and aristocratic expression. Superb vintage!
This is certainly the most interesting Zinfandel I’ve tasted in quite some time, and also one of the best. Montelena sourced Irish oak from a certain distillery for some of the aging. I found this remarkably right bank Bordeaux like with ripe aromas of plums, blueberry pie, cassis, figs, chocolate, spice box and tobacco leaf. Very complex and aristocratic expression. Superb vintage!
1 person found it helpfulApr 19th, 2019
They used Irish Oak in this bottling.
They used Irish Oak in this bottling.
Apr 18th, 2017
a softer elegant expression of the zin ~ very pleasant
a softer elegant expression of the zin ~ very pleasant
Nov 15th, 2016
Lots of fun - huge green pepper notes
Lots of fun - huge green pepper notes
May 14th, 2016
Temperate vintage. 100% Zin/primitivo. 16 months aging in French, Irish, and American oak of which 20% new. Orange yogurt, white pepper, fruit basket - red, blue. Plums, cranberry, blueberry pie. Medium acidity, medium minus tannins.
Temperate vintage. 100% Zin/primitivo. 16 months aging in French, Irish, and American oak of which 20% new. Orange yogurt, white pepper, fruit basket - red, blue. Plums, cranberry, blueberry pie. Medium acidity, medium minus tannins.
Jul 11th, 2022allspice and licorice over tart raspberry, mocha and toast, earthy but not heavy
allspice and licorice over tart raspberry, mocha and toast, earthy but not heavy
Feb 6th, 2024