Chateau Montelena

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

9.2824 ratings
9.2151 pro ratings
Calistoga, Napa Valley, California, USA
Cabernet Sauvignon
Onion, Shallot, Garlic, Pasta, Venison, Tomato-Based, Potato, Pork, Chocolate & Caramel, White Rice, Mushrooms, Beef, Lamb, Chili & Hot Spicy
Top Notes For
Tom Casagrande

Nicely matured and ready-to-go! Very old school Napa Cab nose with weediness and cassis wrestling for top billing. So velvety in the mouth. Tannins nearly all gone. Nicely concentrated, there savory and fruity flavors are in a nice equipoise. Lots of length! Very nice.

Nicely matured and ready-to-go! Very old school Napa Cab nose with weediness and cassis wrestling for top billing. So velvety in the mouth. Tannins nearly all gone. Nicely concentrated, there savory and fruity flavors are in a nice equipoise. Lots of length! Very nice.

Oct 7th, 2024
Sipping Fine Wine

Deep Ruby with aromas of berry fruits with spice, herb and earthy notes. On the palate flavors of blackberry, ripe cherry and blueberry with currants, cacao, cinnamon and tobacco notes. Fine tannins, good structure, long finish, great mouthfeel, ending with cedar, fruit and tobacco vanilla notes. Very Nice. Will benefit from aging!

Deep Ruby with aromas of berry fruits with spice, herb and earthy notes. On the palate flavors of blackberry, ripe cherry and blueberry with currants, cacao, cinnamon and tobacco notes. Fine tannins, good structure, long finish, great mouthfeel, ending with cedar, fruit and tobacco vanilla notes. Very Nice. Will benefit from aging!

May 19th, 2024
Severn Goodwin

Capitol Region Wine Collectors Club (WCC), CA Cabernet Pre-2000; 20 April 2023 at Fort Orange Club, Albany, NY

Capitol Region Wine Collectors Club (WCC), CA Cabernet Pre-2000; 20 April 2023 at Fort Orange Club, Albany, NY

Apr 21st, 2023
Severn Goodwin

Capitol Region Wine Collectors Club (WCC), CA Cabernet Pre-2000; 20 April 2023 at Fort Orange Club, Albany, NY

Capitol Region Wine Collectors Club (WCC), CA Cabernet Pre-2000; 20 April 2023 at Fort Orange Club, Albany, NY

Apr 21st, 2023
Severn Goodwin

Capitol Region Wine Collectors Club (WCC), CA Cabernet Pre-2000; 20 April 2023 at Fort Orange Club, Albany, NY

Capitol Region Wine Collectors Club (WCC), CA Cabernet Pre-2000; 20 April 2023 at Fort Orange Club, Albany, NY

Apr 21st, 2023
Severn Goodwin

Capitol Region Wine Collectors Club (WCC), CA Cabernet Pre-2000; 20 April 2023 at Fort Orange Club, Albany, NY

Capitol Region Wine Collectors Club (WCC), CA Cabernet Pre-2000; 20 April 2023 at Fort Orange Club, Albany, NY

Apr 21st, 2023
Delectable Wine

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9.6

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is impressive. Elegant and poised, the 2018 is a wine of reserve at this stage. Dark red/purplish berry fruit, mint, sage, spice, mocha and dried flowers open first, followed by a kick of vibrant acids that lends notable energy throughout. All this young Cabernet needs is time in the bottle to fully come together. I won't be surprised if it turns out to be a touch more compelling than the 2019 tasted alongside it. Truth be told, both vintages are captivating, but for very different reasons. Superb. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, February 2023)

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is impressive. Elegant and poised, the 2018 is a wine of reserve at this stage. Dark red/purplish berry fruit, mint, sage, spice, mocha and dried flowers open first, followed by a kick of vibrant acids that lends notable energy throughout. All this young Cabernet needs is time in the bottle to fully come together. I won't be surprised if it turns out to be a touch more compelling than the 2019 tasted alongside it. Truth be told, both vintages are captivating, but for very different reasons. Superb. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, February 2023)

Feb 17th, 2023
Cameron Parry

Holding up great. Fresh fruit and good acidity. Check out that perfect cork!

Holding up great. Fresh fruit and good acidity. Check out that perfect cork!

Jan 8th, 2023
Conrad Green

Deep, deep fruit. Gnarly underbrush and dried herbs but really resolved plum and bloody dark fruit. A bit of iodine and minerality. The finish Is great. A little short and windy. For the age kinda astonishingly fresh

Deep, deep fruit. Gnarly underbrush and dried herbs but really resolved plum and bloody dark fruit. A bit of iodine and minerality. The finish Is great. A little short and windy. For the age kinda astonishingly fresh

Jun 24th, 2022
Sean Trapani

Founder/Educator Wine Fluent, Consultant ABC Fine Wines & Spirits

8.8

Cassis and asparagus stalk on the nose leads into a slightly thin attack of red raspberry, with a more complex mid palate of mineral and blueberry.

Cassis and asparagus stalk on the nose leads into a slightly thin attack of red raspberry, with a more complex mid palate of mineral and blueberry.

Apr 14th, 2022