Chateau Montelena
The Montelena Estate Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon
Calistoga, Napa Valley, California, USA
gorgeous texture. Black cherry and spice. Lovely fruit and balance.
gorgeous texture. Black cherry and spice. Lovely fruit and balance.
Feb 8th, 2026soft and plush. Heavy on Merlot? A hint of mocha. Glycerin and mellow in the palate.
soft and plush. Heavy on Merlot? A hint of mocha. Glycerin and mellow in the palate.
Feb 8th, 2026still some drying tannic elements. Deep blue fruit. Gamey with underbrush
still some drying tannic elements. Deep blue fruit. Gamey with underbrush
Feb 8th, 2026lucid and old school. Drying tannins. Lovely blue fruit. Salinity.
lucid and old school. Drying tannins. Lovely blue fruit. Salinity.
Feb 8th, 2026plush fruit given its age. Tangy plum. A touch of tobacco. Good acid
plush fruit given its age. Tangy plum. A touch of tobacco. Good acid
Feb 8th, 2026supple and rounded. Fading at the edges but the core fruit is still great. Tannins resolved. Pretty
supple and rounded. Fading at the edges but the core fruit is still great. Tannins resolved. Pretty
Feb 8th, 2026
Just hitting its stride. Rich nose, lush black cherries on the palate, silky tannins. Still has a long time left.
Just hitting its stride. Rich nose, lush black cherries on the palate, silky tannins. Still has a long time left.
Nov 5th, 2025
It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.
Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with nice complexity.
Showing black and red fruits with tobacco, chocolates, coffee, cola, cedar, leather, vanilla, spices, earth and peppercorn.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Complex, spicy and tangy. Rich and elegant.
Showing a great mouthfeel with good balance.
Needs 90 minutes of airtime to open up properly, so be patient.
I've had a few vintages of this wine, and it is very consistent, although not as good as their Estate Cabernet.
Will continue to age nicely in the next 15 years.
A nice sipping wine, good by itself or with food.
14.1% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$150.
It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.
Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with nice complexity.
Showing black and red fruits with tobacco, chocolates, coffee, cola, cedar, leather, vanilla, spices, earth and peppercorn.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Complex, spicy and tangy. Rich and elegant.
Showing a great mouthfeel with good balance.
Needs 90 minutes of airtime to open up properly, so be patient.
I've had a few vintages of this wine, and it is very consistent, although not as good as their Estate Cabernet.
Will continue to age nicely in the next 15 years.
A nice sipping wine, good by itself or with food.
14.1% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$150.
Tannins are still pretty burly. Needs another 5-10 yrs.
Tannins are still pretty burly. Needs another 5-10 yrs.
Apr 21st, 2024
Annual birthday WWC hosting. As normal, 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds, 1 dessert, all presented blind.
A treat to try this next to the ‘88, and also against a mini-flight of Leoville Barton. This ‘14 was shockingly odd…unbelievably high toned, sharp, and bing cherry driven aromatically. It actually has this weird cherry reduction profile but also a malic/butter note that needs time to blow off. Crème de cassis and red licorice on the palate with a small amount of graphite. A lot of Calistoga cabs for me show the warmth of the region and this evidently is in that vein, but it’s very Montelena-esque at the end of the day. I’d hold another 5-7yrs.
Annual birthday WWC hosting. As normal, 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds, 1 dessert, all presented blind.
A treat to try this next to the ‘88, and also against a mini-flight of Leoville Barton. This ‘14 was shockingly odd…unbelievably high toned, sharp, and bing cherry driven aromatically. It actually has this weird cherry reduction profile but also a malic/butter note that needs time to blow off. Crème de cassis and red licorice on the palate with a small amount of graphite. A lot of Calistoga cabs for me show the warmth of the region and this evidently is in that vein, but it’s very Montelena-esque at the end of the day. I’d hold another 5-7yrs.