Chateau Montelena
The Montelena Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California, USA
Monthly WTF group recap. Theme this month was “bring something special”. Normally we taste all of the wines blind, but we decided to do a relaxed night with amazing wines at a great restaurant. Spectacular evening!
Had the ‘92 not been alongside it, this may have stolen the show, but it seems to be much more tightly wound. Mainly strutting notes of red plum, cherry tart and rhubarb on the nose. Slightly St Estephe like on the palate currently with cherry swisher sweets, blackberries drizzled over bayleaf and herbs. Quite tannic. Hold or decant for a few hours if enjoying now. Thanks @Bill Makens .
Monthly WTF group recap. Theme this month was “bring something special”. Normally we taste all of the wines blind, but we decided to do a relaxed night with amazing wines at a great restaurant. Spectacular evening!
Had the ‘92 not been alongside it, this may have stolen the show, but it seems to be much more tightly wound. Mainly strutting notes of red plum, cherry tart and rhubarb on the nose. Slightly St Estephe like on the palate currently with cherry swisher sweets, blackberries drizzled over bayleaf and herbs. Quite tannic. Hold or decant for a few hours if enjoying now. Thanks @Bill Makens .
Loved it at Press in St Helena after Albariño and Pinot Noir. Strong but soft, my happy place when one begins to describe older characteristics in a wine without the wine becoming a dead piece of acid without elegance and all you are left with is a sharp sensation and a longing to have opened the wine 10 years ago. Anyhow- beautiful wine and definitely the time to drink it!!
Loved it at Press in St Helena after Albariño and Pinot Noir. Strong but soft, my happy place when one begins to describe older characteristics in a wine without the wine becoming a dead piece of acid without elegance and all you are left with is a sharp sensation and a longing to have opened the wine 10 years ago. Anyhow- beautiful wine and definitely the time to drink it!!
Jun 28th, 2016
Firm black fruit. High acid, shorter finish.
Firm black fruit. High acid, shorter finish.
Sep 26th, 2015
1998 vintage. Been waiting to taste this one again for over two decades. 1998 wasn't the best Napa Cab vintage. The best 98's were generally mountain fruit-like the Dunn Howell Mountain. When this was released back in the day, it was brawny, taut and tannic but still maintained balance. This Montelena 1998 Estate Cab was better than nearly everyone's 1997 (an acclaimed/excellent across the board) Napa cabs back then. FF 23 years later...surprise! Some things haven't changed. Decanted and tasted after 10 mins, 30 mins and 2 hrs. Excellent fill and cork. Throwing respectable sed. Massive color. Great aged, leathery nose. Still medium heavy bod. Baking chocolate, ripe plum and grilled beef in the flavor profile. Consistent performer through the entry, mid and back palate hoops without drop-off during the ceremony. Tannins still evident but well-integrated with the abundance of fruit. Not improving but this is rock steady and in a very sweet spot/top of the bell curve for at least another decade. It was worth the wait. 6.29.24.
1998 vintage. Been waiting to taste this one again for over two decades. 1998 wasn't the best Napa Cab vintage. The best 98's were generally mountain fruit-like the Dunn Howell Mountain. When this was released back in the day, it was brawny, taut and tannic but still maintained balance. This Montelena 1998 Estate Cab was better than nearly everyone's 1997 (an acclaimed/excellent across the board) Napa cabs back then. FF 23 years later...surprise! Some things haven't changed. Decanted and tasted after 10 mins, 30 mins and 2 hrs. Excellent fill and cork. Throwing respectable sed. Massive color. Great aged, leathery nose. Still medium heavy bod. Baking chocolate, ripe plum and grilled beef in the flavor profile. Consistent performer through the entry, mid and back palate hoops without drop-off during the ceremony. Tannins still evident but well-integrated with the abundance of fruit. Not improving but this is rock steady and in a very sweet spot/top of the bell curve for at least another decade. It was worth the wait. 6.29.24.
Jun 30th, 2024
Napa Cab from the time the Titanic movie was released. Decanted for more than four hours, the color is slightly faded, turning brown. The nose is very thigh initially but opens up beautifully to dry tobacco and tart cherry. On the pallet it is alive and canny with old leather and hints of wild red berries; slightly acidic but very composed. Worth the wait and a treat.
Napa Cab from the time the Titanic movie was released. Decanted for more than four hours, the color is slightly faded, turning brown. The nose is very thigh initially but opens up beautifully to dry tobacco and tart cherry. On the pallet it is alive and canny with old leather and hints of wild red berries; slightly acidic but very composed. Worth the wait and a treat.
Nov 14th, 2020
Beautiful bottle, still full of life.
Beautiful bottle, still full of life.
May 8th, 2018
Not the most compelling example. Balance fairly far towards the green. Incredible depth and structure but overall too lean, and that's coming from a guy who likes Loire CF.
Not the most compelling example. Balance fairly far towards the green. Incredible depth and structure but overall too lean, and that's coming from a guy who likes Loire CF.
Jul 5th, 2017
I would have liked to have tried this wine a little younger
I would have liked to have tried this wine a little younger
Apr 30th, 2017Fantastic. Lots of life left in this one.
Fantastic. Lots of life left in this one.
Jan 25th, 2016