Chateau Montelena
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Calistoga, Napa Valley, California, USA
VTS bottle. Dark purple tawny. Opaque. Fragrant nose. Notes of black cherries, forest floor, walnuts, some pepper and a touch of black licorice. With air some menthol develops. Still big and bold in the mouth. Showed well tonight.
VTS bottle. Dark purple tawny. Opaque. Fragrant nose. Notes of black cherries, forest floor, walnuts, some pepper and a touch of black licorice. With air some menthol develops. Still big and bold in the mouth. Showed well tonight.
Apr 15th, 2020Scarlet tawny. Mostly opaque. Strong nose. Notes of black cherry, balsa wood, a bit of smoke, some menthol, pepper and a little anise. Silky and rich in the mouth. Still not showing any sense of decline. Another great showing.
Scarlet tawny. Mostly opaque. Strong nose. Notes of black cherry, balsa wood, a bit of smoke, some menthol, pepper and a little anise. Silky and rich in the mouth. Still not showing any sense of decline. Another great showing.
Nov 14th, 2019Dark purple with tawny rims. Opaque. Great old Cab nose with notes of black cherry, saddle leather, tobacco leaf, earth and some cassis. Big mouth feel and long finish. This wine continues to sit on a great plateau of drinking window.
Dark purple with tawny rims. Opaque. Great old Cab nose with notes of black cherry, saddle leather, tobacco leaf, earth and some cassis. Big mouth feel and long finish. This wine continues to sit on a great plateau of drinking window.
May 3rd, 2019Very dark reddish tawny color. Brooding in the glass. Warm, seductive fruit forward nose. Notes of black cherry, leather, plums, currants, earth and a little anise that comes with air time. Velvet glove in the mouth. Coats the palate. Long finish. Edged out the 85 Lynch Bages at the finish line. Remains at peak performance, as it has for many years now.
Very dark reddish tawny color. Brooding in the glass. Warm, seductive fruit forward nose. Notes of black cherry, leather, plums, currants, earth and a little anise that comes with air time. Velvet glove in the mouth. Coats the palate. Long finish. Edged out the 85 Lynch Bages at the finish line. Remains at peak performance, as it has for many years now.
Jan 19th, 2019
What a color! I’ve been fortunate to have an ‘87 and ‘88 (a bottle from my cellar three months ago) and both were knockouts. Color here could be confused for a 10-12yr old wine. Incredibly dark and pure in the glass! Licorice, cassis, and some tobacco on the nose. As it opened, more tobacco leaf type notes came through. No signs of decline after 1hr+ of being open. Reinforced my thought of only enjoying Montelena Wines after 15+yrs. What a pull by @Mark Flesher !
What a color! I’ve been fortunate to have an ‘87 and ‘88 (a bottle from my cellar three months ago) and both were knockouts. Color here could be confused for a 10-12yr old wine. Incredibly dark and pure in the glass! Licorice, cassis, and some tobacco on the nose. As it opened, more tobacco leaf type notes came through. No signs of decline after 1hr+ of being open. Reinforced my thought of only enjoying Montelena Wines after 15+yrs. What a pull by @Mark Flesher !
Jul 7th, 2018Nice young ruby color. Almost opaque. Great nose, notes of tobacco leaf, black cherry, walnuts, blue fruit, white pepper and dried brush. Lots going on in the mouth. Great balance of fruit, structure and emotion. Great bottle of wine.
Nice young ruby color. Almost opaque. Great nose, notes of tobacco leaf, black cherry, walnuts, blue fruit, white pepper and dried brush. Lots going on in the mouth. Great balance of fruit, structure and emotion. Great bottle of wine.
Feb 25th, 201887. Started slow and opens up and keeps on giving. Bottle bouquet plum pencil lead. The number 2 pencil.
87. Started slow and opens up and keeps on giving. Bottle bouquet plum pencil lead. The number 2 pencil.
2 people found it helpfulMar 31st, 2015
1987 was a very good year. Imagine 28 years ago this Awesome Cab was made. Showing beautiful ! Silky, with loads of fruit. Tannin structure has dissipated . Beautiful . CB 95+
1987 was a very good year. Imagine 28 years ago this Awesome Cab was made. Showing beautiful ! Silky, with loads of fruit. Tannin structure has dissipated . Beautiful . CB 95+
2 people found it helpfulMar 9th, 2015
Big, rich classically made terroir driven wine. A powerful attack, full mouth feel and moderately long finish
Big, rich classically made terroir driven wine. A powerful attack, full mouth feel and moderately long finish
2 people found it helpfulJul 18th, 2014
Amazing color and fruit for a 30-year-old Napa Cabernet.
Amazing color and fruit for a 30-year-old Napa Cabernet.
1 person found it helpfulJul 5th, 2017