Chateau Montelena
The Montelena Estate Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon
Calistoga, Napa Valley, California, USA
PnP. Cork shattered on open. After some surgery and a makeshift Durand, cork was out and we were rockin. 14% AC according to the bottle. No bricking even though this is now almost 20 yrs old. A bit of must on open that quickly blew off. Nose and palate were consistent with each other, scorched earth, charcoal, forrest floor, bing cherries with a nicely integrated hint of oak. Black olives showed up every now and then. Tannins were gone. This went quickly and seamlessly. A great bottle of wine...and a nice mix up from the typical over extracted Napa wines I really like. I hope the others I have are just as good.
PnP. Cork shattered on open. After some surgery and a makeshift Durand, cork was out and we were rockin. 14% AC according to the bottle. No bricking even though this is now almost 20 yrs old. A bit of must on open that quickly blew off. Nose and palate were consistent with each other, scorched earth, charcoal, forrest floor, bing cherries with a nicely integrated hint of oak. Black olives showed up every now and then. Tannins were gone. This went quickly and seamlessly. A great bottle of wine...and a nice mix up from the typical over extracted Napa wines I really like. I hope the others I have are just as good.
Dec 24th, 2016