Chateau Montelena

The Montelena Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

9.324 ratings
9.33 pro ratings
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
Loren Grossman

Vintner Wilde Farm Wines

9.2

Fully mature, essential Napa Cabernet. Plum, cedar, short bread, licorice. A hint of slightly savory A1. Elegant mouthfeel with a slightly receding mid palate. Surprisingly firm tannins. Drink now. Perfect with lamb chops.

Fully mature, essential Napa Cabernet. Plum, cedar, short bread, licorice. A hint of slightly savory A1. Elegant mouthfeel with a slightly receding mid palate. Surprisingly firm tannins. Drink now. Perfect with lamb chops.

Mar 6th, 2021
Loren Grossman

Vintner Wilde Farm Wines

9.3

In the window. Very generous right now.

In the window. Very generous right now.

Sep 2nd, 2017
Deb Dellaposta

Ripe cassis and blackberries with mint. Perfect balance of tannins, acid and alcohol. Delicious with flat iron steak.

Ripe cassis and blackberries with mint. Perfect balance of tannins, acid and alcohol. Delicious with flat iron steak.

Sep 19th, 2020
Mark Flesher

It was between this and the 1987 Spottswoode. Glad I chose this one. This is a black fruit dominated wine that actually had a rather sweet nose even after 2 hours of popping the cork. There is still so much youth here, but the middle shows an extremely mature integration that only time I can give these wines. Some herbs showing here in the middle. Super impressed, and this one is drinking extremely well. It is not showing the aged black fruit profile that lots of wines of this year are starting to show. If served blind, I would have guessed this was a 2005. Finishes soft, with excellent tanic integration. I still think this bottle would appreciate over the next couple of years, and then it will be at peak for who-knows-how-long. Wow.

It was between this and the 1987 Spottswoode. Glad I chose this one. This is a black fruit dominated wine that actually had a rather sweet nose even after 2 hours of popping the cork. There is still so much youth here, but the middle shows an extremely mature integration that only time I can give these wines. Some herbs showing here in the middle. Super impressed, and this one is drinking extremely well. It is not showing the aged black fruit profile that lots of wines of this year are starting to show. If served blind, I would have guessed this was a 2005. Finishes soft, with excellent tanic integration. I still think this bottle would appreciate over the next couple of years, and then it will be at peak for who-knows-how-long. Wow.

Feb 9th, 2019
D Bender

Sleeper vintage. Spectacular from Magnum. Tannins fully resolved and almost entirely into secondary non fruit character with eucalyptus throughout. Peaking.

Sleeper vintage. Spectacular from Magnum. Tannins fully resolved and almost entirely into secondary non fruit character with eucalyptus throughout. Peaking.

Mar 4th, 2018
Manny Abascal

Consistent and never disappoints

Consistent and never disappoints

Jan 8th, 2018
Brian Stumpo

Ever since I watched bottle shock with my father, I've been looking forward to a bottle of CM. This 20 YO did not disappoint. After about 20 mins, it opened up to raspberries, strawberries, tobacco, and soft tannins. Amazingly smooth.

Ever since I watched bottle shock with my father, I've been looking forward to a bottle of CM. This 20 YO did not disappoint. After about 20 mins, it opened up to raspberries, strawberries, tobacco, and soft tannins. Amazingly smooth.

Dec 26th, 2016
Diane Kessler

Aromas of ripe berries and pencil lead. The palate has perfect balance of fruit, tannins, and acidity. The dark cherry fruit is plush, tannins are silky, very textural, and ends herbaceous. Quite a mouthful.

Aromas of ripe berries and pencil lead. The palate has perfect balance of fruit, tannins, and acidity. The dark cherry fruit is plush, tannins are silky, very textural, and ends herbaceous. Quite a mouthful.

Oct 9th, 2016
Thomas Brenner

1500 ml of beautiful cab, didnt wait too long so hope tannins woulda smoothened out a bit more but wonderful complexity and structure and long finish and all the hallmarks of the producer and varietal

1500 ml of beautiful cab, didnt wait too long so hope tannins woulda smoothened out a bit more but wonderful complexity and structure and long finish and all the hallmarks of the producer and varietal

Apr 3rd, 2016
Stephen Lee

Lots of life still left in this beauty

Lots of life still left in this beauty

Mar 16th, 2016