Chateau Montelena

The Montelena Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

9.417 ratings
9.37 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
Mike Saviage

Dark tawny color. Mostly opaque. Notes of black cherries, evergreen trees, oak barrel and some spice. Good fruit and structure in the mouth. An herbal thing exists. An OK wine. No need to wait longer for it.

Dark tawny color. Mostly opaque. Notes of black cherries, evergreen trees, oak barrel and some spice. Good fruit and structure in the mouth. An herbal thing exists. An OK wine. No need to wait longer for it.

Jun 7th, 2020
Mike Saviage

Cal cab tasting. Deep dark purple with some bricking in the rims. Notes of dark red fruit, currant, cocoa and mocha, some roses. Thin in the mouth, even with decanter time. Great nose but the structure and mouthfeel is a bit lacking.

Cal cab tasting. Deep dark purple with some bricking in the rims. Notes of dark red fruit, currant, cocoa and mocha, some roses. Thin in the mouth, even with decanter time. Great nose but the structure and mouthfeel is a bit lacking.

May 8th, 2020
Bill Bender

Few wines are as near and dear to my heart as Montelena estate. My birthday eve dinner with my daughters and we had my daughter Bailey’s birth year to celebrate. Delicious mature cab, saddle leather, cherry tobacco and stewed plum.

Few wines are as near and dear to my heart as Montelena estate. My birthday eve dinner with my daughters and we had my daughter Bailey’s birth year to celebrate. Delicious mature cab, saddle leather, cherry tobacco and stewed plum.

May 6th, 2019
Patrick Derdeyn

This has just entered prime. Oak is integrated, tannins have softened, fruit is still fresh. The harmony you want from napa, this will hold for quite some time.

This has just entered prime. Oak is integrated, tannins have softened, fruit is still fresh. The harmony you want from napa, this will hold for quite some time.

Nov 5th, 2017
LM Segal

Cork needed a Durand rescue (what a must-have accessory!) but this was otherwise excellent. A nifty burnt cocoa element led it all but this is otherwise fully sorted black fruit and fine, long tannins. Lush. Rare for a Monte Estate, I sensed this was on the downslope.

Cork needed a Durand rescue (what a must-have accessory!) but this was otherwise excellent. A nifty burnt cocoa element led it all but this is otherwise fully sorted black fruit and fine, long tannins. Lush. Rare for a Monte Estate, I sensed this was on the downslope.

1 person found it helpfulMay 30th, 2020
Josh Luhn

Luhn Wine Consulting Owner, Luhn Family Wines

9.3

6-liter

6-liter

May 21st, 2017
Kevin Dale

Aged beautifully. Still really drinkable. Great way to celebrate Christmas dinner.

Aged beautifully. Still really drinkable. Great way to celebrate Christmas dinner.

Dec 26th, 2023
Eric

Boy did this steal the show. Dense and black. Oy the nose. Heady.

Boy did this steal the show. Dense and black. Oy the nose. Heady.

Nov 12th, 2022
Manny Abascal

Never disappoints. Medium body, dark fruit. Balanced.

Never disappoints. Medium body, dark fruit. Balanced.

Dec 28th, 2018
Rob Marini

Hard to follow the '53 Lafite but this is doing wonderfully. Blackberry and white pepper on the nose. Red fruit, leather and roasted mushroom.

Hard to follow the '53 Lafite but this is doing wonderfully. Blackberry and white pepper on the nose. Red fruit, leather and roasted mushroom.

Dec 19th, 2016