Chateau Montelena
Chateau Montelena is one of Napa Valley’s oldest estates, starting in 1882. The prohibition stalled work at this French style property and wasn’t restarted until 1972 when Jim Barret took over. The excellent Michael Grich was winemaker before starting his own estate. Now made by Jim’s son Bo, their Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay made them one of Nappa’s most respected. The estate also boasts a Jade Lake, a stunning wildlife sanctuary.
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(12x75cl) 1999Vinous (93+)
Good dark red with no amber showing. Medicinal black fruits, violet, menthol and mint on the nose, complemented by rocky volcanic minerality. Very pure and intense, with its ripe but youthfully primary dark fruit, mineral and bitter chocolate flavors framed by a strong impression of acidity. The tannins are substantial but ripe, with the finish showing lovely subtle flavor development and sneaky building length. Today this wine stands out for its purity and cut and I'd expect it to expand further with more time in the bottle. Barrett did not even start harvesting the small crop (1.8 tons per acre) in '99 until the last day of September, about two weeks later than average. (13.9% alcohol)$1,880.00 -
Vinous (93)
Bright dark red with ruby highlights. Flamboyantly ripe aromas of candied blackberry and baking spices verge on exotic. Larger-scaled and thicker than the more classically structured 2001, yet somehow still with very good definition to its sweet dark berry, black cherry, tar and earth flavors. This rich, deep, viscous wine finishes with big but suave tannins and lingering sweetness. Our bottle seemed starved of oxygen and expanded dramatically with air. This wine's sheer concentration should keep it going for another 20 years. (14.3% alcohol, the highest since 1978)$810.00 -
Vinous (93)
Bright dark red with ruby highlights. Flamboyantly ripe aromas of candied blackberry and baking spices verge on exotic. Larger-scaled and thicker than the more classically structured 2001, yet somehow still with very good definition to its sweet dark berry, black cherry, tar and earth flavors. This rich, deep, viscous wine finishes with big but suave tannins and lingering sweetness. Our bottle seemed starved of oxygen and expanded dramatically with air. This wine's sheer concentration should keep it going for another 20 years. (14.3% alcohol, the highest since 1978)$949.00 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94+)
Montelena's 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is shaping up to be a jewel of a wine. Rich, ample and generous, but very much within the Montelena style, the 2012 captures the essence of the year in its pure resonance and sikiness. Dark red stone fruits, plums, menthol and tobacco with bramby undertones emerge over time, but the flavors are quite primary and undeveloped, all of which bode extremely well for the future. I expected the 2012 will offer a long and broad drinking window of pure pleasure.$944.00 -
Vinous (94+)
The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is dark, ample and totally seductive. Black cherry, mocha, plum, spice, new leather and tobacco all meld together. Pliant and supple, the 2016 is already incredibly delicious. This is an especially mid-weight wine and style. Accordingly, the 2016 Estate will drink well with minimal cellaring. The Estate was bottled just two months before this tasting. I imagine it will put on some weight with further time in bottle. All the elements appear to be in the right place for that to happen.$984.00
