Chateau Montelena - Cabernet Sauvignon Estate 2006
- Producer Chateau Montelena
-
Blend
2% Cabernet Franc
98% Cabernet Sauvignon - Country USA
- Region California
- Appellation Napa Valley
- UPC 0 15643 42251 5
Winery Technical Data
Duality in nature is everywhere – night and day, birth and death, you get the picture – but it isn't very often that you get two distinctive phenomena at the same time. That duality is the most prominent feature of the 2006 harvest in that we saw both warm vintage and cool vintage characteristics in the same year, and nowhere was that more pronounced
than here on the Montelena Estate.
The 2006 growing season was mild, with greater than average spring rains, and then from veraison through the first half of harvest the Estate saw a lot of heat and drying winds. In mid-September a cold snap hit that virtually halted harvest for close to two weeks. The second half of the harvest that followed was significantly cooler and the fruit that came in then reflected that. The great part is that we got the best of both worlds – power, intensity, and ripe jammy flavors from the first half, balance, elegance, and more subtle notes from the second half. All of this resulted in a wine that has a lot of interest, broad appeal, and the structure to last for decades to come.
The 2006 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon has an enticing deep garnet red color in the glass. On the nose there are complex notes of blackberry tart, clove, cinnamon, and cocoa, along with dried black currants. The mouth has a soft supple entry, youthful crisp acidity, juicy plum and rich bright red fruit notes, all complemented by loads of fine grain tannin and an under-layer of dried black currant.
Harvest Dates Sept. 28 to Oct. 26
Sugar at Harvest 25.2° brix
Blend 98% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc
Barrel Aging 22 months, 100% French
Bottling Date August 2008
Release Date Spring 2010
The 2006 growing season was mild, with greater than average spring rains, and then from veraison through the first half of harvest the Estate saw a lot of heat and drying winds. In mid-September a cold snap hit that virtually halted harvest for close to two weeks. The second half of the harvest that followed was significantly cooler and the fruit that came in then reflected that. The great part is that we got the best of both worlds – power, intensity, and ripe jammy flavors from the first half, balance, elegance, and more subtle notes from the second half. All of this resulted in a wine that has a lot of interest, broad appeal, and the structure to last for decades to come.
The 2006 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon has an enticing deep garnet red color in the glass. On the nose there are complex notes of blackberry tart, clove, cinnamon, and cocoa, along with dried black currants. The mouth has a soft supple entry, youthful crisp acidity, juicy plum and rich bright red fruit notes, all complemented by loads of fine grain tannin and an under-layer of dried black currant.
Harvest Dates Sept. 28 to Oct. 26
Sugar at Harvest 25.2° brix
Blend 98% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc
Barrel Aging 22 months, 100% French
Bottling Date August 2008
Release Date Spring 2010