Chateau Montelena - Cabernet Sauvignon Estate2010
RED WINE
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Producer
Chateau Montelena
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Blend
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
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Country
USA
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Region
California
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Appellation
Napa Valley
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UPC
0 15643 86384 4
Reviews
Tanzer 94+
Bright, saturated ruby-red. Deep, complex nose offers cassis, blueberry, mocha, espresso, menthol, bitter chocolate and tobacco. Densely packed and vibrant, with layered, seamless flavors of cassis, licorice and minerals. Shows an almost chocolatey ripeness yet retains outstanding verve. This chewy, superconcentrated wine finishes with ripe, pliant tannins and outstanding length and mineral reserve. Should be long-lived.
by ST, Tanzer , 2013
Vinous Media 94
The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is immediate, juicy and expressive in this vintage. At the same time, it seems pretty clear that the 2010 needs at least a few more years in bottle. Today, it is a bit disjointed as it is neither primary, nor showing too many tertiary notes or complexity. Sweet tobacco, leather, licorice, menthol and spices emerge over time, but the 2010 is a wine built for the cellar. There is plenty of density, but it needs time to emerge.
by AG, Vinous Media , 2013
Wine Advocate 91
Chateau Montelea's flagship wine, the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Montelena Estate possesses a dense ruby/purple color as well as beautiful black currant and blueberry fruit, soft tannins, medium to full body, and a harmonious, supple mouthfeel. This classic, old style California Cabernet has been tweaked somewhat as evidenced by its sweeter tannins and more upfront fruit. Enjoy it over the next 15+ years.
by RP, Wine Advocate , 2013
Technical Details
Estate
Chateau Montelena's rich history began on a chilly fall morning when Alfred L. Tubbs spaded over and inspected the soil where he thought of planting estate vineyards. He'd heard the Napa Valley was the best place to grow grapes in California. A deal was struck and in January of 1882 the San Francisco entrepreneur owned 254 acres of rugged land just two miles north of Calistoga at the base of Mount Saint Helena. The soils are well drained, stony and loose – perfect for the vine cuttings he would plant.
Tasting notes
The nose is loaded with rich aromas of black fruits and spices. Notes of blackberry solicit memories of hot summer afternoons while clove, allspice, vanilla, and hints of cocoa tease with thoughts of baked goodies. Emerging from these layers is a core of brandied cherries, light oak, and a hint of anise. This wines shows a smooth entry that steadily builds to a full, fleshy mid-palate, then evolves seamlessly into a rich, spicy finish that invites you back for more.
Vinification
Chateau Montelena's Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is made up of 98.75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1.25% Cabernet Franc. The wine is aged in 100% French oak barrels (29% new) for 22 months.
Vintage
There are 3 kinds of growing seasons: cool, warm, and "just right." Cooler vintages, in particular,
exemplify the truly exceptional nature of this piece of land - the grapes receive the prolonged
hang time that is ideal fur flavor development without getting any excess heat. These conditions enable us to craft classic, Old World-style wines that showcase the incredible fruit our Estate produces.
Wine
The Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is grown in one of the world’s most remarkable winegrowing properties. The site’s diversity of soils and slopes translates directly into the layers of complex flavors in this flagship wine.
