Chateau Montelena - Cabernet Sauvignon Estate2019
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
733555101723
Reviews
Decanter 99
The flagship wine of Chateau Montelena sourced from the winery's estate vineyard adjacent to the chateau near the base of Mount St Helena. Compact and restrained at first; give it some air and good things will come. Bright red-toned fruits and dried wild herb notes are tethered to rich cedar spices. Well-endowed with impressive depth and concentration, particularly evident in the mid-palate which is weighted by crushed stones and earthen minerality. Elongated tannins are crisp while acids are firm and tangy. Those capable of looking past its upfront approachability will be rewarded with patience as this wine will evolve and shine over the next four decades.
by JC, Decanter , 2022
Robert Parker 96+
I tasted the soon-to-be-released 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate from two bottles, one freshly opened and one that had been opened the day before. Both were clearly outstanding, with the freshly opened bottle being just a bit tighter and less luxuriously textured but obviously packed with potential. Mixed currants and cherries appear on the nose, joined by hints of dark chocolate, while the palate is medium to full-bodied, rich, expansive and velvety, with a lingering, mouthwatering finish.
by JC, Robert Parker , 2023
Vinous Media 96
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is heady and quite extroverted, especially compared with the 2018 tasted alongside it. Readers will have a very hard time keeping their hands off this jewel of a wine. Silky, plush tannins wrap around a core of dark fruit, chocolate, lavender, spice and leather. The combination of a generous, opulent style with the classically-leaning Montelena style makes for a hugely appealing Cabernet to drink over the next two decades or more.
by AG, Vinous Media , 2022
Technical Details
Estate
Chateau Montelena's history is one of the deepest and most storied in the Napa Valley and California. Founded just north of Calistoga in 1882, it was one of the largest wineries in the state. Prohibition put an end to Montelena's winemaking, and the next major era began in 1968, when Jim Barrett purchased the estate. Jim fell in love with this exceptional property, blessed with a complex mix of soils, slopes and biodiversity of wildlife and fauna. He had a dream of creating wine at the level of the great First Growths of Bordeaux, and set about replanting the vineyard, outfitting the winery with modern equipment, and studying the processes necessary for farming and winemaking at the highest quality level.
Vineyard
Soils: The diversity of soils and slopes in the Estate Vineyard directly translates to layers of complexity and depth in the glass. It is comprised of varied terrain, from flat to steep hillsides with sedimentary, alluvial and volcanic soils.
Farming: This wine is made from 100% estate fruit, all of which is sustainably farmed and produced in their solar powered winery.
Grape Varieties: 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot
Vinification
Fermentation: Temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to allow the wines to ferment slowly and evenly.
Aging: 22 Months in 100% French oak barrels (35% new).
Alcohol: 14.1% ABV
Vintage
Climate: Budbreak did not arrive abnormally early despite the relatively warm winter and concern over low rainfall. Mild weather, coupled with plenty of cool nights, extended the growing season for ideal conditions. Fruit quality exuberantly reflects the Calistoga vineyard.
Wine
Jim Barrett's dream of Chateau Montelena was that this wine, their flagship Cabernet Sauvignon, achieve the balance and complexity of flavors, aromas and textures to be considered among the great examples of Cabernet in the world. Almost since his first vintages in the 1970s, this wine has been a show-stopper that has everything in place, while revealing the majesty and distinctive character of the estate vineyard site that the Barretts led to recognition as its own appellation, Calistoga. Today, the 50-year legacy of excellence in farming, crafting and blending powerful wines and continued innovation is what sets Chateau Montelena Winery apart.