Chateau Montelena - Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Vintage

This growing season was defined by the long cool summer that led to slow, almost methodical ripening. The only exception was a brief but intense heat wave in the third week of August. All of the Napa Cabernet blocks came in with beautifully balanced chemistries, full maturity and lower sugars - perfect for Montelena’s style of wine.

Wine

The wines at Chateau Montelena are often described as having classic "old-world" structure with ripe California fruit, and it is in years like 2010 that this really shines through. What that means is that these wines tend to have more acid, lower pH and more moderate alcohol levels as compared to some of the flashy "modern" Cabs. This classic chemistry allows them to pair very well with a wide variety of dishes and sets them up for graceful aging.

Vineyard

The prime vineyards for the Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon are located in the northern end of the Napa Valley, in and around Calistoga. All of the sites are located next to primary or secondary tributaries of the Napa River and have been selected for their alluvium soil profile. These characteristics result in earthy, complex and concentrated Cabernet Sauvignon softened by the judicious addition of Merlot. The cobbly, gravelly subsoil makes for deep root penetration and good drainage.

Vinification

The blend in 2010 is 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc. Primary fermentation takes place in stainless steel, followed by malolactic in barrel or oak tank. Barrel aging lasted 14 months in French and Eastern European oak barrels, of which 12% were new.

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