Still a very enjoyable bottle of wine, but possibly past its peak, losing a bit of its fullness. Memories of a lovely tasting experience at the winery are still vivid…
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Decanted a portion for about an hour, also slow oxidized the rest over a few days. Did not need much time to open. Dark ruby and touch of garnet color. Dried cherry and cranberry and raspberry on the nose. Ripe cherry, plum, red cassis, pepper on the palate with about 30-35 sec finish.
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Tested along side a Brunello from the Stanson’s. This was ruby red. Smooth. Cherry. Moderate to full body. Fruit forward (cherry currant) but secondary coming out. Best bottle since new storage.
Fwiw same winery from Bottleshock movie.
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Opened one hour in advance. Bright cherry aroma. Rich, sappy flavors of cherry, black fruit, and a bit of forest floor. Some tar in the finish. Lively, vibrant, fresh, good depth, firm backbone, some complexity, great staying power. Still going strong.
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1hr decant. Dark red color. French like nose. Wine was very thin but no resemblance of bricking. Lovely nose but wine lacked depth and fruit. Not sure if it needed more air, was past prime, or just not in my wheelhouse.
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Surprisingly consistent with my last note from seven years ago. Currants are more pronounced on the nose and palate. The wine has rounded leaving a lingering dark chocolate and currant finish. 5+12+16+8=91
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I'm a little biased when it comes to Montelena cabernets. Their wines are my generally preferred style. Decanted for an hour plus. Dark purple, almost black in the glass. Nose of blackberry, black currants, blueberry pie and floral notes. Flavors of blackberry, cola, vanilla, blueberry, graphite and dark chocolate. Rich, smooth, balanced and a sweet hint on the mouth feel. Pleasant. Sumptuous. Underrated. Early peak period but will last in a proper cellar for many years to come.
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Bright fruit, good length. Very nice. Had the pleasure of comparing it to the '03 while eating roasted lamb. The '03 was deeper and more elegant, but they were both excellent dining companions.
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After the last bottle, I wasn't expecting so much but after sitting open for a couple of hours, this one really improved. Still probably not worth the price but much better than bottle one.
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Decided to open the last bottle I had - given the experience of the last 2. This one was drinking fine. Just in its sweet spot. Medium legs, brighter looking and hint of cassis and cherries. An observation - the previous two bottles cork seemed just that bit bloated. And I have a cellar that's stored all wines at constant 56 degrees. This bottle cork appeared normal. Did the previous ones lose their seal? Either way - drink up on this one.
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Drank alongside a '07 Ch. Montelena Estate Cab. This was a fun contrast as this non-Estate was very much in its prime drinking window showing good balance and smooth drinking, while the Estate had much more depth of flavors with more aggressive tannins that needs more time to resolve.
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This wine is drinking very well right now. Decant for 30 - 45 minutes. Serve with your choice of red meat... we enjoyed with some great corn fed Steak! This will be good till 2019 for sure.
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Better than most have said. Typical of this vinyard. Needed some decanting but after a hour opened up nicely. Liked the 2006 a little more but still a solid napa cab! Plenty of time left in the right cellaring.
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Deep garnet color with a nose of sweet dark fruit. Black cherries, anise with a full mouthfeel and a medium finish. Big difference in smoothing out the young berries after 45 minutes of a decant.
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Popped & poured into a decanter. Initial burst of incense, which I love, but have never before found in a Montelena, followed by black currants, cassis and florals. Ripe red and black fruit on the palate, with plum, black raspberry liqueur and currants. Much more "hedonistic" than I expect from Montelena, likely a result of the vintage.
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This wine is an embarrassment. Weak nose. One dimensional on the palate. Not even varietally distinct. That someone is paying $90 at auction for this is indicative that people will buy anything based on a prestigious name. Maybe they think they're getting the Estate label? I'm wondering if this wine was ruined by TCA? Sad.
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Decanted 2 hours. Dark ruby color. Blackberry, blueberry, light vanilla but not overly oaked. This is an ok wine but the tannins are surprisingly very light and acidity lower than expected. It appears this wine will not get any better and has no aging potential so drink in next 2 years max. This is a somewhat flat effort even for an estate's 2nd wine and at this price I'd expect more. (Also this is the 2nd wine I've had from the acclaimed 2007 California Cab vintage that has been lackluster......)
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Drank over 3 nights, further testing out the wine savino system. Nice nose and typical cab fruit on first night. Enjoyed. Fruit became jammy on night two, but settled again on night 3. Savino seems to be working.
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It's time to start drinking the 07 CA cabs. If you have phelps cab (not insignia or backus) drink them. The Montelena was delicious. Entry level (yet serious) Napa cabs from 07 are entering a special phase. Tanins are relaxed and playful. Fruit is youthful and just beginning to show age - a bouquet is present. Dark fruits are prevelant and secondary leathery notes are starting to show. Finish endures and compliements the first two thirds of the experience.
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A very nice wine. Strong fruit notes on the nose with a well balanced layer of dark cherry, berries and smoke mid palate. A decent finish and that vanilla oak residue that is a Montelena signature. Drink over the next 3 years.
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A year later and this wine has come into it's own. Just starting to mature with a lighter rim and the color is not dark as night. Fruit and tannin are showing common secondary characteristics. Not terribly complex but aging very well and in balance. I would imagine this wine will be good for another 4-5 years and the fruit will begin to fade - I found it lacking a little depth but delicious non the less.
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- Violet color with medium forming legs and aromas of cherry, black currant and violet. It's balanced and has flavours of tobacco, cherry, cloves, oak and vanilla with a light/medium body. Round texture with a medium finish.
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- Aromas of cherry and violet. It's somewhat balanced and has flavours of tobacco, cherry and oak with a light/medium body. Linear texture with a medium finish.
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I just can't say enough about Ch. Montelena. These wines are always SOLID. Uncorked to a nice dark red stain on the intact cork. Spice, spice and more spice out of the neck. Wine was decanted for about 90 minutes before enjoying. On the palate was a blackberry, black licorice fruit bomb from start to finish. You could taste the warmer climate and could almost imagine the slightly dehydrated berries on the vine ready to be picked to make an intense wine. This wine didn't try to hide anything. The wine wasn't incredibly layered, but what it did have reminded me of why I spent the 45 bucks on the non-estate wine to have with a regular, non "special event" dinner with the wife. True Calistoga wine - expressive, spicy, fruity, bold, full bodied, partially tannic. I think this non-estate was OK, but edged out by both the 06 and especially the 05. This is not the CM Estate wine by any means, but it's not intended to be in the same league. You don't compare the C63 AMG to the C230, do you?
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When opened, its aroma flooded the room. Nice cab but certainly not their estate offering. Wasn't real complex but good balance and decent finish. Mild tannns and some minerality. Certaily worth the price.
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I am a huge fan of Ch. Montelena Estate Cabs but this was like glorified grape juice, I'm sorry to say. One dimensional and too fruity by me. Almost no detectable tannins. I don't think I have ever had a Montelens cab like this. I guess it's just an everyday quaffer.
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Decanted briefly. Aromas of cassis and blackberry, violets, vanilla and oak spices. Full-bodied, with cassis, licorice and raspberry liqueur flavors. Tightened up a bit in the glass; tannins, vanilla and oak tones took over.
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Opaque garnet. Earthy blackberries, black currants, licorice, tobacco, black tea, and a touch of Band-Aid on the nose. Rich, full-bodied, with good depth, a supple texture and dense layers of black fruit, cassis, vanilla, and mocha flavors. A eucalyptus backnote segues into the granite-laden finish. Excellent.
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I was expecting more from this estate and this vintage. The wine was simple, a little sweet and lacking in definition. For the cost, there are much better 07 Cabs out there.
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Although still really, really good this was probably one of my least favourites of this wine over the past 7 vintages, surprising given the quality of fruit from '07, it seems to lack balance, and there was definite medicinal heat calling into doubt the posted 14.25 alc. on the label - Dark, full bodied with a nose of black fruit, plum, cedar and vanilla, decent structure, a touch of heat, simple, sweet on the palate with good length (88 Points).
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Purple with garnet edge, nose of red currant and plum. Decanted 1 hour. Flavors are the same as in the notes of 10/27/2011, but the resolution of the fruit was much improved, the tannins were more integrated to the structure and the finish was long.
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A pleasant but unremarkable wine, certainly tasty but can do better for the cost. Decanted for 1 hour - Nose: red fruit, strawberries. Taste: Full bodied, oaky, taste of blackberries, plum and other red fruit. High acidity, quite tannic which lends some weight to the wine. Wine is definitely young. Decanted for 2 hour - Taste: Smoothed out quite a bit, has come more into balance, still quite oaky, tannins abating. Fruit is holding its flavour profile. Decanted for 3 hour - Taste: Starting to taste tart / acidic
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Shared one with friends. Decanted for 1/2 hr. This wine is improving and will continue to improve with proper cellaring. Heat is declining and flavors are starting to meld.
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Side by side with the 2008. This is a much bigger and denser wine, which will clearly benefit from some time in the cellar. Nothing but sweet vanilla oak and some dense nondescript fruit upon opening. Pretty structured. It took about 2 hours of air before the oak took a back seat and some more elegant fruit and eucalyptus started emerging. I think this is better than the 2008 long term, but is probably at least 5 years away from prime drinking. B+
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Dark plum color. Nose of moss, herbs, sweet currant. Cherry prominant with slight jolly rancher flavors. Definitely cab franc profile with cedar pencil shavings. Overall enjoyable.
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A vibrant youthful wine with a dark core and a vibrant purple rim, great dense viscosity shinning through on the glass and an intense bouquet of aromas. The nose has depth and weight, notes of sour cherries, raspberries, dark earth, sweet tobacco, new leather, eucalyptus, and a touch of graphite on the end. On the palate the attack is dominated by dark fruits and berries, following nicely into a tame mid-palate with tart red fruits, and bitter coffee notes. The finish exhibits dark chocolate shavings with a touch of creamy vanilla and nice polished and chewy tannins. A nose with depth, a mid-bodied wine with good structure, smooth textures, pure flavors, balanced all throughout but missing a bit more on the end.
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Nose was basically empty. Fruit was pleasant, but not particularly interesting. Little tannic backbone. If you had told me this was a $20 WA state cab, I'd say "yeah, seemed like it." If you told me it was the second wine from one of Napa's traditional first growth estates in the greatest vintage in recent memory (99 Wine Spec score), I'd feel pretty disappointed. Which is how I feel.
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Mild plum and mineral nose. Dominant cherry flavor along with currants, plum, and a touch of pencil lead(?). Nice uplifting acidity and a reasonable finish.
A fair description in an earlier TN, "...good but unremarkable... can get better for the price.." I purchased a glass of this at an airport bar on a work trip so obviously I'm not paying. But at the ~$40USD/bottle, I wouldn't be opening my wallet either.
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Deep purple, modest red fruit nose. Opened 1 hour; did not decant. Some black cherry and blackberry, currants, cedar, earth and menthol. Good, but surprisingly young, balance. Modest tannins led me to think this wine is not as big as it should be given this estate and the vintage. Also surprised this did not show any development on the next day. This is a pleasant wine to drink, but I'm a bit worried it is not going to show much improvement over the next 3-5 years.
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Bitterly scotch smell with deep red color. Very meaty and firm, with mild tannin and a smooth finish. Not as structured as the Stag's Leap, but very balanced thru out.
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Voyager Estate Masterclass 2011: Leather, slightly funky and herby. Oak, biscuit and cedar, perfumed top notes and hints of chocolate malt. In the mouth it is smoky, red fruit that is almost cherry, touches of marzipan, tannic grip and medium plus acid. Lovely but lack typicity.
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Had at ZED 421 in Chicago ($95). Preferred it to the Groth we had before it. More left bank in style, definitely more firm in the mouth. Felt like it had the stuffing to last a few years.
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SOOOOOOOOO dissapointing! Was this "bad" wine? No, not at all. But I expect MUCH more from these makers, especially on a really strong vintage. This was weak, boring, and not worth $25 to me, much less almost $50! Pass.
One day later the tannins have harmonized more smoothly with the fruit, however the fruit has also become less prevalent. I'd advise drinking same day. Still great.
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This is great wine. A solid vintage, perhaps not their best but certainly a great representation of Napa Cabernet. I will be drinking this over the next 18 hours, I will rate again later. A deep garnet with nice extracted legs. Nose of cassis and berry, sweet oak amidst a pool of tannin. The front mimics the nose with emphasis on currant notes. A bit harsh in the midpalate with those tannins, but lends itself a solid and long finish. Beautiful and elegant for dinner or a tasting. Update to come.
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I was utterly disappointed. I'm a huge fan of Chateau Montelena but I think the wine needs to age a bit more before drinking, it's just too harsh and unpleasant at the moment. I'll leave the other bottles to sit for a few years before I open them up.
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Decanted about an hour and a half. Deep garnet color. Aromas of cassis, blackberry, licorice and florals. Medium- to full-bodied, with silky tannins and flavors of red currants, cassis and spice, touch of vanilla. Nice lengthy finish.
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Not recommended. Medicinal. Angular. Sharp. Nice texture on the palate, and finishes long; but none of this matters when the aromatics and flavors are so bad. Reminds me of a young $10 Cru Bourgeois. Paid $32.00.
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Opaque ruby color with modest legs. Aromas of blackberry, currants, cigar box and vanilla. Flavors of black currants and dark fruit dominated a very smooth palate -- my initial impression was that it tasted a lot more like caymus than i remembered. Tannis were quite smooth and the finish was quite pleasent and balanced given the mouth feel and acidity. I'd buy more at this price point. 5/5+12/15+16/20+7/10=90
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Garnet color. Aromas of blackberry, currants, vanilla and herbs. Flavors of black currants and cassis carrying through the long finish. Fine tannins, with good underlying acidity. Well-balanced and elegant. 90+ pts.
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Wasn't exactly overwhelmed by this wine. Fairly fragrant with a good, dark color, but didn't deliver on the palate. Smooth dark fruit over soft tannins, but there's not much depth or richness. Finish is smooth, but it just doesn't have the "oomph" one expects from a wine with its reputation. Too lightweight and simple to age well. If this were a $20 bottle, I'd have no complaints, but at this level one expects more.
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I bought some of this wine hoping that by grabbing the low hanging fruit in 07 could be a good idea. I hope I'm right here. Very tight wine with excessive oaky sweetness. I solid core of black cherry but a very linear wine that lacked expansiveness. Very good finish and some depth yet lacking concentration. I want this to age well but I have my reservations.
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Nose is earthy with dark cherry and oakiness and a hint of green olives. Mouth is well structured with subtle fruits well balanced with earthy tones. Good now and will age well.
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Very tight with strong oak, though the fruit made it passable now. Got much better after an hour or two in the glass. Would definitely give it time in the bottle or the decanter.
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Had a bottle of this after Mexican food and beers, so my palate was probably off. I didn't get the fennel taste that soyhead and kuixote tasted, which was good because I'm not a fan of fennel. The wine seemed ready to drink now, not steeped in tannins or oak. I'll make a point to try this wine again with a better pairing or served alone.
By the way, we had this bottle prior to a Weezer concert - I'm pretty sure we were the only group there that paired Chateau Montelena w/Weezer. "Say it ain't so"!
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California Cab Tasting, USQ Wines; 11/10/2010-11/12/2010 (New York): On the nose, shows tar, olive and green pepper notes. Similarly, shows a little herbal green on the palate, but in a good way - built to last, although the tannins are surprisingly not forbidding at this stage. Especially in this lineup, this is old school done right, in the sense that I wouldn't be at all surprised if this is one of the top wines in this tasting 15-25 years from now; reminds me of some of the Cali cabs from the 70s that are still showing so well today. 93+
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Zachys Robin Hood 2010 Wine Tasting (La venue, NYC): black spice dominates the flavor profile, with some steak notes behind. i did not think "fruit". some heat on med(+) finish. preferred the 06 estate to the 07 regular...
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This wine is closed off and inaccessible. I had tasted the 2005 about 2 months earlier and it was drinking very nicely. This on the other hand is very tightly wound. Nose isn't giving up much, even after an hour of swirling. On the palate you get fruit but it is subdued and there are fleeting hints of spice and herb, but only briefly. This wine needs at least a couple years to unwind, probably 2013 at least. Hints of brilliance though.
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Hard to tell yet how good it will be. Dark and deep, far too young to fully appreciate but I wanted to take one out of the case I got earlier inthe year and try it. The fruit was full and luscious, the wine moderately complex, deep and dark. Cedar, cassis, dark, dark berries, a little oak. Typical Ch Montelena cab.
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6/14/2023 - cucycling wrote: 90 Points
Still a very enjoyable bottle of wine, but possibly past its peak, losing a bit of its fullness. Memories of a lovely tasting experience at the winery are still vivid…
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12/17/2022 - Asull2k Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted a portion for about an hour, also slow oxidized the rest over a few days. Did not need much time to open. Dark ruby and touch of garnet color. Dried cherry and cranberry and raspberry on the nose. Ripe cherry, plum, red cassis, pepper on the palate with about 30-35 sec finish.
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9/5/2022 - AllRed wrote:
Popped and poured. Domino thought she detected TCA but I, nor anyone else, picked up on it. Red plum and cedar tones. Integrated tannins.
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5/22/2022 - DrSteveP wrote:
Mmmm
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1/30/2022 - kmejkwe wrote: flawed
My Bad. I left this one in the wine cellar too long. (2007 Vintage).
The cork broke up during opening. Otherwise, it was not bad.
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1/29/2022 - Jpickell Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tested along side a Brunello from the Stanson’s. This was ruby red. Smooth. Cherry. Moderate to full body. Fruit forward (cherry currant) but secondary coming out. Best bottle since new storage.
Fwiw same winery from Bottleshock movie.
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1/27/2022 - MusicAndWines wrote: 91 Points
drink now... still delicious
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11/10/2021 - mlawren1 wrote: 91 Points
Fruit going secondary with stone fruit and leaves. Finishes with a bit of earth and mint.
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9/10/2021 - Myownscale wrote: 92 Points
Nose:
Palate:
nice currant, good, tobacco, alcohol Dawn's favorite of the night
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8/23/2020 - wineshlub wrote: 92 Points
Opened one hour in advance. Bright cherry aroma. Rich, sappy flavors of cherry, black fruit, and a bit of forest floor. Some tar in the finish. Lively, vibrant, fresh, good depth, firm backbone, some complexity, great staying power. Still going strong.
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1/8/2020 - Gr8penut Likes this wine: 88 Points
I hope it is just a "dumb" phase...
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11/21/2019 - PMJak11 wrote: 88 Points
1hr decant. Dark red color. French like nose. Wine was very thin but no resemblance of bricking. Lovely nose but wine lacked depth and fruit. Not sure if it needed more air, was past prime, or just not in my wheelhouse.
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1/19/2019 - Captain Marko Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for an hour. Wonderful.
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10/21/2018 - yukoner Likes this wine: 90 Points
As perfect as it is going to get.
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9/2/2018 - Ed B wrote: 92 Points
PnP at a restaurant. No detailed notes. Bid, dark vibrant. Plenty left.
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6/3/2018 - prof b wrote: 92 Points
Classic cabernet, really nice.
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6/1/2018 - Delli Likes this wine: 91 Points
Surprisingly consistent with my last note from seven years ago. Currants are more pronounced on the nose and palate. The wine has rounded leaving a lingering dark chocolate and currant finish. 5+12+16+8=91
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2/4/2018 - manny651 Likes this wine: 93 Points
excellent, beatifully aged cab with long elegant finish
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12/16/2017 - Snag One Likes this wine: 88 Points
Enjoyable wine with layers of mint, bell peppers, licorice and cassis. I wanted a longer finish, but the finish was short and shallow.
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10/7/2017 - Tahlequahdave1972 Likes this wine: 92 Points
I'm a little biased when it comes to Montelena cabernets. Their wines are my generally preferred style. Decanted for an hour plus. Dark purple, almost black in the glass. Nose of blackberry, black currants, blueberry pie and floral notes. Flavors of blackberry, cola, vanilla, blueberry, graphite and dark chocolate. Rich, smooth, balanced and a sweet hint on the mouth feel. Pleasant. Sumptuous. Underrated. Early peak period but will last in a proper cellar for many years to come.
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7/25/2017 - Ed B wrote: 92 Points
Quick rescue wine after another was off. Splash decanted and drank with strip steak. Always reliable.
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6/11/2017 - AllRed wrote: 90 Points
Second Sunday Group: Chateau Montelena Cabernet (Non-Estate) Vertical, 2005-2012 (Our house): Opens with peppery, spicy oak aromas followed by red plum, vanilla and currants. The palate follows the bouquet. Herb and mocha qualities emerge as it opens further in the glass. Medium+ tannins. Still on the young side. 90+ pts.
My #2, Domino's #4
Group #2, 36 pts (tie broken by 3rd place votes)
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5/20/2017 - 560 B&W wrote: 87 Points
Decanted. Some good notes but heavy and not all that interesting. Doubt it will improve. 14.2%
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4/26/2017 - Ed B wrote: 93 Points
PnP at a restaurant. No detailed notes. Drinking very well now. Everyone loved it.
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8/27/2016 - bdemus wrote:
Bright fruit, good length. Very nice. Had the pleasure of comparing it to the '03 while eating roasted lamb. The '03 was deeper and more elegant, but they were both excellent dining companions.
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6/1/2016 - FLI Likes this wine: 87 Points
Much better than previous bottle, but a bit expensive for what you get.
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3/15/2016 - vinodolphin Likes this wine: 90 Points
After the last bottle, I wasn't expecting so much but after sitting open for a couple of hours, this one really improved. Still probably not worth the price but much better than bottle one.
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3/13/2016 - Cali vino Likes this wine: 92 Points
Sharp at first. Upon opening continued to develop. Abundance of fruit.
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12/31/2015 - mdaniel wrote: 90 Points
Fruit has started to decline, but a very smooth wine with our NYE Guinness filet mignons.
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10/25/2015 - cheetadad wrote: 89 Points
Decided to open the last bottle I had - given the experience of the last 2. This one was drinking fine. Just in its sweet spot. Medium legs, brighter looking and hint of cassis and cherries. An observation - the previous two bottles cork seemed just that bit bloated. And I have a cellar that's stored all wines at constant 56 degrees. This bottle cork appeared normal. Did the previous ones lose their seal? Either way - drink up on this one.
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10/24/2015 - cheetadad wrote: 85 Points
Opened 2 bottles. Both on the wane. Fruit is all but disappeared. I guess the non estate is meant to be drunk young.
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10/23/2015 - cucycling Likes this wine: 88 Points
Still a nice wine, but I will not be waiting to drink my other bottle since I too think it could be passing it's prime.
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8/8/2015 - ichiballs wrote: 88 Points
already in decline. fruit was lacking, smooth tannins, light acid.
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6/24/2015 - Ed B wrote: 92 Points
PnP at the end of the evening. No detailed notes. Wonderful wine right in its sweet spot.
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5/13/2015 - ClaytonDave Likes this wine: 90 Points
Ready with a brief decant. Cassis and raspberry on the palate. Good, everyday cab.
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3/21/2015 - Bob in NC Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drank alongside a '07 Ch. Montelena Estate Cab. This was a fun contrast as this non-Estate was very much in its prime drinking window showing good balance and smooth drinking, while the Estate had much more depth of flavors with more aggressive tannins that needs more time to resolve.
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3/15/2015 - Thirsty1 Likes this wine:
Drinking great in a perfect window. Fruits all there, tannins are integrated, long finish. Great juice.
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12/7/2014 - PKM wrote: 88 Points
Abundant aromas of earthy, berry fruit intermixed with black currants, tobacco leaf and spice.
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8/18/2014 - Thirsty1 Likes this wine:
Consistent with previous. It took about an hour for it to open up and let the floral notes expose themselves. In a perfect drinking window. Enjoy.
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7/26/2014 - crushzone wrote: 89 Points
A little watery.
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7/20/2014 - Aspenhawk Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine is drinking very well right now. Decant for 30 - 45 minutes. Serve with your choice of red meat... we enjoyed with some great corn fed Steak!
This will be good till 2019 for sure.
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6/14/2014 - Wpdawg wrote: 90 Points
Better than most have said. Typical of this vinyard. Needed some decanting but after a hour opened up nicely. Liked the 2006 a little more but still a solid napa cab! Plenty of time left in the right cellaring.
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3/18/2014 - Thirsty1 wrote:
Gave the bottle to Juan on the flight back to Miami
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1/24/2014 - Ceo wrote: 92 Points
Perfect with Prime Rib!!!
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12/25/2013 - vine20 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep garnet color with a nose of sweet dark fruit. Black cherries, anise with a full mouthfeel and a medium finish. Big difference in smoothing out the young berries after 45 minutes of a decant.
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11/17/2013 - rhanke wrote: 92 Points
Very nice
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11/13/2013 - AllRed wrote: 91 Points
Popped & poured into a decanter. Initial burst of incense, which I love, but have never before found in a Montelena, followed by black currants, cassis and florals. Ripe red and black fruit on the palate, with plum, black raspberry liqueur and currants. Much more "hedonistic" than I expect from Montelena, likely a result of the vintage.
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11/1/2013 - FLI Does not like this wine: 82 Points
This wine is an embarrassment. Weak nose. One dimensional on the palate. Not even varietally distinct. That someone is paying $90 at auction for this is indicative that people will buy anything based on a prestigious name. Maybe they think they're getting the Estate label? I'm wondering if this wine was ruined by TCA? Sad.
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10/12/2013 - Anthony Chinn Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent. Pepper and leather nose. Tannic with fruit mid palate. Long finish
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10/4/2013 - vinodolphin Likes this wine: 87 Points
I expected much more. Wouldn't purchase again at this price point. Weak with fruit and tannins to match.
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8/15/2013 - Ckaz44 wrote: 88 Points
Decanted 2 hours. Dark ruby color. Blackberry, blueberry, light vanilla but not overly oaked. This is an ok wine but the tannins are surprisingly very light and acidity lower than expected. It appears this wine will not get any better and has no aging potential so drink in next 2 years max. This is a somewhat flat effort even for an estate's 2nd wine and at this price I'd expect more. (Also this is the 2nd wine I've had from the acclaimed 2007 California Cab vintage that has been lackluster......)
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5/17/2013 - carlsport Likes this wine: 89 Points
Drank over 3 nights, further testing out the wine savino system. Nice nose and typical cab fruit on first night. Enjoyed. Fruit became jammy on night two, but settled again on night 3. Savino seems to be working.
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4/2/2013 - Thirsty1 Likes this wine:
It's time to start drinking the 07 CA cabs. If you have phelps cab (not insignia or backus) drink them. The Montelena was delicious. Entry level (yet serious) Napa cabs from 07 are entering a special phase. Tanins are relaxed and playful. Fruit is youthful and just beginning to show age - a bouquet is present. Dark fruits are prevelant and secondary leathery notes are starting to show. Finish endures and compliements the first two thirds of the experience.
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3/21/2013 - allfalkedup Likes this wine: 93 Points
A very nice wine. Strong fruit notes on the nose with a well balanced layer of dark cherry, berries and smoke mid palate. A decent finish and that vanilla oak residue that is a Montelena signature. Drink over the next 3 years.
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3/16/2013 - Bob in NC Likes this wine:
Drank to honor Jim Barrett. Exceptional smooth and balanced, drinking in its zone right now.
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2/7/2013 - Thirsty1 Likes this wine:
A year later and this wine has come into it's own. Just starting to mature with a lighter rim and the color is not dark as night. Fruit and tannin are showing common secondary characteristics. Not terribly complex but aging very well and in balance. I would imagine this wine will be good for another 4-5 years and the fruit will begin to fade - I found it lacking a little depth but delicious non the less.
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1/22/2013 - xboomer wrote: 91 Points
Very good. excellent for the price $40
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12/30/2012 - swayzeeee Does not like this wine: 85 Points
meh. Should've bought a Bordeaux.
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12/27/2012 - crushzone wrote: 88 Points
- Violet color with medium forming legs and aromas of cherry, black currant and violet. It's balanced and has flavours of tobacco, cherry, cloves, oak and vanilla with a light/medium body. Round texture with a medium finish.
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12/27/2012 - crushzone wrote: 88 Points
- Aromas of cherry and violet. It's somewhat balanced and has flavours of tobacco, cherry and oak with a light/medium body. Linear texture with a medium finish.
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9/21/2012 - hayestech Likes this wine: 89 Points
Light in color, almost like a Pinot Noir. Good flavor and very smooth finish. Very enjoyable.
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9/11/2012 - mflesh wrote: 89 Points
I just can't say enough about Ch. Montelena. These wines are always SOLID. Uncorked to a nice dark red stain on the intact cork. Spice, spice and more spice out of the neck. Wine was decanted for about 90 minutes before enjoying. On the palate was a blackberry, black licorice fruit bomb from start to finish. You could taste the warmer climate and could almost imagine the slightly dehydrated berries on the vine ready to be picked to make an intense wine. This wine didn't try to hide anything. The wine wasn't incredibly layered, but what it did have reminded me of why I spent the 45 bucks on the non-estate wine to have with a regular, non "special event" dinner with the wife. True Calistoga wine - expressive, spicy, fruity, bold, full bodied, partially tannic. I think this non-estate was OK, but edged out by both the 06 and especially the 05. This is not the CM Estate wine by any means, but it's not intended to be in the same league. You don't compare the C63 AMG to the C230, do you?
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9/9/2012 - slapsht007 wrote: 88 Points
When opened, its aroma flooded the room. Nice cab but certainly not their estate offering. Wasn't real complex but good balance and decent finish. Mild tannns and some minerality. Certaily worth the price.
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6/27/2012 - oldwines wrote: 85 Points
I am a huge fan of Ch. Montelena Estate Cabs but this was like glorified grape juice, I'm sorry to say. One dimensional and too fruity by me. Almost no detectable tannins. I don't think I have ever had a Montelens cab like this. I guess it's just an everyday quaffer.
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6/7/2012 - AllRed wrote: 89 Points
Decanted briefly. Aromas of cassis and blackberry, violets, vanilla and oak spices. Full-bodied, with cassis, licorice and raspberry liqueur flavors. Tightened up a bit in the glass; tannins, vanilla and oak tones took over.
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4/15/2012 - Baron Slick wrote: 91 Points
Opaque garnet. Earthy blackberries, black currants, licorice, tobacco, black tea, and a touch of Band-Aid on the nose. Rich, full-bodied, with good depth, a supple texture and dense layers of black fruit, cassis, vanilla, and mocha flavors. A eucalyptus backnote segues into the granite-laden finish. Excellent.
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4/7/2012 - chanote44 wrote: 87 Points
I was expecting more from this estate and this vintage. The wine was simple, a little sweet and lacking in definition. For the cost, there are much better 07 Cabs out there.
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3/17/2012 - Tarrant wrote: 88 Points
Although still really, really good this was probably one of my least favourites of this wine over the past 7 vintages, surprising given the quality of fruit from '07, it seems to lack balance, and there was definite medicinal heat calling into doubt the posted 14.25 alc. on the label - Dark, full bodied with a nose of black fruit, plum, cedar and vanilla, decent structure, a touch of heat, simple, sweet on the palate with good length (88 Points).
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3/6/2012 - vine20 wrote: 90 Points
Purple with garnet edge, nose of red currant and plum. Decanted 1 hour. Flavors are the same as in the notes of 10/27/2011, but the resolution of the fruit was much improved, the tannins were more integrated to the structure and the finish was long.
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1/26/2012 - chuckk wrote: 83 Points
A pleasant but unremarkable wine, certainly tasty but can do better for the cost.
Decanted for 1 hour - Nose: red fruit, strawberries. Taste: Full bodied, oaky, taste of blackberries, plum and other red fruit. High acidity, quite tannic which lends some weight to the wine. Wine is definitely young.
Decanted for 2 hour - Taste: Smoothed out quite a bit, has come more into balance, still quite oaky, tannins abating. Fruit is holding its flavour profile.
Decanted for 3 hour - Taste: Starting to taste tart / acidic
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1/24/2012 - neuhausr wrote: 88 Points
Shared one with friends. Decanted for 1/2 hr. This wine is improving and will continue to improve with proper cellaring. Heat is declining and flavors are starting to meld.
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1/12/2012 - pifcho wrote:
Side by side with the 2008. This is a much bigger and denser wine, which will clearly benefit from some time in the cellar. Nothing but sweet vanilla oak and some dense nondescript fruit upon opening. Pretty structured. It took about 2 hours of air before the oak took a back seat and some more elegant fruit and eucalyptus started emerging. I think this is better than the 2008 long term, but is probably at least 5 years away from prime drinking. B+
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1/1/2012 - RBOND wrote: 90 Points
Young. Need time to decant. Smooth. Lots of oak
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12/25/2011 - brigcampbell wrote:
Dark plum color. Nose of moss, herbs, sweet currant. Cherry prominant with slight jolly rancher flavors. Definitely cab franc profile with cedar pencil shavings. Overall enjoyable.
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12/7/2011 - Jcbragg wrote: 88 Points
Smooth after it opened up, needed a little time to breathe
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11/11/2011 - Gobi wrote: 91 Points
A vibrant youthful wine with a dark core and a vibrant purple rim, great dense viscosity shinning through on the glass and an intense bouquet of aromas. The nose has depth and weight, notes of sour cherries, raspberries, dark earth, sweet tobacco, new leather, eucalyptus, and a touch of graphite on the end. On the palate the attack is dominated by dark fruits and berries, following nicely into a tame mid-palate with tart red fruits, and bitter coffee notes. The finish exhibits dark chocolate shavings with a touch of creamy vanilla and nice polished and chewy tannins. A nose with depth, a mid-bodied wine with good structure, smooth textures, pure flavors, balanced all throughout but missing a bit more on the end.
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11/10/2011 - FLI Likes this wine: 85 Points
Nose was basically empty. Fruit was pleasant, but not particularly interesting. Little tannic backbone. If you had told me this was a $20 WA state cab, I'd say "yeah, seemed like it." If you told me it was the second wine from one of Napa's traditional first growth estates in the greatest vintage in recent memory (99 Wine Spec score), I'd feel pretty disappointed. Which is how I feel.
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11/8/2011 - Racer117 wrote: 89 Points
Mild plum and mineral nose. Dominant cherry flavor along with currants, plum, and a touch of pencil lead(?). Nice uplifting acidity and a reasonable finish.
A fair description in an earlier TN, "...good but unremarkable... can get better for the price.." I purchased a glass of this at an airport bar on a work trip so obviously I'm not paying. But at the ~$40USD/bottle, I wouldn't be opening my wallet either.
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10/27/2011 - vine20 wrote: 90 Points
Deep purple, modest red fruit nose. Opened 1 hour; did not decant. Some black cherry and blackberry, currants, cedar, earth and menthol. Good, but surprisingly young, balance. Modest tannins led me to think this wine is not as big as it should be given this estate and the vintage. Also surprised this did not show any development on the next day. This is a pleasant wine to drink, but I'm a bit worried it is not going to show much improvement over the next 3-5 years.
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10/15/2011 - jtinto wrote: 89 Points
Good yet unremarkable. Can do better for the price.
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10/12/2011 - ssock Likes this wine: 90 Points
Enjoyed at BLT in Scottsdale. Overall good balance, but fairly straightforward and thin on the finish.
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10/9/2011 - curiouswino42 wrote: 92 Points
Bitterly scotch smell with deep red color. Very meaty and firm, with mild tannin and a smooth finish. Not as structured as the Stag's Leap, but very balanced thru out.
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9/26/2011 - SyrahQueen wrote: 91 Points
Very well balanced wine. Great vintage. Nice Napa cab that is well round and decent price..
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9/14/2011 - prof b wrote: 86 Points
even after a lengthy decant, there wasn't much to this. a quality but pretty straightforward cab. hoping this improves with age.
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9/8/2011 - xboomer wrote: 92 Points
I really enjoyed this very good Cab. Wish I had more.
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9/8/2011 - jeff.beth.long wrote: 90 Points
Just a great, affordable, pleasant cab. Great wine! Not too dry, nice fruit, easy drinker. Will buy again.
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8/22/2011 - mikev101 wrote: 89 Points
A truly Fabulous Cab
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8/18/2011 - lepetitchateau wrote: 89 Points
A pleasant and unremarkable wine, tasty without asking too much of the taster.
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8/9/2011 - chatters wrote:
Voyager Estate Masterclass 2011: Leather, slightly funky and herby. Oak, biscuit and cedar, perfumed top notes and hints of chocolate malt. In the mouth it is smoky, red fruit that is almost cherry, touches of marzipan, tannic grip and medium plus acid. Lovely but lack typicity.
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8/6/2011 - Mezz wrote: 90 Points
I love this wine. Nice and balanced, wish i had more room in my cellar for more bottles to see how it will mature.
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8/1/2011 - lumpyelbow wrote:
Had at ZED 421 in Chicago ($95). Preferred it to the Groth we had before it. More left bank in style, definitely more firm in the mouth. Felt like it had the stuffing to last a few years.
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6/5/2011 - hubas wrote: 91 Points
Ganska tuff cab med smak av björnbär och ganska tydlig jordighet. Finns även en hel del läder vilket är precis i min smak. Mycket trevligt vin.
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6/1/2011 - OTTnMIA wrote: 87 Points
SOOOOOOOOO dissapointing! Was this "bad" wine? No, not at all. But I expect MUCH more from these makers, especially on a really strong vintage. This was weak, boring, and not worth $25 to me, much less almost $50! Pass.
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5/18/2011 - Mezz wrote: 91 Points
One day later the tannins have harmonized more smoothly with the fruit, however the fruit has also become less prevalent. I'd advise drinking same day. Still great.
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5/18/2011 - Mezz wrote: 91 Points
This is great wine. A solid vintage, perhaps not their best but certainly a great representation of Napa Cabernet. I will be drinking this over the next 18 hours, I will rate again later. A deep garnet with nice extracted legs. Nose of cassis and berry, sweet oak amidst a pool of tannin. The front mimics the nose with emphasis on currant notes. A bit harsh in the midpalate with those tannins, but lends itself a solid and long finish. Beautiful and elegant for dinner or a tasting. Update to come.
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5/8/2011 - Big_Dave wrote: 85 Points
I was utterly disappointed. I'm a huge fan of Chateau Montelena but I think the wine needs to age a bit more before drinking, it's just too harsh and unpleasant at the moment. I'll leave the other bottles to sit for a few years before I open them up.
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5/3/2011 - Texas Pete wrote: 83 Points
Drank over two nights. Fairly flat and uneventful. Not much improvement on 2nd night.
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4/26/2011 - AllRed wrote: 91 Points
Decanted about an hour and a half. Deep garnet color. Aromas of cassis, blackberry, licorice and florals. Medium- to full-bodied, with silky tannins and flavors of red currants, cassis and spice, touch of vanilla. Nice lengthy finish.
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4/15/2011 - THA wrote: 83 Points
Not recommended. Medicinal. Angular. Sharp. Nice texture on the palate, and finishes long; but none of this matters when the aromatics and flavors are so bad. Reminds me of a young $10 Cru Bourgeois. Paid $32.00.
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4/4/2011 - Delli Likes this wine: 90 Points
Opaque ruby color with modest legs. Aromas of blackberry, currants, cigar box and vanilla. Flavors of black currants and dark fruit dominated a very smooth palate -- my initial impression was that it tasted a lot more like caymus than i remembered. Tannis were quite smooth and the finish was quite pleasent and balanced given the mouth feel and acidity. I'd buy more at this price point. 5/5+12/15+16/20+7/10=90
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3/4/2011 - AllRed wrote: 90 Points
Friday Night Brown Bagger (Rich & Dana's): Decanted briefly, served in last flight about three hours later.
Garnet color. Aromas of blackberry, currants, vanilla and herbs. Flavors of black currants and cassis carrying through the long finish. Fine tannins, with good underlying acidity. Well-balanced and elegant. 90+ pts.
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2/26/2011 - daver852 wrote: 88 Points
Wasn't exactly overwhelmed by this wine. Fairly fragrant with a good, dark color, but didn't deliver on the palate. Smooth dark fruit over soft tannins, but there's not much depth or richness. Finish is smooth, but it just doesn't have the "oomph" one expects from a wine with its reputation. Too lightweight and simple to age well. If this were a $20 bottle, I'd have no complaints, but at this level one expects more.
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2/16/2011 - rmcnees wrote: 89 Points
Dark, full bodied - firm black berry, black cherry fruits with hint of tobacco, tar and anise. Somewhat tight and closed - needs time.
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1/28/2011 - Thirsty1 wrote: 88 Points
I bought some of this wine hoping that by grabbing the low hanging fruit in 07 could be a good idea. I hope I'm right here. Very tight wine with excessive oaky sweetness. I solid core of black cherry but a very linear wine that lacked expansiveness. Very good finish and some depth yet lacking concentration. I want this to age well but I have my reservations.
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1/26/2011 - KeithSurg wrote: 89 Points
Had at Ruth's Chris for $100. Very nice, but somewhat muted and unexciting. Drinking well.
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1/23/2011 - km5 wrote: 88 Points
Not much fruit, slight bitter finish, medium palate. Got better and fuller with meat.
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1/12/2011 - Aurakill wrote: 88 Points
Not complex but solid (sullivan's)
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12/31/2010 - jarfour wrote: 89 Points
Nose is earthy with dark cherry and oakiness and a hint of green olives. Mouth is well structured with subtle fruits well balanced with earthy tones. Good now and will age well.
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12/26/2010 - dy_dx wrote: 89 Points
Very tight with strong oak, though the fruit made it passable now. Got much better after an hour or two in the glass. Would definitely give it time in the bottle or the decanter.
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12/14/2010 - Steve Jones wrote: 91 Points
Strong flavors, not as ready as the 06. Leave the rest in the case. Still improving.
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11/29/2010 - Mike Oxlong wrote: 89 Points
Had a bottle of this after Mexican food and beers, so my palate was probably off. I didn't get the fennel taste that soyhead and kuixote tasted, which was good because I'm not a fan of fennel. The wine seemed ready to drink now, not steeped in tannins or oak. I'll make a point to try this wine again with a better pairing or served alone.
By the way, we had this bottle prior to a Weezer concert - I'm pretty sure we were the only group there that paired Chateau Montelena w/Weezer. "Say it ain't so"!
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11/29/2010 - soyhead wrote: 88 Points
Nose - black cherry, oak
mouth - black cherry with a lot of herbs ( fennel), good complexity, I would hold this wine for now.
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11/11/2010 - amateurwino wrote: 93 Points
California Cab Tasting, USQ Wines; 11/10/2010-11/12/2010 (New York): On the nose, shows tar, olive and green pepper notes. Similarly, shows a little herbal green on the palate, but in a good way - built to last, although the tannins are surprisingly not forbidding at this stage. Especially in this lineup, this is old school done right, in the sense that I wouldn't be at all surprised if this is one of the top wines in this tasting 15-25 years from now; reminds me of some of the Cali cabs from the 70s that are still showing so well today. 93+
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10/20/2010 - ews3 wrote: 90 Points
Zachys Robin Hood 2010 Wine Tasting (La venue, NYC): black spice dominates the flavor profile, with some steak notes behind. i did not think "fruit". some heat on med(+) finish. preferred the 06 estate to the 07 regular...
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9/14/2010 - ed-d wrote: 86 Points
Smells like a port with some cooked celery in it? Old bordeaux flavors of brown spice & leather. Very wierd. Tasted blind.
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7/10/2010 - kenhoeve wrote:
This wine is closed off and inaccessible. I had tasted the 2005 about 2 months earlier and it was drinking very nicely. This on the other hand is very tightly wound. Nose isn't giving up much, even after an hour of swirling. On the palate you get fruit but it is subdued and there are fleeting hints of spice and herb, but only briefly. This wine needs at least a couple years to unwind, probably 2013 at least. Hints of brilliance though.
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11/6/2009 - Steve Jones wrote: 90 Points
Hard to tell yet how good it will be. Dark and deep, far too young to fully appreciate but I wanted to take one out of the case I got earlier inthe year and try it. The fruit was full and luscious, the wine moderately complex, deep and dark. Cedar, cassis, dark, dark berries, a little oak. Typical Ch Montelena cab.
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7/9/2009 - loriannkru wrote:
Overwrought.
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