Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

exquisite · velvety · structure

The Estate Cabernet Sauvignon comes from Chateau Montelena's vineyard at the base of Mount St. Helena in Calistoga, one of Napa's most distinct growing sites. This is the same winery that won the 1976 Judgment of Paris tasting with its Chardonnay, and the estate has been farming this ground since the early 1970s under founder Jim Barrett.

Fresh and lively, the wine opens with raspberry, mint, and plum sauce. Baking spices follow, leaning toward clove initially but with plenty of cedar and vanilla. Still subtle, the ripe fruit elements, mostly cassis and fig at this stage, lurk beneath the surface along with hints of graphite and toasted sage that will show more with time in the glass.

The midpalate carries layers of black cherry, cocoa powder, and black pepper before turning slightly earthy and dusty. The structure is pronounced but harmonious and well defined. In the transition to the finish, the acidity comes through in an almost candy like fashion, a nice contrast to the supple tannins, with smoky, espresso bean and delicate dried blackberry notes on the density filled finish.

This Cabernet is considered one of the benchmarks for Napa mountain grown Cabernet Sauvignon, and it holds up well to a custom label or engraving for a milestone bottle.