I carefully removed the cork with an Ah-So, it was in decent shape but was fragile. The wine was decanted about five hours before serving. The wine was dark in color and had a modest nose. There was modest sediment in the bottle. It was nice to drink and has held up very well for 25 years.
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Like the 1998 Insignia I had a few weeks ago, this Montelena dispels the common opinion of 1998 as a poor vintage in Napa Cabernet. It just wasn’t 1997. Still plenty of deep black cherry fruit, along with a dash of vanilla, and some emerging cedar and leather elements. Moderate tannic structure, so that with the fruit there is still ample life, and enjoyment left in an underrated vintage of this Napa stalwart. Drink now and for many years to come.
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Consistent with prior note (a good, not great Montelena). Still drinking well; in a good place. Opened about 7 hours before, not decanted. Probably would have benefited a bit from a short decant before serving.
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Bought a case from auction, decanted 1 hour and tasted every 15 min. Amazing to taste the change from neutral to a full bodied party on the palate and everything one would expect from CM. It is not past its prine
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Bad bottle? Bad vintage? Past prime? I know this was stored well since purchase, so that wasn’t it. This is no way reflects my usual experience with aged Montelena. I’m marking this as flawed but no wet cardboard. Earth, green olive, touch of medicinal cherry that faded completely after 30 min. Had to move to plan B for dinner.
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Rather intriguing nose with a sort of peachy fruit and white flower personality. Not very Cabernet! Mid-weight palate, under-ripe and lean for a Cali cab. Leafy flavours. Finish is again lacking a bit in richness but balanced. A delicious wine, very elegant, not at all what I was expecting.
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Popped and poured, a lot of sediment, could have used a couple of hours in a decanter. Dry cork, broke in half, use the Durand next time. Deep nose, shows tobacco, coffee grinds, blackberries and some cedar. Very deep palate, Bordeaux-like, medium weight, medium tannins with an austere finish.
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Decanted, tasted over 3 hrs, bottle from secondary market -dark red purple mild bricking -mature nose -med acidity, faint core of dusty fruit and mature elements, med tannins -this bottle not dead but not particularly interesting right now either
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Dark red in color with some fading at the rim. Bright cherry nose with tobacco notes. Precise, bright fruit on the palate, cherries, raspberries, tobacco. Beautifully resolved tannins, good acidity, great balance. Throwing some light sediment. Finishes bright and lingering. A smooth, elegant wine at 23 years old. I think this will drink well for at least another 3 to 5 years. I stood this upright for a few hours but did not decant it, nor do I think it needed decanting.
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Dark purple, still with loads of currant, cassis, some plum and dark fruit notes, developed layers of complexity over time in the glass, pencil lead, cedar, tobacco, leather, 2 bottles from the same cellar at dinner for 4.
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Medium red color. Aromas of black currants, leather, cola and wood spices. Medium-bodied nicely structured fruit in the mouth with very good depth and length. Still very fresh with ample tannins in the finish. This was a fine effort for a 22 year Cab from a mediocre vintage.
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The first Montelena Cab I've tried. Feels like the first time I tasted Latour - disappointing. Deep garnet in the glass. Muted nose with a few aromas of dried black fruit, fig and cedar scattered across the board. Mind you, this is after a 3.5-hour decant. Palate is soft and already disjointed. None of that ripe concentration you would expect from a Cab. Not much depth either. Past its prime, so if you still have this in your cellar, better drink it today.
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As with most Montelenas, this 1998 had aged well. Although from a not-so-great vintage, this showed very nicely with an aromatic nose of dark cherry, ripe blackcurrants, smoked meats, and loamy earth. Plush and round on the palate with cherry pie, ripe blackcurrants and hint of cola. Tannins fully resolved with medium acidity. This was decanted for 2 hours, but honestly this did not need it and I feel it might have done better without a decant (92-93)
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Decanted, tasted over 2 hrs, bottle from secondary market -opaque muddled dark red minimal bricking -low key cassis -med/med- acidity, med weight dense thick textured soft earth tobacco, med/med- tannins with average length -this bottle shows faded fruit and not much complexity but there are few overt mature elements present either, overall pleasant for older classic cab fans
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One of my favorite montelenas because many in wine press dismissed it due to an off year. Cassis and dark berry nose, immediately delicious with briary red fruit and even after 20 hours open still has a vibrant mid palate finish of 15 seconds. I bought a case of this and wish I had bought two cases! Fruit is just now getting some baked cherry notes but not at all sappy. I have enjoyed every single bottle of this case as it has never gone dumb.
Big red and dark fruits fruits, good amount of oak. Full bodied with almost a hoisin sauce quality to it. Just over the hill now, can tell this used to be quite nice.
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Gave it a 1 hour decant and returned it to the bottle for the trip to the restaurant. The wine had opened up and paired very well with elk and beef filet. "It was very good",said the wife.
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Opened at a restaurant for 20th anniversary. Cork cane out soft and this was stored in a vinotech at 54 F. The initial nose was earthy and a hint of must. The mouth was full of dark cranberry, cooked cherry, and soft silky tannins. The wine popped with steak and was enjoyable through the 2 hour window and opened up a little better at the end. I would have thought this to be a left bank Bordeaux and not at all from California. This is a wine going past its prime and should have been drunk a few years past. If you have this, then don't push it into a few more years!
Had been several years since my last bottle.Like most older Montelenas, you need to give the wine time to open. Started out a little thin and acidic. After 2 hours in the decanter decant, it opened and showed much better. Still dark ruby to purple in color. minimal browning at the edges. Still acts much younger than it is. Aromas of black cherry, leather, earth, currant, and smoke. The flavors mirror the nose with black cherry, earth, black currant. The finish has softened nicely. The tannins are smooth and lead to a long finish. In a really good place now, but based on previous wines, should hold for years and may even improve.Would not be afraid to hold another 10-20 years.
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This had a hint of cherry syrup/Kirsch notes, slightly round compared to the '95 GPL, with sweet old plum, stewed cherry, but savory, brown sauce, anise, and slight prune. Went to CdP, but should have picked up the darker earth tones and ripeness of CA cab. Blind at Brian's.
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Subpar for Montelena, though still perhaps a success for the vintage. This lacks the fruit I'd like it to have to balance the marked pyrazine note and savoriness. Balance and mouthfeel impeccable and fairly bordelaise without a strong oak note.
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Maybe not up to other vintages of Montelena but very good nevertheless. Out of half bottle, showing delicious dark fruit, earth and mineral flavors, smooth and elegant.
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With a grilled steak, couldn't be a better match. Because of the match, maybe not worth quite the 92, but this vintage is at it's apex. But Montelena lasts forever... good for another 5-10 years while gaining complexity and aromatics, while losing a tad of fruit.
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Nose: Earthy baked plum aromas, smoke, brett and sweet herb notes. Palate: Very nice black cherry accented with mint, tomato leaf, spice and some ash/smoke. Finish: Long with good acidity that keeps the darker flavors of plum lifted and balanced with loamy earth and herb.
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This wine was one of the first "higher end" bottles I ever tasted back when I was just starting to get into wine so wanted to revisit this to see where it's at. Quite nice, very smooth and elegant now. Nose was plum and the palate was more on the red currant side. Fruit is receding but definitely still present although it's just part of the package now. Not particularly noteworthy in an way but fun to experience a fully mature Napa classic.
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US Cabernet Sauvignon: Some plum, spices and black currants - the latter verging on extract; Smooth but still with some structure, big bodied, moderate length, some tannin.
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Tremendous flavor; needed to open, but once opened fantastic bouquet (earthy), excellent mouth feel, a great experience...and a great story behind the label!
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The cork simply fell to pieces, so I was concerned. But the wine was in good shape and opened up nicely. It was mature and supple. I recall this year may not have had the greatest reputation, possibly even some Brett. But, I enjoyed this bottle very much and the left over was good the next day. I think this is ready to go and don't see anything to be gained by holding this vintage longer.
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This wine is beautiful. 98 doesn't have a great reputation compared to 97, but I believe some wines like this are better for aging. Nicely balanced, soft, round tannins. Very enjoyable.
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At Musso & Frank's: Excellent shape, ripe dark cassis softening up with a bit of caramel, underbrush, shrooms. Oak is just a little over present in this however--probably at the height/in the era of excessive oak use in Napa cabs? Still, excellent balance, silky, dark roasted notes, perfect with prime rib. I was afraid of the '98 vintage but in recent years I've had quite a few good '98 cabs, whereas the '97's have taken somewhat of a dive.
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Showing a lot of vintag character. Quite expressive, but a little thin and weedy in the middle. Decent complexity though. Fruit is mostly tertiary at this point.
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Drank on New Years Eve over 1.5 hours. Nice soft fruity nose on opening. First taste was of amazing vanilla bean flavor that faded slowly during the time we drank it. Perhaps should have drank this a year ago but it was a very nice wine typical of a French Bordeaux. The wine looks violet colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle.
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Not really sure why the negative notes on this wine. Although not super complex, this wine exhibited exactly what Napa Valley is all about. Not over saturated like so many other over achieving wines, but rather just right for food matching. Perhaps it's because my bottle was a 6 liter example that allowed it to mature so well as compared to the .75 liter versions. ...wishing I had another one.
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This wine has a definite taste, smoothness and drinkability to it. (where have I heard that?) I downgraded it a year ago, and pulled a bottle tonight expecting to delegate the rest to the barbeque bin. But there is something here, a smattering of blueberry on the nose, and dusty mature tannins on the palate which somehow elegantly integrate with the cherry-rhubarb pie fruit. It goes down easily without calling undue attention to itself. A perfect wine for a quite night with an old book.
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Cork split upon opening and there was lots of sediment on the bottle. Nose of tobacco and berry. Good berry flavors, smooth, with reduced tannins. Last bottle
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Decanted for 3 hours. It needed the time. Started out on the thin acidic side. After the 3 hour decant, it blossomed into a really nice wine. I find many people don't give these wines enough time to fully open and show their stuff. Still dark ruby to purple in color. no browning at the edges. Aromas of black cherry, leather, earth, currant, and smoke. The flavors mirror the nose with black cherry, earth, black currant. A touch acidic in the finish. The tannins are smooth and lead to a long finish. A little more evolved than most Montelena Estate wines at this age. Still showing very well. It may improve with age, but will certainly hold for years.
- Ruby color. It's somewhat balanced with a medium body. Satin-Like texture with a medium finish - Dry cork that crumbled on opening. May not be the best example. Mellow nose with a smooth finish. Still a nice wine, but reaching its end of life. Dink in the next year maybe two.
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Decent dark red fruit, faded just a bit by now. Some spice and fairly prominent acidity. Definitely on the more traditional side of Cal Cabs, but not showing a lot of complexity in terms of secondary notes.
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Decanted, tasted over 3 hrs and day 2 -opaque dark ruddy red/purple -stoic dark fruits partially obscured by mild TCA -med acidity, palate slightly muted, underlying bitter black and red fruits with good length -slightly corked and hard to evaluate but nonetheless still pleasant, plenty of life left
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90s Napa Cabernet Dinner (Jade Palace Seafood Restaurant, Forum): Finally come to the last wine of the night, I was a little doubtful why this was arranged as the last but I was told that this was the tightest wine of all when opened. Decanted for 3 hours, very dark and almost opaque, darkest wine of the night, some brickish edge. Barnyard and leather nose with blackcurrant on background. Big robust wine, blackcurrant, roasted coffee beans, blackberry, dark fruits and tobacco. Good finish with soft grippy tannins. The nose showing secondary development but the palate was complex with nice fruits concentration. Clearly not build to last and drinking well now, but it should be one of the better wine in '98. 13.9% ABV.
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Bought at charity auction. Cork in very good shape. Dark red. Fully mature with some dark fruit hanging around. Grilled meat on the nose and dominating the moderately complex secondary flavor profile. I probably would have liked this better in its younger days.
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Overall very good. Not as good as other vintages I have had. Probably peaking right now which is surprising considering I had an 01' recently that tasted youthful.
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Quite enjoyable. Poured thru a Vinturi and drank right away. Nicely balanced. Just enough fruit with the tannins. Certainly won't get any better so drink up. Cellared since released.
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A bit closed at first but opened up nicely with about 15 min in the decanter. Other wines consumed that night included 98 Dunn Napa, and 98 Dunn Howell Mtn. Prob the best of the 3. Drink up now.
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A excellent wine that is very dark with a ruby color. Smells include a noticeable fine leather, chocolate, and black cherry notes. Bottle was decanted for about an hour and then enjoyed. The wine was tannic and requires some swirling, but it was well worth the work. An excellent example of the fine work that can be accomplished by professionals based in the Napa Valley. This wine still has legs and should be good for another 5+ years.
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Takes about 30 minutes to open up. Wonderful soft tannins and cherry fruit flavor. Smooth and a long lingering finish. Still good for another five years.
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No Brett in this bottle, but apparently it wasn't the Brett that ate the fruit in the last bottle. It's just gone. Mature tannins, some graphite and cedar in the nose but I have inadvertently overstored this.
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Very dark red color. Decanted for an hour and drank 2+ glasses over 2.5hrs. Nose is nice right off the bat, showing some ripe cassis and dark cherry notes with licorice, graphite, and cedar box. The palate is much slower to evolve and integrate; it is quite tannic and woody on the front end. Patience and swirling soften this considerably and the pedigree emerges with ripe cassis, black cherry, hints of blackberry, licorice, graphite, firm briary tannins and medium finish. This became very good after another hour in glass and was getting even better as the bottle concluded.
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Quite enjoyable. Fruit was still there along with just enough tannins and structure. Certainly won't get any better so drink up. Cellared since released.
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A classic nose of pencil lead and dark, brambly berry fruit. Much less fruit-driven than most examples of the genre (as well as other vintages of this wine) but lovely in savory way. On the palate, it had chalky tannins and medium body with good balance and structure. A pleasure to drink now and probably for a few more years.
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Sampled 8/27/12. After opening one bottle that had to go down the drain because of TCA, I thought how unlucky could I be? Apparently, this was my night to win the bad news lottery. Although not as overwhelminly corked as the first bottle opened, the hint of TCA was there and within 15 minutes it was in noxious bloom. Down the drain it too went.
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Sampled 8/27/12. Really soft cork and after extracting all the pieces the only thing that was on the nose was TCA. One of the worst TCA tainted bottles I've come across. Down the drain.
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smooth as a baby's behind, this wine from one of California's worst vintages shows what good gardening and winemaking can produce. It's still deep garnet with a spicy nose of dark fruits and a palate-coating assault of multi-dimensional sensory experiences. Unlikely to evolve further but not dead yet, as Monty Python would say.
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Lovely medium to dark ruby color. Rich long slow legs. Nose of cassis, licorice and blueberry... A little different than the last bottle but still wonderful. Complex and layered powerful but with some finesse. In addition to the nice fruit the layers of cedar, licorice and creme brûlée and a hint of tobacco. Still lots of life left. Writing this note 5 hours after decanting and it's still evolving and improving.
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Over the hill. Fruit is aging quickly -- tasted a bit better after breathing for 30 minutes, but not what it once was (ten years ago). This once was terrific.
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What a dramatic improvement from the last bottle tasted almost s month ago. Beautiful color, mature but far from over the hill. Little color degradation. Very viscous long legs. Nose is smooth and feminine. It has a luscious silky fruity scent of blackberry, tea and cassis. It had a pleasant earthy Bordeaux-like scent like a Pauillac at first with a touch of bret. It kept opening for 5 hours and kept improving. The taste was very silky on the palate too with a hint of spice and vanilla in addition to the red fruits (especially dark cherry) and tea. This is a delight to drink!
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Never, ever, ever pop and pour Chateau Montelena cabs. They need lots and lots of air. They should always be decanted and need hours and sometimes days to fully develop. This one had a luscious nose as I was decanting it with explosive fruit. But after half an hour it closed off and had a funky nose I have never smelled before in a Montelena wine. I think it may be slightly "corked" or otherwise flawed. I've drunk enough Montelena to know this bottle is not normal. And I've had this year before and not had any issues with it. The nose after 4 hours still has a vegetal smell combined with tar and smoke that isn't really that pleasant. The flavors seem dried out but are there under some sort of camouflage. I've got more and will have to check another out soon.
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Popped & poured. Age has been kind to this wine. Best bottle yet and a great wine for the vintage. Red cherries and cassis on the palate with a dash of herbs on the finish. Held up well on day two, with some tannin emerging then. Drink or hold. Enjoyed with Raclette cheese and crackers.
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Popped and poored. Initially a funky smell which faded after about 15 minutes. Dusty and earthy on the nose and palate. Well balanced, with dark fruit, leather, a hint of wood. A medium-long finish. Not as good as I remember when I first tried this at a tasting several years ago. Seems to have started to fade, but is fading in style. Paired well with escargot.
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After experiencing a very lightly corked bottle, I decided to open my lone remaining '98 Montelena. Scintillating ruby color; rich, fragrant, and complex. Slightly sweet red cherry fruit; pencil lead, fresh herbs, eucalyptus, and a hint of mint. Nicely balanced. Long finish. Classically old-school Napa Cab that should continue to age gracefully.
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Disagree with some other reviewers - Check your cellars - purchased from winery - we popped, poured and drank at Gulfstream with Cedar Plank Salmon and Ahi Burger. Drank from split and this was reaching peak. Certainly not on downslope. Montelena has never been a big over the top heady cab. It is balanced and polished. In addition, 1998 was not a year for hard gripping tannins. This was an incredible wine from a difficult vintage. After about 1 hour, the last glass displayed a little more fruit opening some slightly tart rasperberry. Color in the glass was deep purple. Typical notes of eucalyptus and dark fruit in the bouquet.
In splits, drink now through 2014 if properly stored, 750's (I still havent opened one), I would assume you can drink now through 2018-2020 (again, if properly stored and held since purchase). Again, I bought mine from the winery and know when they were shipped.
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This wine, which used to be great, is showing its age, despite correct cellaring. The fruit is far less than it used to be and the wine seems to be thinning out.
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I love it when you open a wine for a special moment and it just doesn't disappoint. Our last night in Hana at Hale Hana Inn sitting out on the porch overlooking an ancient Koi Pond eating our only home cooked meal of our trip. Fresh grilled rib eye steaks, potatoes and mixed greens salad. This was a special wine. '98 is an under-appreciated vintage for Napa Cab and this wine is really showing off its' stuff right now. Opened and let it air for almost an hour. Still showing black currant fruit, leather, cedar, pencil shavings on the nose and palate which was silky smooth and a lingering finish with dusty integrated tannins that goes on and on. Each sip seemed to get better and better. Too bad it wasn't a magnum, we probably would have drained it! I love it when a plan comes together.
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At dinner served with grilled lamb it was excellent but did not measure up to the '98 or '02. Next time I'll serve it on it's own and all will find it wonderful.
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Some random exclusive wines (@ TBa): A little eucalyptus and dark fruits in the bouquet. On the palate a lot of ripe black fruit juice e.g. blackberries. Full bodied and modern made lush wine, but with elegance as well. Ready now and for the next few years.
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Black fruit with plum and earth and a little herbal element (but not distracting). Nicely balanced. Does not seem OTH but would give this wine a three more years before it starts to decline.
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Decanted for sediment and drank side by side with the 1990. Very similar garnet color. Nose of dusty red fruits, cherries and spice. Light to medium bodied with red fruit palate, some oak notes and a bit of an herbal streak. 30 second finish with brighter red fruits, some clove and cedar. Fully mature. Drink short term.
This suffered in comparison to the 1990. It was very similar profile, just smaller in every way, but still a very good bottle of wine.
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Decanted for a hour before tasting. No bricking. Nose of black fruits, some wood and a little funk. Palate of darkfruits cedar n leather. Ina good place. We drank alongside a 90 that showed what this might attain down the road ( a but softer on the palate ), our wine of the night. Drink or hold.
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Wow. I've had some other older Montelena vintages in the past (including this one, I think), but this particular bottle was something special. There was still a ton of buoyant blackcurrant and cherry fruit, with a minty overtone on the nose. There was no old rubber or Brett on the nose either, which I can sometimes detect on Napa wines, whether good or bad. The taste followed through on the nose with ripe blackcurrant, sweet leather, and minty cedar. The finish is what really sets this apart from other wines. You know how you sometimes drink a wine and say to yourself, "Woh!", after you taste it and your knees melt because the finish is so good. This bottle was one of those. This bottle exemplifies why I drink wine. You cannot duplicate this experience with any other kind of consumable.
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Pop and pour out of 375. Hitting it's stride right now. Opaque purple color, no bricking at all. Class Cali cab with dark fruits and some leather on the palate. Nice powerful nose. For a not so great year, a great wine.
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Nose of black fruits. Wonderful blackberry and black cherry taste with some earth, tobacco and herbs. Not as vibrant as the 3.0L I had last December but a long way to go before this pup runs out of steam.
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still very young, and it would have been better if I aged it for another 10 years... But it was very enjoyable. Nose of mint, pine needle, a bit smoky, ripe and sweet fruit with cedar. I could still feel the sharpness of the alcohol. Full-bodied and concentrated, but the tannins have started to soften so it was actually pretty smooth on the palate.
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Showed very well shortly after decanting. No need to wait more than 15 minutes. Drink and enjoy now. Likely has 1-2 years left before it will start to decline.
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Very nice, at peak. Deep, dark cherry, with briar, bramble, smooth tannins, and hints of clove and leather. This should maintain its strength for another few years, but drinking is now is a no-brainer.
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decanted 1 hour ..dark cherry red color..with light red/brick at edges...a somewhat hot nose of purple plum, black cherry, black raspberry, which markedly faded over the next hour or so..the mid palate is watery...with less fruit than one would expect from the nose..the tannins are still there...but there is not enough fruit to balance them.. this wine is past whatever prime it had..I love Montelena...however, this disappoints
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Decanted for one hour; nice brickish red color. Nose displayed subtle scents of deep dark cherries and cocoa. Texture was smooth, with an earthy taste, but fruit is still present. Drank this against a 2003, the 1998 has lost much of it's oak. Overall, a very well balanced wine with several more years of life left in it.
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Performed well even as a pop-n-pour. Wonderful complexity, with an old-world feel (even though it's a Napa Cab). It also evolved nicely over the course of our dinner. A few years yet to go on this one. Many thanks to rwilk_2000 for sharing this one.
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Out of 3L at Christmas lunch at Joe's Seafood (no formal notes). Pehaps it was the fun atmosphere of a Christmas lunch with good friends but the Monty in this double mag was fantastic. Great texture. Wonderful nose of brambles and black fruit. Tates of earth and blackberries with a bit of sour cherries. Wonderful balance.
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Stored in Vinotemp fridge since purchase several years ago. Nice nose and lovely dark ruby color. I think it is holding up nicely. Tanins are pretty much non existant. Very jammy on the nose after opening. After an hour or so of air it has a pretty mellow earthy taste. Think I will wait a bit longer with my last bottle.
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Tasted in double-blind fashion. This bottle was bad, although not obviously flawed (corked, oxidized, heat damaged, etc.). Very under-ripe and astringent, it was literally painful to drink. Virtually all tasters had the same impression. Perhaps another bottle would show differently. If I owned the wine, I would taste it again and unload any remaining bottles if the result was the same.
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Consumed from 375ml. This was not as good as a 750ml we had at Christmas, but still holding its own. Beautiful nose; a bit muddled on the palate. Personally, I'll drink my last 750ml in the next 6 months, as I suspect this is nearing the end of its peak window.
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An overall good bottle. Jammy black fruit, full in the mouth with a medium lingering finish. I can't imagine this improving and is most likely at it's peak.
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Winery: Complex fennel, mixed berries, pot pouri, still fresh small blk & blueberries; complex cedar, soft, fine rich t’s; hint menthol; this is something else. Beautiful and graceful and complex.
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This bottle screams Bordeaux in every way. Not much in the way of fruit on the nose or palate (some restrained blackberry), rather earthy, leathery, mushroom-like flavors quietly mingle on a silky mouthfeel. Very nice; this has aged much better than I thought from a tough vintage.
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Montelena always consistent, always a pleasure. This 98 is just getting into its own. Always elegant, not forward or alcohol-heavy like many California Cabernets.
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Chateau Montelena Vertical: Massive nose, with plum, black berries and a generous helping of dung. Light fruit, lots of aged leather. Probably at peak, but not over the hill. Medium body, silky tannins, light-medium acidity. Licorace, mushrooms.
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Not as impressed as I thought I would be, esp. based on the reviews below. Decanted for 3 hours. Silky smoooooooth. Nose showed some dark fruits and oak. Palate demonstrated oak, tar and a bit of fruit......but truly lacked balance, missing on the fruit end.
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This was probably the fourth favorite out of a group of new and old world Bordeaux blends shared by our snowed in dinner party and it was outstanding. This wine was characterized by a deep dark pool of black fruit highlighted by accents of earth tobacco and mineral. It was smooth as silk and delicious in a definite new world way.
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taste: great medium feel on the palate with a lot of bordeaux-like qualities providing tones of tobbacco, cranberry, cedar, dark cherries, and bits of cassis
overall: a lovely wine. Elegant and silky with great length and tastefully refined tannins. This is just right in the pocket right now and is extremely enjoyable and is just a real delight to drink
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Very nice my first Montelena. Deep purple full of fruit and tannins that seem to melt in your mouth as the finish lingers. I will definitely be drinking more Montelena.
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Decanted for about an our. Served just above cellar temp. A wonderful wine. Too bad I only had one bottle. Smooth as silk. Nice lingering finish. Did I say this was excellent?
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Hard to believe but this one might have gone past its peak. Drank same bottle two months ago and was excellent (92+). Might have been exposed to some heat at some time. Disappointing.
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Really impressive. Lesser vintage? Not in the least. Beautiful deep red color. Terrific aromatics of black fruit, cedar, tobacco, and beautiful earthiness. In the mouth, still youthful but drinking very well. Beautifully concentrated fruit that's bolstered by tremendous complexity, good acidity, and a long finish that still shows plenty of tannins, as one would expect from Montelena. An awesome wine that's so easy to drink. A-
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This bottle was in great shape. An opaque purple core, turning to ruby-red at the rim. A bit reserved on the nose, but with some coaxing offered up scents of ripe dark fruits, smoky oak and spice. Medium-bodied on the palate, with noticeable structure and tannins. Not a particularly generous style, but it did pair well with the food.
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Recommend decanting. Unfortunately, I popped and poured and let breathe in the glass for 1/2 hour. No formal notes, but wine did not show as well as at a tasting at the winery last summer. Nice nose that was reserved at first and kept opening. Palate was a little more green than I remember, and finish was rather short. Alas, last 1/2 glass was much better. I thought this would be singing, as it was showing better than the 01 at the above tasting. I'll decant the next one.
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Had with Daniel Boulud's braised beef rib recipe (Epicurious.com) - what a great complement to the food, it was like drinking silk and the dish and sauce are the same. They were both so good.
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Purchased off the wine list at Niche Restaurant. The first bottle was corked. Bottle number two was quickly opened and decanted. Garnet color. Opened with an earthy, leathery note. This was ordered as we placed our order, so a couple of glasses were poured and set aside. With air it developed a note of new saddle leather, along with aromas of plum, cedar and violets. On the palate this displayed plummy dark fruit and blackberry flavors, along with fine grained tannin and a touch of spicy oak. Quite thin through the midpalate and finish.
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Caution on your drinking window. This was opened and sat in the bottle at room temp for 2 hrs, based on a recent tasting of this at the winery. This was an excellent wine, very bordeaux-like, during its first three-four hours (after opening) then became much more watery and then just started falling apart. A great '98 in the prime of its life; with an impressive and very expressive nose. Bring this to room temp, then pop and pour in my recommendation.
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With beef bourgogne. Dusty nose, high toned red raspberry fruit, but very restrained. Very little color deterioration. Great secondary flavors. Could pass for a bdx. This is probably at or near its peak. Still has years on it, but I don't think it's going to get better.
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Nose gave off decent berry and leather. On the palate did not get as much fruit as anticipated. Balanced, medium to full bodied and a little strong on the tannins. I think its losing some structure and getting tired. Still a quality wine but I will be drinking the rest soon.
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solid structure; still a nice balance of fruit... very earthy initially and then opened up to show some fruit. has probably a year or two until its over the hill
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Sometimes when you open a bottle of wine the nose hits you just right and the palate follows. This was one of those wines. Instantly, the nose was one of red fruits and leather. The palate was red currants, pomegranite and leathery earth. The tannins were detectable but not offputting and softened with the second glass. A perfect foil for hamburgers and screaming kids on a cold, Ohio night.
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Enjoyable if somewhat subdued. Dark ruby color, a quiet nose of dark fruit, spice and forest. Smooth drinking with medium-body, integrated tannin. Christmas Eve dinner of beef tenderloin and stuffed potatoes at home with the girls and BAB.
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Paired with Filet Mignons in a Cabernet Port Wine Sauce for Christmas Eve dinner. Decanted for one hour after opening, and the bottle was very nice and smooth. Drinking very well now.
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WIML90. Last bottle. Finally settled in and started showing well. Just pop and decant for sediment only which it's showing a fair amount. Drink over the short term is my recommendation.
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Not a special year in Napa. A lot like a good Pauillac, cedar and eucalyptus, blackberries, deep and still quite closed, compact structure, good length. Needs time.
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All the Estates were very dark. Fabulous nose of dark fruits, tobacco and leather. Full to medium bodied, concentrated with all tannin resolved. Better nose than palate. Was this really a bad year?
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Tasted as part of a 1996-2002 Chateau Montelena vertical tasting. The ’98 certainly proved to be a solid wine – but seems to lack much of the potential offered by the ’96 and ’97. Big spicy nose, as usual, with a softer palate full of black cherry. Overall, a bit too acidic and tannic when compared against the previous two vintages. Still, a very fine Cabernet.
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Decanted 2 hours and it was still very tannic. Hour 3 it began to soften and show its fruit - red currants, cassis with a little tobacco and acidity to hold it up. A very good cab in a less-than stellar vintage.
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What a lovely wine! This was a gift to me....I opened it tonight and had it with a grilled porterhouse dry aged steak. Lovely! Not giving a lot on the nose, as others have mentioned, but on the palate...explosive fruit that is balanced and very old world like. Deep maroon colour, after 2 hours in the glass, minimal notes on the nose of cedar and cigar box; on the palate with just a hint of alchohol signalling New World, lots of plums, cassis, and cigar....still relatively primary but lush! What a lovely wine. I so enjoyed it I ordered almost a case more at under $60/bottle! Great QPR for what it is....a Bordeaux-like wine that tonight is singing.
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Still don't understand the difference in opinion between WS and WA on the Montelena's. I tend to side with Parker in my tastings. This was definitely not past its prime as some would suggest. Was a classic napa cabernet and and nice achievment for 1998.
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1998 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate Napa Valley. That was a mouthful of a title. Elegant nose, almost Bordeaux like except for the slightly higher oak. Nice dark fruits, not overpowering, good balance, restrained and elegant, and a good amount of acidity and bit of earth. $125
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Chateau Montelena Tasting (The Peninsula Hotel (Chicago)): The chef prepared spiced baby lamb chops with a sweet fennel jam with this wine. Good pairing. This wine had a little skunkiness on the nose but it blew off with some swirling. A round wine but not overly deep. Notes of black cherry and ripe tomato which I probably picked up from the firm acidity. Light to medium bodied. A drink now wine (or at least over the next few years). I don't think this is a long ager. 88 points.
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Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Vertical Tasting (Lake Forest, CA): Strong nose of tobacco and cedar. While still quite tannic, I was able to eke out some loam, leather, dark chocolate, and sage. What I wasn't able to get was fruit. Not terrible by any means, but it certainly did not wow me. 87-88 points.
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This wine was very Bordeaux-like, with subtle black fruit which opened up as the wine reached room temperature! This wine continued to improve with each glass. Impressive.
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Opened initially at 5pm. Atr first it was a little restrained with some brett on the nose. That blew off after about an hour. Put half the bottle into a 375 for later. After 2 hours was a soft, round nice wine full of black friuts. Left the remainder in the decantur the rest of the night.
Next day at noon it really had picked up alot of flavor, lots of currant and lead pencil. Really started to take on somewhat of a Montelena profile. Will open the other half bottle in the 375 tomorrow to see what has developed. All in all, a good $50 to $60 wine, would probably go and find more at that price (alot of storees have it discounted since it was an off vintage). No where near the '87, '95, '97 or '01 that I have had of theirs, but not the price either.
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Still tight, still very young, but oh, does this wine sing with food. Alone, as an aperitif, tannic and youthful, gobs of fruit but a tad closed. With a breast of duck, it came alive.
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90 mins open, not decanted, before tasting. About at its best within the first 90 mins. Good fruit, tannic balance, but still lacking depth that's evident in much of the vintage. Still, a good drinker at the right price and in the coming 2-5+ years.
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Chateau Montelena vertical (1973-2002) (Bellevue, WA): Nice showing for a wine from a weak vintage. The nose is brooding with hints of leather and a faint note of bell pepper. The palate shows some tobacco and is nice and spicy. Group average 90.2 pts.
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Deep purple. Ever slight hint of lighter purple ruby at the rim. Nose initially tight.. not showing anything but "In your face cassis" and tar. Opened up more at 3 hrs but not very expressive. Tobacco, stones, stalky! I agree with Eric... very "Dark", brooding on the palate. Moderate weight with good structure and body. Tannins are sweetish but reserved. Length is good but not up to par with other vintages of this wine that I have tried. This does not show well alone but does have the structure to pair with food well. In fact I would NOT recommend serving this wine without red meat or cheese accompaniment; in this case a well hung Prime Rib. I was going to follow with an older Diamond Creek cab... but the guests liked this so much that they insisted that we open another! ..... So I did!
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Full rich color, not quite opaque, but dark purple. The nose was tight, but after decanting awhile, it opened a little, spicey dark fruit emerged as it opened. A smooth grip with pleasing fruit and even tannins as it opened...this needs a little time, don't expect it's best at opening. Paired with an old fashioned pot roast and vegtables, and I am glad I gave it a chance as it was food friendly.
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Day Trip to Napa (Napa Valley CA): Tasting at winery. Moderate black fruit with good spice, everything in balance today, supported by good acidity. Drink now through 2013.
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A vertical of Montelena for a good cause: Touch of brown sugar? On this wine. Toast and vanilla. Someone suggested it tasted like nickel. I suppose they meant the metal. Anyway, this was very nice for a 1998.
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Decanted for an hour consumed over 4. At its best @ 2-3 hours. Light w/ fruit a faily subtle wine not a bash you over the head type. I think it is ready to drink. Needs food n not one to stand on its own.
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immediately upon opening, the bouquet was open and lovely. it's been in the decanter for the last 3 hours, and it has barely budged. however, i don't feel the wine is closed, just over extracted in an attempt to salvage something out of the vintage. dusty, dry, austere, unyielding fruit. boring. if only the tasting could follow up the promising nose. not undrinkable, but never have i been so happy to have consumed my only bottle of a wine. i know RP gave this 93 big ones.
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13.9% alcohol. 11,000 cases made. Puchased locally at Pogos for $65.00. Opened and decanted for 45 minutes prior to serving in Spiegelau Authentis Magnum glasses. Color was a dark, slightly opaque garnet. Nose was herbal with some white pepper and tobacco. Flavors were mostly black berries and currants wrapped inside an earthy frame. 88 points. Drink again in 2004 to reevaluate. Should drink well from 2004 to 2006.
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Rareshides tasting at Maguire's: Old wood, bitter cocoa powder, cardboard, cigar smoke. Sweetish fruit. Grown up. A bit herbal. Okay. Tastes sharp next to the Pahlmeyer Merlot.
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Tasted at vertical Chateau Montelena tasting at the home of Amy Weinberg. Bright disc. Deep purple/ruby with purple rim. Clean nose, showing moderately intense, slightly stemmy currants, cassis, anise and earth. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, with medium, slightly astringent tannins and similar flavors as for the nose. Long, astringent finish.
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saturated purple color ... generous nose with lots of sweet fruit and a hint of green vegetable ... mouth-puckering tannins, high acidity and a good amount of fruit ... will a complex, well balanced wine , but a bit awkward right now ... long finish, though a bit dry
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2/23/2024 - rgawlowski Likes this wine: 92 Points
It’s a lovely wine; still with life; nice, dark fruit, broken tannins; great nose and finish.
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12/31/2023 - Redteeth wrote:
I carefully removed the cork with an Ah-So, it was in decent shape but was fragile. The wine was decanted about five hours before serving. The wine was dark in color and had a modest nose. There was modest sediment in the bottle. It was nice to drink and has held up very well for 25 years.
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11/18/2023 - Matt.dubois9 Likes this wine:
Great tasting wine after decanting for a long time
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8/11/2023 - Rieslingfan wrote:
Like the 1998 Insignia I had a few weeks ago, this Montelena dispels the common opinion of 1998 as a poor vintage in Napa Cabernet. It just wasn’t 1997. Still plenty of deep black cherry fruit, along with a dash of vanilla, and some emerging cedar and leather elements. Moderate tannic structure, so that with the fruit there is still ample life, and enjoyment left in an underrated vintage of this Napa stalwart. Drink now and for many years to come.
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7/3/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine: 91 Points
Consistent with prior note (a good, not great Montelena). Still drinking well; in a good place. Opened about 7 hours before, not decanted. Probably would have benefited a bit from a short decant before serving.
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6/6/2023 - Margaux Bro Likes this wine: 94 Points
From a magnum - still plenty of life. Very classic napa and quite enjoyable. If you're holding large format, there is still plenty of life left here.
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1/15/2023 - Rightbankrefreshment Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still has some life left. PnP. Drank over 2 hrs.
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8/27/2022 - Chazwine18 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Bought a case from auction, decanted 1 hour and tasted every 15 min. Amazing to taste the change from neutral to a full bodied party on the palate and everything one would expect from CM. It is not past its prine
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5/15/2022 - Geaux Tigers wrote: flawed
Bad bottle? Bad vintage? Past prime? I know this was stored well since purchase, so that wasn’t it. This is no way reflects my usual experience with aged Montelena. I’m marking this as flawed but no wet cardboard. Earth, green olive, touch of medicinal cherry that faded completely after 30 min. Had to move to plan B for dinner.
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5/7/2022 - jamesabdavis wrote:
Rather intriguing nose with a sort of peachy fruit and white flower personality. Not very Cabernet!
Mid-weight palate, under-ripe and lean for a Cali cab. Leafy flavours.
Finish is again lacking a bit in richness but balanced.
A delicious wine, very elegant, not at all what I was expecting.
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3/22/2022 - Nothung Likes this wine: 91 Points
A good, not great Montelena.
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11/4/2021 - llink wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured, a lot of sediment, could have used a couple of hours in a decanter. Dry cork, broke in half, use the Durand next time. Deep nose, shows tobacco, coffee grinds, blackberries and some cedar. Very deep palate, Bordeaux-like, medium weight, medium tannins with an austere finish.
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10/31/2021 - AlanM68 wrote: flawed
Sadly corked.
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10/24/2021 - DennisYoung wrote:
Smooth, very drinkable. Notes of blackberry
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9/4/2021 - mkparker wrote:
na
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6/11/2021 - Cote d'Or wrote:
Decanted, tasted over 3 hrs, bottle from secondary market
-dark red purple mild bricking
-mature nose
-med acidity, faint core of dusty fruit and mature elements, med tannins
-this bottle not dead but not particularly interesting right now either
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5/7/2021 - Charlie C Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dark red in color with some fading at the rim. Bright cherry nose with tobacco notes. Precise, bright fruit on the palate, cherries, raspberries, tobacco. Beautifully resolved tannins, good acidity, great balance. Throwing some light sediment. Finishes bright and lingering. A smooth, elegant wine at 23 years old. I think this will drink well for at least another 3 to 5 years. I stood this upright for a few hours but did not decant it, nor do I think it needed decanting.
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5/6/2021 - Mdb1982 Likes this wine: 95 Points
This wine was fantastic, very enjoyable wine. I wish I had more than just the one bottle.
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4/5/2021 - ShadowIII Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark purple, still with loads of currant, cassis, some plum and dark fruit notes, developed layers of complexity over time in the glass, pencil lead, cedar, tobacco, leather, 2 bottles from the same cellar at dinner for 4.
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1/27/2021 - pkouchu wrote: 92 Points
black currant, blackberries, leather, funky earth, mushroom, and anise.
slight brett, the wine is more or less smoothed out, definitely declining. nice acidity though.
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8/25/2020 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine: 96 Points
Simply an incredible wine drinking extremely well right now!
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7/3/2020 - hsacks Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium red color. Aromas of black currants, leather, cola and wood spices. Medium-bodied nicely structured fruit in the mouth with very good depth and length. Still very fresh with ample tannins in the finish. This was a fine effort for a 22 year Cab from a mediocre vintage.
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5/10/2020 - no leashes wrote: 91 Points
Delicious dark fruit, chocolate and a hint of pepper. Smooth and mouth coating. Even out of .375 this wine is still alive and beautiful.
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1/19/2020 - grapenomad wrote: 86 Points
The first Montelena Cab I've tried. Feels like the first time I tasted Latour - disappointing. Deep garnet in the glass. Muted nose with a few aromas of dried black fruit, fig and cedar scattered across the board. Mind you, this is after a 3.5-hour decant. Palate is soft and already disjointed. None of that ripe concentration you would expect from a Cab. Not much depth either. Past its prime, so if you still have this in your cellar, better drink it today.
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10/20/2019 - Dalex wrote: 87 Points
Third bottle I’ve consumed in 2 years. This was disappointing. Potentially poorly stored. I’ll nevwr know.
Thin, diluted, slightly acidic. Mediocre fruit. Completely one dimensional.
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4/14/2019 - Eye Drink Reds Likes this wine: 93 Points
As with most Montelenas, this 1998 had aged well. Although from a not-so-great vintage, this showed very nicely with an aromatic nose of dark cherry, ripe blackcurrants, smoked meats, and loamy earth. Plush and round on the palate with cherry pie, ripe blackcurrants and hint of cola. Tannins fully resolved with medium acidity. This was decanted for 2 hours, but honestly this did not need it and I feel it might have done better without a decant (92-93)
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11/22/2018 - llink wrote: 90 Points
Lovely nose, just starting to show mature aromas of saddle leather and some cassis. Light palate well balanced acidity and fruit. In a great spot.
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10/22/2018 - Cote d'Or wrote:
Decanted, tasted over 2 hrs, bottle from secondary market
-opaque muddled dark red minimal bricking
-low key cassis
-med/med- acidity, med weight dense thick textured soft earth tobacco, med/med- tannins with average length
-this bottle shows faded fruit and not much complexity but there are few overt mature elements present either, overall pleasant for older classic cab fans
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9/25/2018 - ElAzul Likes this wine: 92 Points
One of my favorite montelenas because many in wine press dismissed it due to an off year. Cassis and dark berry nose, immediately delicious with briary red fruit and even after 20 hours open still has a vibrant mid palate finish of 15 seconds. I bought a case of this and wish I had bought two cases! Fruit is just now getting some baked cherry notes but not at all sappy. I have enjoyed every single bottle of this case as it has never gone dumb.
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8/22/2018 - AlphaMikeFoxtrot wrote: 85 Points
Big red and dark fruits fruits, good amount of oak. Full bodied with almost a hoisin sauce quality to it. Just over the hill now, can tell this used to be quite nice.
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7/3/2018 - Ttrichey Likes this wine: 92 Points
Gave it a 1 hour decant and returned it to the bottle for the trip to the restaurant. The wine had opened up and paired very well with elk and beef filet. "It was very good",said the wife.
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1/26/2018 - aerosol Likes this wine: 91 Points
Opened at a restaurant for 20th anniversary. Cork cane out soft and this was stored in a vinotech at 54 F. The initial nose was earthy and a hint of must. The mouth was full of dark cranberry, cooked cherry, and soft silky tannins. The wine popped with steak and was enjoyable through the 2 hour window and opened up a little better at the end. I would have thought this to be a left bank Bordeaux and not at all from California. This is a wine going past its prime and should have been drunk a few years past. If you have this, then don't push it into a few more years!
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12/17/2017 - gharter Likes this wine: 91 Points
Had been several years since my last bottle.Like most older Montelenas, you need to give the wine time to open. Started out a little thin and acidic. After 2 hours in the decanter decant, it opened and showed much better. Still dark ruby to purple in color. minimal browning at the edges. Still acts much younger than it is. Aromas of black cherry, leather, earth, currant, and smoke. The flavors mirror the nose with black cherry, earth, black currant. The finish has softened nicely. The tannins are smooth and lead to a long finish. In a really good place now, but based on previous wines, should hold for years and may even improve.Would not be afraid to hold another 10-20 years.
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9/13/2017 - peternelson wrote: 90 Points
This had a hint of cherry syrup/Kirsch notes, slightly round compared to the '95 GPL, with sweet old plum, stewed cherry, but savory, brown sauce, anise, and slight prune. Went to CdP, but should have picked up the darker earth tones and ripeness of CA cab. Blind at Brian's.
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8/6/2017 - TJK Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still plenty of life left. This is so much better a wine than originally thought.
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7/4/2017 - doctornoah wrote: 89 Points
Subpar for Montelena, though still perhaps a success for the vintage. This lacks the fruit I'd like it to have to balance the marked pyrazine note and savoriness. Balance and mouthfeel impeccable and fairly bordelaise without a strong oak note.
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6/27/2017 - no leashes wrote: 90 Points
Maybe not up to other vintages of Montelena but very good nevertheless. Out of half bottle, showing delicious dark fruit, earth and mineral flavors, smooth and elegant.
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2/12/2017 - WinoRick Likes this wine: 92 Points
With a grilled steak, couldn't be a better match. Because of the match, maybe not worth quite the 92, but this vintage is at it's apex. But Montelena lasts forever... good for another 5-10 years while gaining complexity and aromatics, while losing a tad of fruit.
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11/8/2016 - RockinCabs wrote: 91 Points
Nose: Earthy baked plum aromas, smoke, brett and sweet herb notes. Palate: Very nice black cherry accented with mint, tomato leaf, spice and some ash/smoke. Finish: Long with good acidity that keeps the darker flavors of plum lifted and balanced with loamy earth and herb.
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9/25/2016 - TJK Likes this wine: 92 Points
Just fantastic. Classic aged Montelena estate cab.
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9/25/2016 - TJK Likes this wine:
Gorgeous. Great aged bordeaux nuances.
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7/19/2016 - CJChampion Likes this wine: 93 Points
Loved it, wonderful open complex nose, dark fruit, medium full body and still good fruit. A very successful pick for my birthday!!!
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7/3/2016 - yeti575rider wrote: 91 Points
This wine was one of the first "higher end" bottles I ever tasted back when I was just starting to get into wine so wanted to revisit this to see where it's at. Quite nice, very smooth and elegant now. Nose was plum and the palate was more on the red currant side. Fruit is receding but definitely still present although it's just part of the package now. Not particularly noteworthy in an way but fun to experience a fully mature Napa classic.
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7/2/2016 - rpereira9 wrote:
Awesome. Smooth. Well balanced.
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5/14/2016 - aaronfeigin Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still drinking very well, not yet on the downslope of its life, but most likely right at the peak. Drink now.
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5/1/2016 - MarceloIdeses wrote: 93 Points
Lovely wine!
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4/15/2016 - gabird Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still fruit present in the wine. Opened and tasted over an hour session. Has held up well and enjoyed the many flavors of this vintage wine.
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2/2/2016 - LWI wrote: 90 Points
US Cabernet Sauvignon: Some plum, spices and black currants - the latter verging on extract; Smooth but still with some structure, big bodied, moderate length, some tannin.
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12/17/2015 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tasted a while back. I remember it being good for the vintage, dense dark fruit
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10/2/2015 - dansmack Likes this wine: 96 Points
Tremendous flavor; needed to open, but once opened fantastic bouquet (earthy), excellent mouth feel, a great experience...and a great story behind the label!
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9/2/2015 - Redteeth wrote:
The cork simply fell to pieces, so I was concerned. But the wine was in good shape and opened up nicely. It was mature and supple. I recall this year may not have had the greatest reputation, possibly even some Brett. But, I enjoyed this bottle very much and the left over was good the next day. I think this is ready to go and don't see anything to be gained by holding this vintage longer.
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5/8/2015 - aaronfeigin Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine is beautiful. 98 doesn't have a great reputation compared to 97, but I believe some wines like this are better for aging. Nicely balanced, soft, round tannins. Very enjoyable.
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4/30/2015 - peternelson wrote: 92 Points
At Musso & Frank's: Excellent shape, ripe dark cassis softening up with a bit of caramel, underbrush, shrooms. Oak is just a little over present in this however--probably at the height/in the era of excessive oak use in Napa cabs? Still, excellent balance, silky, dark roasted notes, perfect with prime rib. I was afraid of the '98 vintage but in recent years I've had quite a few good '98 cabs, whereas the '97's have taken somewhat of a dive.
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1/18/2015 - Nutty08 wrote: 90 Points
Showing a lot of vintag character. Quite expressive, but a little thin and weedy in the middle. Decent complexity though. Fruit is mostly tertiary at this point.
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12/31/2014 - willfab60 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drank on New Years Eve over 1.5 hours. Nice soft fruity nose on opening. First taste was of amazing vanilla bean flavor that faded slowly during the time we drank it. Perhaps should have drank this a year ago but it was a very nice wine typical of a French Bordeaux.
The wine looks violet colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle.
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7/25/2014 - wa2ofd wrote: 89 Points
Dark, purple/black color...subdued nose, with a mental flavor on the taste...will see if it improves the next day...
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6/13/2014 - S-C-S wrote: 91 Points
Still young ... decant the wine.
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5/19/2014 - Alexjr1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Not really sure why the negative notes on this wine. Although not super complex, this wine exhibited exactly what Napa Valley is all about. Not over saturated like so many other over achieving wines, but rather just right for food matching. Perhaps it's because my bottle was a 6 liter example that allowed it to mature so well as compared to the .75 liter versions. ...wishing I had another one.
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5/7/2014 - oncocyte Likes this wine: 90 Points
This wine has a definite taste, smoothness and drinkability to it. (where have I heard that?) I downgraded it a year ago, and pulled a bottle tonight expecting to delegate the rest to the barbeque bin. But
there is something here, a smattering of blueberry on the nose, and dusty mature tannins on the palate which somehow elegantly integrate with the cherry-rhubarb pie fruit. It goes down easily without calling undue attention to itself. A perfect wine for a quite night with an old book.
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4/20/2014 - KSWinegeek wrote: 92 Points
Cork split upon opening and there was lots of sediment on the bottle. Nose of tobacco and berry. Good berry flavors, smooth, with reduced tannins. Last bottle
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3/26/2014 - gharter wrote:
Decanted for 3 hours. It needed the time. Started out on the thin acidic side. After the 3 hour decant, it blossomed into a really nice wine. I find many people don't give these wines enough time to fully open and show their stuff. Still dark ruby to purple in color. no browning at the edges. Aromas of black cherry, leather, earth, currant, and smoke. The flavors mirror the nose with black cherry, earth, black currant. A touch acidic in the finish. The tannins are smooth and lead to a long finish. A little more evolved than most Montelena Estate wines at this age. Still showing very well. It may improve with age, but will certainly hold for years.
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3/3/2014 - Pointagrouse wrote: flawed
- Ruby color. It's somewhat balanced with a medium body. Satin-Like texture with a medium finish - Dry cork that crumbled on opening. May not be the best example. Mellow nose with a smooth finish. Still a nice wine, but reaching its end of life. Dink in the next year maybe two.
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2/27/2014 - stevenjstein Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decent dark red fruit, faded just a bit by now. Some spice and fairly prominent acidity. Definitely on the more traditional side of Cal Cabs, but not showing a lot of complexity in terms of secondary notes.
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2/8/2014 - Chrisinroch wrote:
Decanted for 90 minutes….a bit faded, but nice and elegant. More Bordeaux-like than Californian.
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1/2/2014 - epicurian Likes this wine: 90 Points
It was elegant, complex and kind to us, for within 10-15 minutes, it's life had passed. Lucky us and it made for a wonderful New Year!
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12/31/2013 - brucegolfer Does not like this wine: 88 Points
Was probably once a wonderful wine, but definitely over the hill.
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12/28/2013 - Cote d'Or wrote:
Decanted, tasted over 3 hrs and day 2
-opaque dark ruddy red/purple
-stoic dark fruits partially obscured by mild TCA
-med acidity, palate slightly muted, underlying bitter black and red fruits with good length
-slightly corked and hard to evaluate but nonetheless still pleasant, plenty of life left
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11/8/2013 - hkm520240 wrote: 93 Points
90s Napa Cabernet Dinner (Jade Palace Seafood Restaurant, Forum): Finally come to the last wine of the night, I was a little doubtful why this was arranged as the last but I was told that this was the tightest wine of all when opened.
Decanted for 3 hours, very dark and almost opaque, darkest wine of the night, some brickish edge. Barnyard and leather nose with blackcurrant on background.
Big robust wine, blackcurrant, roasted coffee beans, blackberry, dark fruits and tobacco. Good finish with soft grippy tannins.
The nose showing secondary development but the palate was complex with nice fruits concentration. Clearly not build to last and drinking well now, but it should be one of the better wine in '98. 13.9% ABV.
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8/29/2013 - winestem wrote: 90 Points
Very "old world". Still youthful, Bordeaux-like.
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8/26/2013 - rustyRudy wrote: 87 Points
Bought at charity auction. Cork in very good shape. Dark red. Fully mature with some dark fruit hanging around. Grilled meat on the nose and dominating the moderately complex secondary flavor profile. I probably would have liked this better in its younger days.
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8/17/2013 - derek.hara@sbcglobal.net wrote: flawed
maybe for a nice Italian salad dressing. Wine was essentially vinegar. Bummer!!
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8/6/2013 - Winokdub wrote: 90 Points
Overall very good. Not as good as other vintages I have had. Probably peaking right now which is surprising considering I had an 01' recently that tasted youthful.
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7/27/2013 - ghobby wrote: 92 Points
Really nice still; purchased at auction, still has deep fruit, good finish
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6/9/2013 - lovemycab Likes this wine: 91 Points
Quite enjoyable. Poured thru a Vinturi and drank right away. Nicely balanced. Just enough fruit with the tannins. Certainly won't get any better so drink up. Cellared since released.
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5/23/2013 - gpatramanis Likes this wine: 92 Points
A bit closed at first but opened up nicely with about 15 min in the decanter. Other wines consumed that night included 98 Dunn Napa, and 98 Dunn Howell Mtn. Prob the best of the 3. Drink up now.
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3/26/2013 - Kona_Kid Likes this wine: 92 Points
A excellent wine that is very dark with a ruby color. Smells include a noticeable fine leather, chocolate, and black cherry notes. Bottle was decanted for about an hour and then enjoyed. The wine was tannic and requires some swirling, but it was well worth the work. An excellent example of the fine work that can be accomplished by professionals based in the Napa Valley. This wine still has legs and should be good for another 5+ years.
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3/19/2013 - PGB wrote: 93 Points
Takes about 30 minutes to open up. Wonderful soft tannins and cherry fruit flavor. Smooth and a long lingering finish. Still good for another five years.
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2/20/2013 - oncocyte wrote: 81 Points
No Brett in this bottle, but apparently it wasn't the Brett that ate the fruit in the last bottle. It's just gone. Mature tannins, some graphite and cedar in the nose but I have inadvertently overstored this.
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2/18/2013 - oncocyte wrote: flawed
Seems Brett-infected. Squealing tires on the nose. Cruciferously vegetal. Open for four hours now with no palpable improvement. We will try again.
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2/18/2013 - winehunter wrote: 94 Points
Excellent nose, with plenty deep tones, and nice finish
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12/23/2012 - rocknroller wrote: 91 Points
Very dark red color. Decanted for an hour and drank 2+ glasses over 2.5hrs. Nose is nice right off the bat, showing some ripe cassis and dark cherry notes with licorice, graphite, and cedar box. The palate is much slower to evolve and integrate; it is quite tannic and woody on the front end. Patience and swirling soften this considerably and the pedigree emerges with ripe cassis, black cherry, hints of blackberry, licorice, graphite, firm briary tannins and medium finish. This became very good after another hour in glass and was getting even better as the bottle concluded.
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12/14/2012 - MLipton wrote:
Notes are as before. Quite nice with grilled ribeyes.'
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10/18/2012 - lovemycab wrote:
Quite enjoyable. Fruit was still there along with just enough tannins and structure. Certainly won't get any better so drink up. Cellared since released.
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10/3/2012 - MLipton wrote:
A classic nose of pencil lead and dark, brambly berry fruit. Much less fruit-driven than most examples of the genre (as well as other vintages of this wine) but lovely in savory way. On the palate, it had chalky tannins and medium body with good balance and structure. A pleasure to drink now and probably for a few more years.
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9/24/2012 - CMCLR wrote: 92 Points
Excellent. Cellared since release.
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8/28/2012 - mxpbuy wrote: flawed
Sampled 8/27/12. After opening one bottle that had to go down the drain because of TCA, I thought how unlucky could I be? Apparently, this was my night to win the bad news lottery. Although not as overwhelminly corked as the first bottle opened, the hint of TCA was there and within 15 minutes it was in noxious bloom. Down the drain it too went.
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8/28/2012 - mxpbuy wrote: flawed
Sampled 8/27/12. Really soft cork and after extracting all the pieces the only thing that was on the nose was TCA. One of the worst TCA tainted bottles I've come across. Down the drain.
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7/30/2012 - sgamiz wrote: 93 Points
Drank out of a 5liter - great wine. Did not taste old at all could have gone for at least 5 more years!!!
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7/28/2012 - mdp.blue wrote: 75 Points
Decanted six hours. No nose, no fruit, nothing of note to share. No doubt, held a bit too long.
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7/15/2012 - thwacker wrote: 90 Points
smooth as a baby's behind, this wine from one of California's worst vintages shows what good gardening and winemaking can produce. It's still deep garnet with a spicy nose of dark fruits and a palate-coating assault of multi-dimensional sensory experiences. Unlikely to evolve further but not dead yet, as Monty Python would say.
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6/2/2012 - Brsed wrote: 92 Points
Really hitting its stride now. Got even better after 2 hours of air. Terrific depth of black fruit with some herbs, earth and leather.
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5/27/2012 - oldwines wrote: 96 Points
Lovely medium to dark ruby color. Rich long slow legs. Nose of cassis, licorice and blueberry... A little different than the last bottle but still wonderful. Complex and layered powerful but with some finesse. In addition to the nice fruit the layers of cedar, licorice and creme brûlée and a hint of tobacco. Still lots of life left. Writing this note 5 hours after decanting and it's still evolving and improving.
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4/9/2012 - wino31 wrote: 89 Points
Over the hill. Fruit is aging quickly -- tasted a bit better after breathing for 30 minutes, but not what it once was (ten years ago). This once was terrific.
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4/6/2012 - oldwines wrote: 95 Points
What a dramatic improvement from the last bottle tasted almost s month ago. Beautiful color, mature but far from over the hill. Little color degradation. Very viscous long legs. Nose is smooth and feminine. It has a luscious silky fruity scent of blackberry, tea and cassis. It had a pleasant earthy Bordeaux-like scent like a Pauillac at first with a touch of bret. It kept opening for 5 hours and kept improving. The taste was very silky on the palate too with a hint of spice and vanilla in addition to the red fruits (especially dark cherry) and tea. This is a delight to drink!
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3/10/2012 - oldwines wrote: flawed
Never, ever, ever pop and pour Chateau Montelena cabs. They need lots and lots of air. They should always be decanted and need hours and sometimes days to fully develop. This one had a luscious nose as I was decanting it with explosive fruit. But after half an hour it closed off and had a funky nose I have never smelled before in a Montelena wine. I think it may be slightly "corked" or otherwise flawed. I've drunk enough Montelena to know this bottle is not normal. And I've had this year before and not had any issues with it. The nose after 4 hours still has a vegetal smell combined with tar and smoke that isn't really that pleasant. The flavors seem dried out but are there under some sort of camouflage. I've got more and will have to check another out soon.
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2/20/2012 - suttonri wrote:
Popped & poured. Age has been kind to this wine. Best bottle yet and a great wine for the vintage. Red cherries and cassis on the palate with a dash of herbs on the finish. Held up well on day two, with some tannin emerging then. Drink or hold. Enjoyed with Raclette cheese and crackers.
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1/21/2012 - snowstrm wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poored. Initially a funky smell which faded after about 15 minutes. Dusty and earthy on the nose and palate. Well balanced, with dark fruit, leather, a hint of wood. A medium-long finish. Not as good as I remember when I first tried this at a tasting several years ago. Seems to have started to fade, but is fading in style. Paired well with escargot.
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1/12/2012 - Brsed wrote: 93 Points
Consistent with past notes. Black fruit with tobacco and herbs. Wonderful balance.
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11/22/2011 - TwoSmoochies wrote: 91 Points
This wine has blossomed over the past 1+ years since we had it last - still nice fruit and no green pepper as noted earlier
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11/19/2011 - wpd wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 1 hour, could have used 3. Big wine, deep purple, dried fruits, leather and cedar on the palate. Long finish.
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11/15/2011 - Siggy wrote: 91 Points
After experiencing a very lightly corked bottle, I decided to open my lone remaining '98 Montelena. Scintillating ruby color; rich, fragrant, and complex. Slightly sweet red cherry fruit; pencil lead, fresh herbs, eucalyptus, and a hint of mint. Nicely balanced. Long finish. Classically old-school Napa Cab that should continue to age gracefully.
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11/15/2011 - Siggy wrote: flawed
Just the tiniest hint of TCA. Really borderline, but it's there. May be the most subtly corked wine I've ever tried.
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10/31/2011 - Vinobruin wrote: 93 Points
Disagree with some other reviewers - Check your cellars - purchased from winery - we popped, poured and drank at Gulfstream with Cedar Plank Salmon and Ahi Burger. Drank from split and this was reaching peak. Certainly not on downslope. Montelena has never been a big over the top heady cab. It is balanced and polished. In addition, 1998 was not a year for hard gripping tannins. This was an incredible wine from a difficult vintage. After about 1 hour, the last glass displayed a little more fruit opening some slightly tart rasperberry. Color in the glass was deep purple. Typical notes of eucalyptus and dark fruit in the bouquet.
In splits, drink now through 2014 if properly stored, 750's (I still havent opened one), I would assume you can drink now through 2018-2020 (again, if properly stored and held since purchase). Again, I bought mine from the winery and know when they were shipped.
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10/31/2011 - wino31 wrote: 89 Points
This wine, which used to be great, is showing its age, despite correct cellaring. The fruit is far less than it used to be and the wine seems to be thinning out.
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10/19/2011 - Mainjump wrote: 92 Points
Of course we drank this while watching Bottleshock on DVD. Hail Bo Barrett!
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10/15/2011 - spts1000 wrote: 75 Points
this was very thin and had nothing to it.
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10/14/2011 - River Rat wrote: 93 Points
I love it when you open a wine for a special moment and it just doesn't disappoint. Our last night in Hana at Hale Hana Inn sitting out on the porch overlooking an ancient Koi Pond eating our only home cooked meal of our trip. Fresh grilled rib eye steaks, potatoes and mixed greens salad. This was a special wine. '98 is an under-appreciated vintage for Napa Cab and this wine is really showing off its' stuff right now. Opened and let it air for almost an hour. Still showing black currant fruit, leather, cedar, pencil shavings on the nose and palate which was silky smooth and a lingering finish with dusty integrated tannins that goes on and on. Each sip seemed to get better and better. Too bad it wasn't a magnum, we probably would have drained it! I love it when a plan comes together.
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9/4/2011 - wpd wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 45 minutes. Excellent bottle. Plenty of fruit, nice mellow tannins deep garnet color. Oddly, much better than the previous bottle.
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8/12/2011 - n2wine wrote: 92 Points
Very smooth with a long finish. On the lighter side for a Cab. Great cab.
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7/7/2011 - northbridge wrote: 92 Points
At dinner served with grilled lamb it was excellent but did not measure up to the '98 or '02. Next time I'll serve it on it's own and all will find it wonderful.
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7/1/2011 - Zweder wrote: 92 Points
Some random exclusive wines (@ TBa): A little eucalyptus and dark fruits in the bouquet. On the palate a lot of ripe black fruit juice e.g. blackberries. Full bodied and modern made lush wine, but with elegance as well. Ready now and for the next few years.
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5/28/2011 - Brsed wrote: 92 Points
Black fruit with plum and earth and a little herbal element (but not distracting). Nicely balanced. Does not seem OTH but would give this wine a three more years before it starts to decline.
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4/2/2011 - handymom wrote: 90 Points
Not quite gone.
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4/1/2011 - huntinpagan wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for sediment and drank side by side with the 1990. Very similar garnet color. Nose of dusty red fruits, cherries and spice. Light to medium bodied with red fruit palate, some oak notes and a bit of an herbal streak. 30 second finish with brighter red fruits, some clove and cedar. Fully mature. Drink short term.
This suffered in comparison to the 1990. It was very similar profile, just smaller in every way, but still a very good bottle of wine.
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4/1/2011 - Whine-oh wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for a hour before tasting. No bricking. Nose of black fruits, some wood and a little funk. Palate of darkfruits cedar n leather. Ina good place. We drank alongside a 90 that showed what this might attain down the road ( a but softer on the palate ), our wine of the night. Drink or hold.
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3/31/2011 - sbeeks wrote: 90 Points
Although nice, not a hugely impressive wine. Tight on penning, didn't open up over the next hour.
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3/5/2011 - jonradus wrote: 96 Points
Wow. I've had some other older Montelena vintages in the past (including this one, I think), but this particular bottle was something special. There was still a ton of buoyant blackcurrant and cherry fruit, with a minty overtone on the nose. There was no old rubber or Brett on the nose either, which I can sometimes detect on Napa wines, whether good or bad. The taste followed through on the nose with ripe blackcurrant, sweet leather, and minty cedar. The finish is what really sets this apart from other wines. You know how you sometimes drink a wine and say to yourself, "Woh!", after you taste it and your knees melt because the finish is so good. This bottle was one of those. This bottle exemplifies why I drink wine. You cannot duplicate this experience with any other kind of consumable.
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1/31/2011 - Vinsant wrote: 92 Points
This was drinking very nicely on a pop and pour. Classic Cali Cab not overdone. Currant, light spice, earth, and mocha. Nicely balanced.
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1/5/2011 - miller3324 wrote: 91 Points
Pop and pour out of 375. Hitting it's stride right now. Opaque purple color, no bricking at all. Class Cali cab with dark fruits and some leather on the palate. Nice powerful nose. For a not so great year, a great wine.
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12/17/2010 - GSW wrote: 89 Points
Still enjoyable, but starting to fade a bit.
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12/10/2010 - tarheel17 wrote:
a green-tinted nose led into a nuanced, subtle palate of still bright fruit. I quite enjoyed it, and was impressed with its vibrancy.
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10/16/2010 - Brsed wrote: 92 Points
Nose of black fruits. Wonderful blackberry and black cherry taste with some earth, tobacco and herbs. Not as vibrant as the 3.0L I had last December but a long way to go before this pup runs out of steam.
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10/13/2010 - mwanasheria wrote: 94 Points
Earth, tobacco, herbs, leather. Long.
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7/31/2010 - Ki Punwar wrote: 91 Points
very good for the vintage, this was full of earthy notes, mushroom and forest floor. While not as concentated as other vintages, a pleasure to drink.
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7/10/2010 - KSWinegeek wrote: 92 Points
Delightful. Dark and flavorful, with berry notes. I believe wine is peaking right now and will consume remaining bottles over next few months.
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6/24/2010 - Peech wrote: 92 Points
still very young, and it would have been better if I aged it for another 10 years... But it was very enjoyable. Nose of mint, pine needle, a bit smoky, ripe and sweet fruit with cedar. I could still feel the sharpness of the alcohol. Full-bodied and concentrated, but the tannins have started to soften so it was actually pretty smooth on the palate.
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6/21/2010 - mwanasheria wrote: 92 Points
Very nice. Powerful with earth and tobacco, dark.
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5/1/2010 - sugarchemist Likes this wine: 91 Points
Showed very well shortly after decanting. No need to wait more than 15 minutes. Drink and enjoy now. Likely has 1-2 years left before it will start to decline.
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4/19/2010 - Haggis wrote: 91 Points
Very nice, at peak. Deep, dark cherry, with briar, bramble, smooth tannins, and hints of clove and leather. This should maintain its strength for another few years, but drinking is now is a no-brainer.
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4/11/2010 - michaelgor wrote: 87 Points
decanted 1 hour ..dark cherry red color..with light red/brick at edges...a somewhat hot nose of purple plum, black cherry, black raspberry,
which markedly faded over the next hour or so..the mid palate is watery...with less fruit than one would expect from the nose..the tannins are still there...but there is not enough fruit to balance them..
this wine is past whatever prime it had..I love Montelena...however, this disappoints
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2/28/2010 - suttonri wrote: 88 Points
Good effort for the vintage.
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2/14/2010 - Fozziedoggie wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for one hour; nice brickish red color. Nose displayed subtle scents of deep dark cherries and cocoa. Texture was smooth, with an earthy taste, but fruit is still present. Drank this against a 2003, the 1998 has lost much of it's oak. Overall, a very well balanced wine with several more years of life left in it.
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2/6/2010 - bundydavis wrote: 92 Points
Wonderfully aged Cali Cab. Amazing how good wines in a bad vintage will still shine. This was a pleasure to drink.
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1/21/2010 - no leashes wrote: 91 Points
Cedar, dark berry, coffee flavors, fine well integrated tannins. Drinking beautifully.
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1/13/2010 - wadcorp wrote:
Performed well even as a pop-n-pour. Wonderful complexity, with an old-world feel (even though it's a Napa Cab). It also evolved nicely over the course of our dinner. A few years yet to go on this one. Many thanks to rwilk_2000 for sharing this one.
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1/13/2010 - rwilk_2000 wrote: 91 Points
Drinking great right now. Tannins are very reserved. I found it earthy with dark fruits. A pleasure to drink. Wish I had a few more.
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12/22/2009 - Brsed wrote: 94 Points
Out of 3L at Christmas lunch at Joe's Seafood (no formal notes). Pehaps it was the fun atmosphere of a Christmas lunch with good friends but the Monty in this double mag was fantastic. Great texture. Wonderful nose of brambles and black fruit. Tates of earth and blackberries with a bit of sour cherries. Wonderful balance.
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12/11/2009 - mwanasheria wrote: 92 Points
Outstanding. Earthy, leather, tobacco. Bordeaux nose.
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12/6/2009 - TwoSmoochies wrote: 89 Points
pleasant
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11/1/2009 - mwgrivas1@gmail.com wrote: 90 Points
Drank along with a '91 Montelena. Interestingly both had the same flavor profile, but the 91 had more structure and mouthfeel.
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10/16/2009 - rwilk_2000 wrote: 89 Points
Stored in Vinotemp fridge since purchase several years ago. Nice nose and lovely dark ruby color. I think it is holding up nicely. Tanins are pretty much non existant. Very jammy on the nose after opening. After an hour or so of air it has a pretty mellow earthy taste. Think I will wait a bit longer with my last bottle.
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10/6/2009 - shaferguy91 wrote: 90 Points
Drink up.
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9/26/2009 - Colima74 wrote: 93 Points
A little less compelling than previous bottle, but still very tasty. Grreat complexity, layers of flavor. But I wonder if this has reached its peak?
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9/18/2009 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 69 Points
Tasted in double-blind fashion. This bottle was bad, although not obviously flawed (corked, oxidized, heat damaged, etc.). Very under-ripe and astringent, it was literally painful to drink. Virtually all tasters had the same impression. Perhaps another bottle would show differently. If I owned the wine, I would taste it again and unload any remaining bottles if the result was the same.
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8/26/2009 - EMTAME wrote: 92 Points
Consumed from 375ml. This was not as good as a 750ml we had at Christmas, but still holding its own. Beautiful nose; a bit muddled on the palate. Personally, I'll drink my last 750ml in the next 6 months, as I suspect this is nearing the end of its peak window.
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8/12/2009 - Mark wrote: 90 Points
An overall good bottle. Jammy black fruit, full in the mouth with a medium lingering finish. I can't imagine this improving and is most likely at it's peak.
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7/13/2009 - AlexHop wrote: 88 Points
A bit disappointing. Just not that much going on. Solid and it doesn't have any flaws but not complex and only medium bodied.
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4/25/2009 - caedmonsfreak wrote: 90 Points
Great nose, good mouth feel but pretty thin on the finish still not bad considering the vintage.
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4/20/2009 - peternelson wrote: 93 Points
Winery: Complex fennel, mixed berries, pot pouri, still fresh small blk & blueberries; complex cedar, soft, fine rich t’s; hint menthol; this is something else. Beautiful and graceful and complex.
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4/17/2009 - johnnyo wrote: 93 Points
I loved this wine. A big wine wine with voluptuous fruit and silky tannins with a very long finish.
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4/16/2009 - H*3 wrote: 89 Points
Nice earthy and tobacco notes are this wines strength. Well balanced. (from magnum)
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4/1/2009 - ziavino wrote: 93 Points
This bottle screams Bordeaux in every way. Not much in the way of fruit on the nose or palate (some restrained blackberry), rather earthy, leathery, mushroom-like flavors quietly mingle on a silky mouthfeel. Very nice; this has aged much better than I thought from a tough vintage.
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3/31/2009 - sbeeks wrote: 92 Points
Montelena always consistent, always a pleasure. This 98 is just getting into its own. Always elegant, not forward or alcohol-heavy like many California Cabernets.
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3/25/2009 - joshwoodward wrote: 95 Points
Chateau Montelena Vertical: Massive nose, with plum, black berries and a generous helping of dung. Light fruit, lots of aged leather. Probably at peak, but not over the hill. Medium body, silky tannins, light-medium acidity. Licorace, mushrooms.
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2/14/2009 - Millercg68 wrote: 92 Points
Great nose up front. Very well balanced. #1 of the 5 big ones we tasted.
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2/14/2009 - psmith wrote:
Dark, classic Cabernet fruit. More raw, larger grain tannins with a Bordeaux-like texture. Drinks older than 10 years, but a solid wine.
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1/14/2009 - bwillia wrote: 89 Points
Interesting! A Bordeaux nose with very prominent dusty tannins still present. Good acidity with slight plum accompanied by minerals and earth.
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12/25/2008 - CooGAR wrote: 89 Points
Not as impressed as I thought I would be, esp. based on the reviews below. Decanted for 3 hours. Silky smoooooooth. Nose showed some dark fruits and oak. Palate demonstrated oak, tar and a bit of fruit......but truly lacked balance, missing on the fruit end.
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12/21/2008 - greenblanket wrote:
This was probably the fourth favorite out of a group of new and old world Bordeaux blends shared by our snowed in dinner party and it was outstanding. This wine was characterized by a deep dark pool of black fruit highlighted by accents of earth tobacco and mineral. It was smooth as silk and delicious in a definite new world way.
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12/15/2008 - Millercg68 wrote: 92 Points
Elegant wine, especially for the 98 vintage. Very nice nose, well balanced with a bit of oak at the end.
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10/9/2008 - Fatty Cat wrote: 88 Points
0.375 L bottle, mid Oct 2008: purple color; restrained fruit aromas/flavors; bitter tannins; full body; hard texture.
A 1998 vintage, opened in 2008: too early ? ...
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10/1/2008 - KeithAkers wrote: 92 Points
Montelena Seminar (Binny's Highland Park, Highland Park IL): nose: beautiful and elegant nose filled with mint undertones, roasted herbs, tobbacco, cassis, dark cherries, and cranberry tones with bits of cedar
taste: great medium feel on the palate with a lot of bordeaux-like qualities providing tones of tobbacco, cranberry, cedar, dark cherries, and bits of cassis
overall: a lovely wine. Elegant and silky with great length and tastefully refined tannins. This is just right in the pocket right now and is extremely enjoyable and is just a real delight to drink
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9/8/2008 - dvf64 wrote: 94 Points
Very nice my first Montelena. Deep purple full of fruit and tannins that seem to melt in your mouth as the finish lingers. I will definitely be drinking more Montelena.
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8/31/2008 - sarciero wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for about an our. Served just above cellar temp. A wonderful wine. Too bad I only had one bottle. Smooth as silk. Nice lingering finish. Did I say this was excellent?
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8/2/2008 - Fatty Cat wrote: 95 Points
0.375 L bottle, early Aug 2008: no explicit notes taken; just one expression: WOW.
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8/2/2008 - Tac wrote: 85 Points
Hard to believe but this one might have gone past its peak. Drank same bottle two months ago and was excellent (92+). Might have been exposed to some heat at some time. Disappointing.
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7/29/2008 - gutt22 wrote:
Really impressive. Lesser vintage? Not in the least. Beautiful deep red color. Terrific aromatics of black fruit, cedar, tobacco, and beautiful earthiness. In the mouth, still youthful but drinking very well. Beautifully concentrated fruit that's bolstered by tremendous complexity, good acidity, and a long finish that still shows plenty of tannins, as one would expect from Montelena. An awesome wine that's so easy to drink. A-
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7/4/2008 - tbabes wrote: 89 Points
This bottle was in great shape. An opaque purple core, turning to ruby-red at the rim. A bit reserved on the nose, but with some coaxing offered up scents of ripe dark fruits, smoky oak and spice. Medium-bodied on the palate, with noticeable structure and tannins. Not a particularly generous style, but it did pair well with the food.
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6/22/2008 - vpoms wrote: 91 Points
This wine is very smoth with a mouthfull of fruit, but not as bright as a younger wines. This is ready now
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6/14/2008 - Tac wrote: 92 Points
Really enjoyed and better than I expected. Decanted for one hour and it was fantastic.
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6/1/2008 - blaine wrote:
Recommend decanting. Unfortunately, I popped and poured and let breathe in the glass for 1/2 hour. No formal notes, but wine did not show as well as at a tasting at the winery last summer. Nice nose that was reserved at first and kept opening. Palate was a little more green than I remember, and finish was rather short. Alas, last 1/2 glass was much better. I thought this would be singing, as it was showing better than the 01 at the above tasting. I'll decant the next one.
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5/31/2008 - Giacomo wrote: 93 Points
Had with Daniel Boulud's braised beef rib recipe (Epicurious.com) - what a great complement to the food, it was like drinking silk and the dish and sauce are the same. They were both so good.
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5/10/2008 - AllRed wrote: 90 Points
Purchased off the wine list at Niche Restaurant. The first bottle was corked. Bottle number two was quickly opened and decanted. Garnet color. Opened with an earthy, leathery note. This was ordered as we placed our order, so a couple of glasses were poured and set aside. With air it developed a note of new saddle leather, along with aromas of plum, cedar and violets. On the palate this displayed plummy dark fruit and blackberry flavors, along with fine grained tannin and a touch of spicy oak. Quite thin through the midpalate and finish.
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5/4/2008 - davidandrose wrote: 91 Points
Caution on your drinking window. This was opened and sat in the bottle at room temp for 2 hrs, based on a recent tasting of this at the winery. This was an excellent wine, very bordeaux-like, during its first three-four hours (after opening) then became much more watery and then just started falling apart. A great '98 in the prime of its life; with an impressive and very expressive nose. Bring this to room temp, then pop and pour in my recommendation.
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4/13/2008 - Colima74 wrote: 95 Points
With beef bourgogne. Dusty nose, high toned red raspberry fruit, but very restrained. Very little color deterioration. Great secondary flavors. Could pass for a bdx. This is probably at or near its peak. Still has years on it, but I don't think it's going to get better.
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4/10/2008 - Tac wrote:
89, solid, good nose, better than I expected
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3/8/2008 - bflood wrote: 89 Points
Nose gave off decent berry and leather. On the palate did not get as much fruit as anticipated. Balanced, medium to full bodied and a little strong on the tannins. I think its losing some structure and getting tired. Still a quality wine but I will be drinking the rest soon.
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2/15/2008 - Spencer wrote: 92 Points
Fully mature now, but in no danger of going downhill anytime soon. Not a blockbuster Montelena, but balanced and not at all green. Very nice.
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2/9/2008 - jsebiri wrote:
good bottle of wine
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2/9/2008 - C Mackay wrote: 91 Points
solid structure; still a nice balance of fruit... very earthy initially and then opened up to show some fruit. has probably a year or two until its over the hill
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1/3/2008 - JFish wrote:
Sometimes when you open a bottle of wine the nose hits you just right and the palate follows. This was one of those wines. Instantly, the nose was one of red fruits and leather. The palate was red currants, pomegranite and leathery earth. The tannins were detectable but not offputting and softened with the second glass. A perfect foil for hamburgers and screaming kids on a cold, Ohio night.
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12/25/2007 - GSW wrote: 90 Points
Enjoyable if somewhat subdued. Dark ruby color, a quiet nose of dark fruit, spice and forest. Smooth drinking with medium-body, integrated tannin. Christmas Eve dinner of beef tenderloin and stuffed potatoes at home with the girls and BAB.
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12/24/2007 - trinity238 wrote: 92 Points
Paired with Filet Mignons in a Cabernet Port Wine Sauce for Christmas Eve dinner. Decanted for one hour after opening, and the bottle was very nice and smooth. Drinking very well now.
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12/24/2007 - bnorrish wrote: 93 Points
Excellent in magnum. Better then the 97. A 10 year old Cal. Cab does not get much better.
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12/24/2007 - TwoSmoochies wrote: 89 Points
not a lot of fruit left; some green pepper but an overall good wine with food
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11/23/2007 - wpd wrote: 88 Points
Tannic, not much fruit left, never really opened up. Decanted tried over many hours.
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11/1/2007 - wineismylife wrote: 90 Points
WIML90. Last bottle. Finally settled in and started showing well. Just pop and decant for sediment only which it's showing a fair amount. Drink over the short term is my recommendation.
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10/29/2007 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 91 Points
Not a special year in Napa. A lot like a good Pauillac, cedar and eucalyptus, blackberries, deep and still quite closed, compact structure, good length. Needs time.
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9/15/2007 - sadiebear wrote: 89 Points
A true clasic CA cab!
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9/11/2007 - hcampana wrote: 92 Points
Had at the winery.
All the Estates were very dark. Fabulous nose of dark fruits, tobacco and leather. Full to medium bodied, concentrated with all tannin resolved. Better nose than palate. Was this really a bad year?
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8/25/2007 - BrandrB wrote: 91 Points
Tasted as part of a 1996-2002 Chateau Montelena vertical tasting. The ’98 certainly proved to be a solid wine – but seems to lack much of the potential offered by the ’96 and ’97. Big spicy nose, as usual, with a softer palate full of black cherry. Overall, a bit too acidic and tannic when compared against the previous two vintages. Still, a very fine Cabernet.
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8/18/2007 - JFish wrote:
Decanted 2 hours and it was still very tannic. Hour 3 it began to soften and show its fruit - red currants, cassis with a little tobacco and acidity to hold it up. A very good cab in a less-than stellar vintage.
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8/18/2007 - JFish wrote: flawed
Corked
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8/4/2007 - Wil wrote: 92 Points
What a lovely wine! This was a gift to me....I opened it tonight and had it with a grilled porterhouse dry aged steak. Lovely! Not giving a lot on the nose, as others have mentioned, but on the palate...explosive fruit that is balanced and very old world like. Deep maroon colour, after 2 hours in the glass, minimal notes on the nose of cedar and cigar box; on the palate with just a hint of alchohol signalling New World, lots of plums, cassis, and cigar....still relatively primary but lush! What a lovely wine. I so enjoyed it I ordered almost a case more at under $60/bottle! Great QPR for what it is....a Bordeaux-like wine that tonight is singing.
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6/27/2007 - ml wrote:
Still quite tannic. With the right food it's more tolerable, but I would say hold off for a bit for better enjoyment.
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6/19/2007 - chrisraub wrote: 90 Points
Still don't understand the difference in opinion between WS and WA on the Montelena's. I tend to side with Parker in my tastings. This was definitely not past its prime as some would suggest. Was a classic napa cabernet and and nice achievment for 1998.
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5/28/2007 - vpoms wrote: 89 Points
just ok
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5/28/2007 - budman wrote: 91 Points
Fully mature. Smooth.. no green notes. Soft tannins, medium bodied.
Just a lovely wine.
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4/28/2007 - beaver wrote: 94 Points
Smooth,well balanced. Berry, earthy. Just a fine wine.
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4/2/2007 - no leashes wrote: 93 Points
In .375. Beautifully balanced, coffee, cassis, tar flavors. Drinking beautifully in half bottle. Opened for Opening Day -- too bad the Cubs lost!
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3/7/2007 - Cheryl wrote:
Already showing that it is older than it is
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2/19/2007 - TheEngineer wrote: 88 Points
1998 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate Napa Valley.
That was a mouthful of a title. Elegant nose, almost Bordeaux like except for the slightly higher oak. Nice dark fruits, not overpowering, good balance, restrained and elegant, and a good amount of acidity and bit of earth. $125
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2/6/2007 - Vino Me wrote: 88 Points
Chateau Montelena Tasting (The Peninsula Hotel (Chicago)): The chef prepared spiced baby lamb chops with a sweet fennel jam with this wine. Good pairing. This wine had a little skunkiness on the nose but it blew off with some swirling. A round wine but not overly deep. Notes of black cherry and ripe tomato which I probably picked up from the firm acidity. Light to medium bodied. A drink now wine (or at least over the next few years). I don't think this is a long ager. 88 points.
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1/13/2007 - Paul Lin wrote: 87 Points
Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Vertical Tasting (Lake Forest, CA): Strong nose of tobacco and cedar. While still quite tannic, I was able to eke out some loam, leather, dark chocolate, and sage. What I wasn't able to get was fruit. Not terrible by any means, but it certainly did not wow me. 87-88 points.
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12/17/2006 - shaferguy91 wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 1.5 hours. Nose was so-so but the wine was drinking very well. Very elegant and smooth with lots of black cherry fruit.
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11/19/2006 - tanglenet wrote: flawed
CORKED!
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11/18/2006 - liberati wrote:
This seemed at its best about 2.5 hours after initial opening - worth the wait.
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11/11/2006 - budman wrote: 92 Points
This wine was very Bordeaux-like, with subtle black fruit which opened up as the wine reached room temperature!
This wine continued to improve with each glass. Impressive.
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2/26/2006 - skwid wrote:
Drunk from Riedel Somm. Bordeaux, not decanted.
Not alot on the nose but the palette was fantastic. Probably could have used a decant for 30 to 60 minutes.
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11/12/2005 - WStucker wrote: 92 Points
Opened initially at 5pm. Atr first it was a little restrained with some brett on the nose. That blew off after about an hour. Put half the bottle into a 375 for later. After 2 hours was a soft, round nice wine full of black friuts. Left the remainder in the decantur the rest of the night.
Next day at noon it really had picked up alot of flavor, lots of currant and lead pencil. Really started to take on somewhat of a Montelena profile. Will open the other half bottle in the 375 tomorrow to see what has developed. All in all, a good $50 to $60 wine, would probably go and find more at that price (alot of storees have it discounted since it was an off vintage). No where near the '87, '95, '97 or '01 that I have had of theirs, but not the price either.
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7/29/2005 - dfontana wrote: 92 Points
Still tight, still very young, but oh, does this wine sing with food. Alone, as an aperitif, tannic and youthful, gobs of fruit but a tad closed. With a breast of duck, it came alive.
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7/16/2005 - davidandrose wrote: 90 Points
90 mins open, not decanted, before tasting. About at its best within the first 90 mins. Good fruit, tannic balance, but still lacking depth that's evident in much of the vintage. Still, a good drinker at the right price and in the coming 2-5+ years.
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5/14/2005 - Jason wrote: 93 Points
4 Decades, 21 Bottles, 1 Producer- Chateau Montelena (Daniel's Broiler, Bellevue , WA): This showed well for an "off" vintage. The nose showed melted caramel and black fruit. The palate was very sweet and young. Like the other vintages it showed good balance. What was especially nice about this wine was the long finish. This should age well.
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5/14/2005 - Eric wrote: 91 Points
Chateau Montelena vertical (1973-2002) (Bellevue, WA): Nice showing for a wine from a weak vintage. The nose is brooding with hints of leather and a faint note of bell pepper. The palate shows some tobacco and is nice and spicy. Group average 90.2 pts.
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5/1/2005 - #Screwcap wrote: 88 Points
Deep purple. Ever slight hint of lighter purple ruby at the rim. Nose initially tight.. not showing anything but "In your face cassis" and tar. Opened up more at 3 hrs but not very expressive. Tobacco, stones, stalky! I agree with Eric... very "Dark", brooding on the palate. Moderate weight with good structure and body. Tannins are sweetish but reserved. Length is good but not up to par with other vintages of this wine that I have tried. This does not show well alone but does have the structure to pair with food well. In fact I would NOT recommend serving this wine without red meat or cheese accompaniment; in this case a well hung Prime Rib. I was going to follow with an older Diamond Creek cab... but the guests liked this so much that they insisted that we open another! ..... So I did!
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3/11/2005 - Tejano wrote: 89 Points
Full rich color, not quite opaque, but dark purple. The nose was tight, but after decanting awhile, it opened a little, spicey dark fruit emerged as it opened. A smooth grip with pleasing fruit and even tannins as it opened...this needs a little time, don't expect it's best at opening. Paired with an old fashioned pot roast and vegtables, and I am glad I gave it a chance as it was food friendly.
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2/22/2005 - Siggy wrote: 92 Points
Chateau Montelena "Past, Present, and Future" (Metropolitan Club, Minneapolis): Perhaps this was in a closed phase? Tannic, with reticent fruit. Lots of tobacco, juniper, and cedar; excellent structure. With some air the fruit began to emerge.
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2/18/2005 - Burgundy Al wrote: 89 Points
Day Trip to Napa (Napa Valley CA): Tasting at winery. Moderate black fruit with good spice, everything in balance today, supported by good acidity. Drink now through 2013.
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2/12/2005 - brianofthevine wrote: 92 Points
Big red/black cherries, very thick. Smooth tannins.
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1/5/2005 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
A vertical of Montelena for a good cause: Touch of brown sugar? On this wine. Toast and vanilla. Someone suggested it tasted like nickel. I suppose they meant the metal. Anyway, this was very nice for a 1998.
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1/5/2005 - JDB wrote: 89 Points
Decanted for an hour consumed over 4. At its best @ 2-3 hours. Light w/ fruit a faily subtle wine not a bash you over the head type. I think it is ready to drink. Needs food n not one to stand on its own.
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7/31/2004 - Eric wrote: 90 Points
My trip to Napa, Part 4: Montelena, Phelps, Darioush, lunch at Tra Vigne, Dinner at Bouchon and a nightcap (Napa Valley, California, USA): This has a more mature nose than the 2000 showing black olives and tar, pure cassis, really blossoming out of the glass. The palate is black and brooding with a 'dark complexion,' getting more sweet with air. The depth here is OK but not fantastic. A medium finish starts to gain length and power with air. Even for a 1998, this is pretty tightly wound.
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7/1/2004 - winefool wrote: 92 Points
Black/purple color. Forward aroma of black black fruit and a hint of licorice. Fairly open with big black fruit on the palate. Nice. 7/04
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4/24/2004 - jeff nowak wrote: 87 Points
immediately upon opening, the bouquet was open and lovely. it's been in the decanter for the last 3 hours, and it has barely budged. however, i don't feel the wine is closed, just over extracted in an attempt to salvage something out of the vintage. dusty, dry, austere, unyielding fruit. boring. if only the tasting could follow up the promising nose. not undrinkable, but never have i been so happy to have consumed my only bottle of a wine. i know RP gave this 93 big ones.
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3/5/2004 - peternelson wrote: 91 Points
Red Carpet: Bell-pepper, stems, cedar, sharp cherry; med. bod, smth, not silky; good, but not as well-bal as others.
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3/1/2004 - davidandrose wrote: 88 Points
Sampled at winery - Some nice fruit but either hollow or shut down. Extremely unlikely to last to Chelsea's 18th bday.
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8/30/2003 - wineismylife wrote: 88 Points
13.9% alcohol. 11,000 cases made. Puchased locally at Pogos for $65.00. Opened and decanted for 45 minutes prior to serving in Spiegelau Authentis Magnum glasses. Color was a dark, slightly opaque garnet. Nose was herbal with some white pepper and tobacco. Flavors were mostly black berries and currants wrapped inside an earthy frame. 88 points. Drink again in 2004 to reevaluate. Should drink well from 2004 to 2006.
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7/12/2003 - brianofthevine wrote: 92 Points
Dark cherries, full bodied, smooth tannins, long finish.
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6/3/2003 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
Rareshides tasting at Maguire's: Old wood, bitter cocoa powder, cardboard, cigar smoke. Sweetish fruit. Grown up. A bit herbal. Okay. Tastes sharp next to the Pahlmeyer Merlot.
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3/5/2003 - ipp wrote: 91 Points
needs 2-4 years
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11/3/2002 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 90 Points
Tasted at vertical Chateau Montelena tasting at the home of Amy Weinberg. Bright disc. Deep purple/ruby with purple rim. Clean nose, showing moderately intense, slightly stemmy currants, cassis, anise and earth. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, with medium, slightly astringent tannins and similar flavors as for the nose. Long, astringent finish.
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4/6/2002 - ipp wrote: 91 Points
saturated purple color ... generous nose with lots of sweet fruit and a hint of green vegetable ... mouth-puckering tannins, high acidity and a good amount of fruit ... will a complex, well balanced wine , but a bit awkward right now ... long finish, though a bit dry
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