Euchre night (R&D's): After a run of either flawed or disappointing bottles we have finally found a winner. Double decanted off its sediment about ninety minutes earlier. The bouquet shows black currant, plum, chocolate and leather aromas. Full-bodied with softened tannins and flavors of currants, plum and cedar. Coming back to it three hours after it was opened has brought out more of the cedar and chocolate notes but also hints of tobacco. The dark plummy fruit remains. Plush, mouth-filling texture. In a very nice place right now and should hold at this level for a while. We have three bottles remaining which I'll spread out and open through 2028.
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Dinner with Friends (Gen Hoe): Double decanted off its sediment nine hours prior to ending up in the flight, served double blind to the group. As it was on opening, quite reserved and a bit four square. Shows a bit of black currant on the nose and palate but there’s not much else. I wonder if perhaps there is some very low level TCA here.
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Still in fine shape. Slight clearness at the edge, no bricking, dark red, violet. Still some black fruit on the nose, soft cedar aroma. Nice acidity balancing remaining fruit. Soft tannins. Medium minus taste length. Enjoyable.
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Dark garnet. Some black fruit but also tertiary notes. Somewhat thick juice. Very smooth tannins, it still has the acidity to make it interesting. I agree with some previous tasting notes: the wine is fully integrated and it drinks very well.
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Initially a bit closed but opened up nicely on day 2. 90 on day 1 and 92 on day 2. Had a 1/5 bottle kept in the wine fridge to drink later and completely forgot about it until day 5. It was surprisingly the best glass for this bottle.
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Purchased at Montelena. 1-2 hr decant. Disappointing, muted fruits, chocolate and acidic. Lacking secondary flavors. Really just a boring vintage of this wine. Not worth the USD $50 we paid
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Excellent. A wine to look forward to drinking again. 86% Cabernet Sauvignon 12% Merlot 2% Cabernet Franc 10 yrs. 13.8 ABV Napa Valley / North Coast / California PC $$$ WVR 23.03 | Reasonably priced for the category.
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We finished the last bottle of Napa Valley cabernet and found this bottle much more to our liking than the last. More balanced and presenting abundant fruit, this wine was more what we have come to expect from Chateau Montelena. Really good cuvee for binge watching a Showtime original.
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This was one of the very few "underwhelming" wines we have experienced from this winery. Some amber when pouring into the decanter but fully dark red/garnet red in the decanter. Let stand for two plus hours before pouring. Nose tended toward earthiness, cedar and wood. Fruit flavors of dark cherry and dark fruits were evident but only in the background, with herbs, pencil shavings, vanilla and tobacco being front and center. Not the balanced flavor profile we have come to expect from this producer. Medium mouthfeel with a smooth, pleasant texture and a soft, if not one-dimensional, finish. My initial impression was that the wine was past its' prime drinking window. Purchased at the winery and properly stored since the purchase.
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Decanted for 30 minutes. Drinking very well right now. Fruit forward cabernet with black and red cherry and red raspberry. Medium bodied with soft tannins.
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Kathy and I tasted this wine at the Chateau Montelena Store in the Westin St. Francis San Francisco this evening, nose of red and black cherry fruit, and allspice, same on the palate, tasty, fairly fruit forward, at its best, easy to sip and enjoy, and a long finish.
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Tasted at the Westin St. Francis Chateau Montelena Tasting Room in Downtown San Francisco, this was a real treat, blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1.5% Cabernet Franc, 1.5% Petit Verdot, nose of ripe black cherry, ripe red cherry, black berry, fresh fruit, and a touch of tar, same on the palate, big body, mouth filling, slightly brooding due to presence of small amount of soft tannins, and a long, flavorful finish, probably better in 2 years.
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What a treat. A friend who is a member of the wine club has kept this in close to pristine condition since it's release. One of those Cabernet's with a natural bit of eucalyptus on the nose and palate. A really wonderful, expressive, well made red wine that is only medium plus bodied. The fruit on the nose and palate is almost as much red as dark, especially some red raspberry. Now, almost 9 years off the vine things have integrated, especially the oak. All kinds of enhancing secondary flavors like orange peel, pine bark, sandalwood, American oak and lanolin. The acid, oak and alcohol have integrated, but this one may could use another couple of years for optimum drinking, though it is swell now.
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An easy drinking Cab with finesse and elegance. So consistence year after year. Has more red fruit then most CS, with a great spiciness that made this wine perfect with our mushroom topped buffalo burgers.
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This wine has really opened up over the last two years. Tannins have really softened as has the finish. The ret of the rating notes are consistent. 5+12+16+8=91
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Decanted 1+ hours, needs at less that time for both the nose and palate to open. A soft and breezy easy drinking Cab; has an attractive nose and nice suppleness with a smooth balance to the palate. This wine is built to be approachable early in its life. Well integrated soft black fruit, an essence of cedar, a touch of cocoa, white pepper and soft light tannins. In its prime drinking window.
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Purple and opaque. Nose of dark, dense and ripe fruit with plumbs and raisin standing out along with some modest floral notes and a hint of vanilla. Still a lot of tannin and structure on the palate; this wine likely can cellar for a few more years. Crisp sour cranberries on the finish. 5+12+16+8=91
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Reticent. Develops subtle floral and candied red fruit notes but remains closed in and dumb. Thin on the palate, with candied red fruit qualities.
I suspect this was a case of very low-level cork taint, which can be below the threshold to be detected but strip the fruit out of a wine and leave it very plain and "dumb" as we had here.
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bam! Nailed it... it’s got a lot of layers, but it’s so easy to drink and love in the moment
The wine is a light ruby colored. The legs are slow. It tastes like blackberry. The body is medium/full. The wine has round texture and finishes medium.
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Chateau Montelena dinner with Brian Baker (Waterleaf Restaurant at College of DuPage): Dark color. Aromas of cassis, plum, black cherry and spice. Medium- to full-bodied; has begun integrating the tannins but has a short ways to go yet. Flavors of red currants, cassis and cherry with a long finish. The fruit really stands out here; delicious. Showing very well tonight. 92-93 pts.
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Montelena dinner at Waterleaf. Second time I've had this since April. Nose of Hoisin, coffee and black cherry. Similar palate with addition of vanilla, nutmeg and cinnamon.
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Picked this up for a steal while on travel for work; Prescott, AZ of all places. Drank in my room in a plastic cup :-)
PnP. Nose was a bit mute at first, but opened to dark cherries, pencil shavings, and a hint of eucalyptus (hard to get much from a plastic cup.) Palate was very fruit forward, strong flavors of dark cherries. However, there was just enough acid and tannins to keep it in check. Tannins were smooth, but will integrate further with time.
I enjoyed this wine, but it was a bit one dimensional. I also didn't pick up any indicators that this will evolve much down the road. I'm afraid the fruit will just fade with nothing to replace it. Tannins will hold for awhile so recommend drinking now through 2018
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I tried something different this time. I decanted half of the bottle and the other half through the vinturi into the decanter and waited 30 minutes. The nose was full of red fruits, cinnamon, and a bit of wood spice. The wine seemed more chewy with a viscous like texture that was nice, a mixture of plums and cherries and a light touch of oak in the back was cool. The best bottle so far of the lot of six. The wine is fine, seems to be well made, hopefully will improve with some time. However at this stage I would buy something else for $45. I have one more left and will hold for a year to see the improvement. I have great respect for the owner of this chateau, with happens to own Ch. Cos D'Estournel and we all know they make very fine wine.
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- Purple color with slow forming legs and aromas of tobacco and black pepper. It's somewhat balanced and has flavours of raspberry, cherry and cedar with a medium/full body. Satin-Like texture with a medium finish.
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Good fruit forward wine with aromas of dark fruit on the nose and cherries on the palate. The wine is a little thin and not complex with very little tannin and a moderate length finish. A good wine but given its price point I think there are better options out there.
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Plum, cassis and black cherry aromas. Medium-bodied and nicely balanced, with red and black fruits dominating the palate. Hints of spice and vanilla; pleasant finish.
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Disappointing for a Montelena. I know this is not the Estate, but this wine is extremely disappointing and not up to the standard of other "regular" Monty bottlings. Fine as a generic Cab but monolithic with little structure.
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Nice cab. The chocolate notes really stand out. Nice finish, very smooth. Sort of a high price point for what it is but nice finish. Having it with a ribeye from Ruth Chris & it does the job.
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A pop & pour, first of the case. Deep crimson color. Notes of cassis, anise, black currants, chocolate and cherries. Medium-bodied, with flavors of chocolate and black fruit. Large-scaled tannins and quite austere through the mid palate and finish at this young stage. This will need some time in the cellar to soften and flesh out.
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A beautiful yet young expression of their stellar cab. Opened in a rush, poured too quickly, business partners just wanted to taste and three of the four stopped short and said, "Wow." Great juice, silky without much age and smokey bacon on the back end.....I apologize to the wine maker for rushing through his work. But, I know how good this wine truly is, and it has yet to disappoint. I will never apologize for opening.
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This is a great everyday Cab.....but the price makes it NOT a great everyday Cab......so much better in the $20 range IMO...really dissapointing for a $45 Cab...
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Aromas of blueberry, black plum and dark chocolate. Similar fruit comes through on palate, with modest spice and reasonably good balance. A nice option in the SFO United Club, more than fairly priced qt $10 for what seemed like an 8 ounce pour.
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Moderate nose of stewed fruits, tobacco and cocoa. Medium plus palate of slightly overripe blackberry and currants, semi sweet chocolate and leather. Medium plus finish.
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Pop and poured. Improved a bit with air, but was easy to consume immediately. Very nice balance. Very smooth. Great wine for consuming with food. I would rate higher if it had more complexity like the estate, but I can't complain considering the considerably cheaper price compared to the estate. Looking forward to the next bottle.
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Side by side with the 2007. I would drink this first. This showed much better from the get go on a pop and pour. Lighter concentration, but gorgeously balanced fruit. Light oak. Easy to drink and to enjoy with good earthiness on the finish. Would be great at $25-30, not so much at the asking price. B/B+
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Rather closed on opening. With some air opened up with cassis, black cherry, and tobacco. Light to medium body, elegant, with well-integrated oak and very fine tannins. Nice now, could go another couple years. Enjoyable, but not very good QPR - who buys this? Those looking for an expensive alternative to mid-priced Bordeaux?
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Dark wine with dense blueberry and plum components on the palate. Underlying chocolate and coffee tones suggest heavy oaking which doesn't necessarily surprise me. There's none of the wonderful minty-ness that you get on the Estate wines. Overall, this is pretty pedestrian.
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Terroirist Blogger Tasting #3: SRP: $49. Very sweet nose of black fruits, plums, black cherries, chocolate, tar, and green pepper, with a hint of acetone. The oak treatment feels harsh and way over the top, and the nose smells alcoholic. On the palate, it’s the same – but I’m feeling hot hot hot. A disappointing wine.
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Domestic New Releases Tasting (Binny's, St. Charles): Dusty garnet color with aromas of red currants, florals- violets & rose petals, herbs and red berries. Medium- to full-bodied, with dusty tannins and chewy red berry and currant flavors. Long finish. 90+ pts. $42.99.
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Really opens up after an aeration. Delicious cab, tastes a lot like the mid-2000s Estate Cab. Powerful and fruit-forward at such a young age. I've got another bottle which I'll probably keep shelved for a few years and am confident will age well. Looking forward to the 07 estate cab I've got ready to drink as well.
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Had this at a tasting bar in the St. Francis hotel in San Francisco, so it had been open for awhile. I would guess a few hours at least. This was surprisingly good. The fruit was perfectly ripe and had a touch of elegance. Layers of red and black fruit, nicely integrated wood spice, some earthy/leathery/forest floor notes, nice acidity, smooth, chalky tannin. Decently complex, classic and harmonious. Makes me wonder how good the 2008 Estate must be.
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2/16/2024 - AllRed wrote: 93 Points
Euchre night (R&D's): After a run of either flawed or disappointing bottles we have finally found a winner. Double decanted off its sediment about ninety minutes earlier. The bouquet shows black currant, plum, chocolate and leather aromas. Full-bodied with softened tannins and flavors of currants, plum and cedar. Coming back to it three hours after it was opened has brought out more of the cedar and chocolate notes but also hints of tobacco. The dark plummy fruit remains. Plush, mouth-filling texture. In a very nice place right now and should hold at this level for a while. We have three bottles remaining which I'll spread out and open through 2028.
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6/23/2023 - CellarWu wrote: 80 Points
Smooth but not very full body. Does not contain much off oak flavor or chocolate, easy going wine.
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4/22/2023 - AllRed wrote: flawed
Corked.
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6/18/2022 - AllRed wrote:
Dinner with Friends (Gen Hoe): Double decanted off its sediment nine hours prior to ending up in the flight, served double blind to the group. As it was on opening, quite reserved and a bit four square. Shows a bit of black currant on the nose and palate but there’s not much else. I wonder if perhaps there is some very low level TCA here.
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6/15/2021 - JeffaC Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still in fine shape. Slight clearness at the edge, no bricking, dark red, violet. Still some black fruit on the nose, soft cedar aroma. Nice acidity balancing remaining fruit. Soft tannins. Medium minus taste length. Enjoyable.
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8/7/2020 - atbarbar Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark garnet. Some black fruit but also tertiary notes. Somewhat thick juice. Very smooth tannins, it still has the acidity to make it interesting. I agree with some previous tasting notes: the wine is fully integrated and it drinks very well.
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6/23/2020 - Katscheker Likes this wine:
pepper and earthy
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4/18/2020 - Tim in VA Likes this wine: 95 Points
Fantastic. Definitely peaking now. Just finished our last bottle :(
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3/14/2020 - Don Roberto Likes this wine: 92 Points
Classic Cab. Integrated tannins. Peaking now.
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11/24/2019 - Rbtrage wrote: 92 Points
Initially a bit closed but opened up nicely on day 2. 90 on day 1 and 92 on day 2. Had a 1/5 bottle kept in the wine fridge to drink later and completely forgot about it until day 5. It was surprisingly the best glass for this bottle.
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9/14/2019 - Don Roberto wrote: 90 Points
Tannins seemed fully integrated and wine is now at peak.
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8/27/2019 - akpace wrote: 91 Points
Earthy, red berries, strawberry, raspberry, with a hint of chocolate and vanilla. It is rather thin
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11/3/2018 - CheviotCellar wrote: 88 Points
Purchased at Montelena. 1-2 hr decant. Disappointing, muted fruits, chocolate and acidic. Lacking secondary flavors. Really just a boring vintage of this wine. Not worth the USD $50 we paid
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9/14/2018 - Goldinger32 Likes this wine: 90 Points
9/14/18 enjoyed after hour decant Very approachable
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8/3/2018 - fmiskolc Likes this wine: 94 Points
Excellent. A wine to look forward to drinking again.
86% Cabernet Sauvignon 12% Merlot 2% Cabernet Franc 10 yrs. 13.8 ABV
Napa Valley / North Coast / California
PC $$$ WVR 23.03 | Reasonably priced for the category.
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3/26/2018 - Tahlequahdave1972 Likes this wine: 91 Points
We finished the last bottle of Napa Valley cabernet and found this bottle much more to our liking than the last. More balanced and presenting abundant fruit, this wine was more what we have come to expect from Chateau Montelena. Really good cuvee for binge watching a Showtime original.
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3/19/2018 - Tahlequahdave1972 Likes this wine: 89 Points
This was one of the very few "underwhelming" wines we have experienced from this winery. Some amber when pouring into the decanter but fully dark red/garnet red in the decanter. Let stand for two plus hours before pouring. Nose tended toward earthiness, cedar and wood. Fruit flavors of dark cherry and dark fruits were evident but only in the background, with herbs, pencil shavings, vanilla and tobacco being front and center. Not the balanced flavor profile we have come to expect from this producer. Medium mouthfeel with a smooth, pleasant texture and a soft, if not one-dimensional, finish. My initial impression was that the wine was past its' prime drinking window. Purchased at the winery and properly stored since the purchase.
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11/4/2017 - comlaw Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for 30 minutes. Drinking very well right now. Fruit forward cabernet with black and red cherry and red raspberry. Medium bodied with soft tannins.
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10/1/2017 - Cancan12 Likes this wine: 100 Points
5 star. Full bodied. Aromas of violet, chocolate and earth. Well balanced. Smooth and long finish.
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9/7/2017 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 90 Points
Kathy and I tasted this wine at the Chateau Montelena Store in the Westin St. Francis San Francisco this evening, nose of red and black cherry fruit, and allspice, same on the palate, tasty, fairly fruit forward, at its best, easy to sip and enjoy, and a long finish.
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8/30/2017 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 90 Points
Tasted at the Westin St. Francis Chateau Montelena Tasting Room in Downtown San Francisco, this was a real treat, blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1.5% Cabernet Franc, 1.5% Petit Verdot, nose of ripe black cherry, ripe red cherry, black berry, fresh fruit, and a touch of tar, same on the palate, big body, mouth filling, slightly brooding due to presence of small amount of soft tannins, and a long, flavorful finish, probably better in 2 years.
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7/21/2017 - waywardsailor wrote: 89 Points
fruity nose. well balanced palate albeit short finish. easy drinking wine.
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7/16/2017 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 92 Points
What a treat. A friend who is a member of the wine club has kept this in close to pristine condition since it's release. One of those Cabernet's with a natural bit of eucalyptus on the nose and palate. A really wonderful, expressive, well made red wine that is only medium plus bodied. The fruit on the nose and palate is almost as much red as dark, especially some red raspberry. Now, almost 9 years off the vine things have integrated, especially the oak. All kinds of enhancing secondary flavors like orange peel, pine bark, sandalwood, American oak and lanolin. The acid, oak and alcohol have integrated, but this one may could use another couple of years for optimum drinking, though it is swell now.
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6/11/2017 - AllRed wrote: 88 Points
Second Sunday Group: Chateau Montelena Cabernet (Non-Estate) Vertical, 2005-2012 (Our house): Opens with notes of citrusy red plum, vanilla and currants. Develops dark fruit and herb notes as it sits in the glass. Nice fruit on the palate, primarily red, along with vanilla and oak spices. Medium tannins. Vanilla and currant in the finish.
My #6, Domino's #2
Group #1, 30 pts
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4/21/2017 - jzebrack Likes this wine: 90 Points
Ready to drink.
Opened without decanting. Had a very nice finish. More of a medium body. Certainly not big and bold. Was also very good on second day
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4/9/2017 - Bob in NC Likes this wine: 90 Points
An easy drinking Cab with finesse and elegance. So consistence year after year. Has more red fruit then most CS, with a great spiciness that made this wine perfect with our mushroom topped buffalo burgers.
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2/19/2017 - Delli Likes this wine: 91 Points
This wine has really opened up over the last two years. Tannins have really softened as has the finish. The ret of the rating notes are consistent. 5+12+16+8=91
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12/14/2016 - rhanke Likes this wine:
very nice. enjoyed a lot
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11/21/2016 - gmat5497 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Coming together. Very nice.
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9/19/2016 - Kskilskyj Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice smooth tannins and notes of vanilla. More depth of flavor after decanting.
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2/2/2016 - LWI wrote: 88 Points
US Cabernet Sauvignon: Herbal, vanilla extract, a bit synthetic; Moderate tannin, smooth and rounded
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10/27/2015 - Bob in NC Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted 1+ hours, needs at less that time for both the nose and palate to open. A soft and breezy easy drinking Cab; has an attractive nose and nice suppleness with a smooth balance to the palate. This wine is built to be approachable early in its life. Well integrated soft black fruit, an essence of cedar, a touch of cocoa, white pepper and soft light tannins. In its prime drinking window.
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8/23/2015 - Delli Likes this wine: 91 Points
Purple and opaque. Nose of dark, dense and ripe fruit with plumbs and raisin standing out along with some modest floral notes and a hint of vanilla. Still a lot of tannin and structure on the palate; this wine likely can cellar for a few more years. Crisp sour cranberries on the finish. 5+12+16+8=91
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7/19/2015 - ToniTony Likes this wine: 88 Points
Great balance but not much depth; consistent and tasty.
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7/2/2015 - gmat5497 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Second day better than first. Should decant.
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11/22/2014 - AllRed wrote:
Reticent. Develops subtle floral and candied red fruit notes but remains closed in and dumb. Thin on the palate, with candied red fruit qualities.
I suspect this was a case of very low-level cork taint, which can be below the threshold to be detected but strip the fruit out of a wine and leave it very plain and "dumb" as we had here.
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11/22/2014 - thelostverse wrote: 89 Points
4th Saturday group. Red fruits and very tannic. 3rd time I've had this in the last 18 months, and this has been poorest showing for me.
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11/1/2014 - zinfomaniac Likes this wine: 92 Points
Beautiful Cabernet! Loaded with an avalanche of integrated dark fruit and chocolate.
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10/20/2014 - Aspenhawk wrote: 92 Points
bam!
Nailed it... it’s got a lot of layers, but it’s so easy to drink and love in the moment
The wine is a light ruby colored. The legs are slow. It tastes like blackberry. The body is medium/full. The wine has round texture and finishes medium.
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8/1/2014 - crushzone wrote: 92 Points
A Montelena Estate Cab barrel must of gotten mixed in with the non-Estate Cabs. This one was really good. Full bodied and well balanced.
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7/19/2014 - Vanilla wrote: 90 Points
great bordeaux style USA cab. Well done.
drinking very well right now.
90pts
Santé
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8/2/2013 - xboomer wrote: 91 Points
Drank this moderate price Cabernet at BA with my golfing buddies. Everyone enjoyed it.
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7/10/2013 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
Chateau Montelena dinner with Brian Baker (Waterleaf Restaurant at College of DuPage): Dark color. Aromas of cassis, plum, black cherry and spice. Medium- to full-bodied; has begun integrating the tannins but has a short ways to go yet. Flavors of red currants, cassis and cherry with a long finish. The fruit really stands out here; delicious. Showing very well tonight. 92-93 pts.
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7/10/2013 - thelostverse wrote: 91 Points
Montelena dinner at Waterleaf. Second time I've had this since April. Nose of Hoisin, coffee and black cherry. Similar palate with addition of vanilla, nutmeg and cinnamon.
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6/22/2013 - bin905 Likes this wine: 93 Points
It is refined, elegant and balanced with all of the right ripe fruit, spice, etc. flavors. The finish is characterized by ample smooth tannins.
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6/11/2013 - f22nickell Likes this wine: 90 Points
Picked this up for a steal while on travel for work; Prescott, AZ of all places. Drank in my room in a plastic cup :-)
PnP. Nose was a bit mute at first, but opened to dark cherries, pencil shavings, and a hint of eucalyptus (hard to get much from a plastic cup.) Palate was very fruit forward, strong flavors of dark cherries. However, there was just enough acid and tannins to keep it in check. Tannins were smooth, but will integrate further with time.
I enjoyed this wine, but it was a bit one dimensional. I also didn't pick up any indicators that this will evolve much down the road. I'm afraid the fruit will just fade with nothing to replace it. Tannins will hold for awhile so recommend drinking now through 2018
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5/29/2013 - GEDC wrote: 90 Points
I tried something different this time. I decanted half of the bottle and the other half through the vinturi into the decanter and waited 30 minutes. The nose was full of red fruits, cinnamon, and a bit of wood spice. The wine seemed more chewy with a viscous like texture that was nice, a mixture of plums and cherries and a light touch of oak in the back was cool. The best bottle so far of the lot of six. The wine is fine, seems to be well made, hopefully will improve with some time. However at this stage I would buy something else for $45. I have one more left and will hold for a year to see the improvement. I have great respect for the owner of this chateau, with happens to own Ch. Cos D'Estournel and we all know they make very fine wine.
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5/24/2013 - GEDC wrote: 89 Points
Same as before 4/15/2013
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5/11/2013 - AllRed wrote: 89 Points
Notes of plum, cherry and cassis with flavors of chocolate, cassis and vanilla with a long finish. Medium-bodied with firm but approachable tannins.
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4/26/2013 - AllRed wrote:
Anniversary Dinner (The Anvil Club, East Dundee, IL): Somehow I missed tasting this one I think.
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4/26/2013 - thelostverse wrote: 90 Points
Opened by Allred at Anvil for 5th anniversary. Black fruits and pine. Needs time to come around.
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4/26/2013 - Vino Me wrote: 92 Points
Allred. Round. Earthy. Black fruit. 92 points
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4/15/2013 - GEDC wrote: 89 Points
pnp very fresh, nice fruit and acidity. I would wait a few years for it all to come into place.
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3/15/2013 - crushzone wrote: 89 Points
- Purple color with slow forming legs and aromas of tobacco and black pepper. It's somewhat balanced and has flavours of raspberry, cherry and cedar with a medium/full body. Satin-Like texture with a medium finish.
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3/14/2013 - scaredone Likes this wine: 91 Points
The wine looks Crimson colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like and Blackberry.
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1/14/2013 - rhanke wrote: 90 Points
good, showing well
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1/12/2013 - bzell wrote: 88 Points
Good fruit forward wine with aromas of dark fruit on the nose and cherries on the palate. The wine is a little thin and not complex with very little tannin and a moderate length finish. A good wine but given its price point I think there are better options out there.
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12/8/2012 - Jhcwine wrote: 91 Points
91
$60 Cdn
Not worth the price. Over rated.
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9/4/2012 - AllRed wrote: 90 Points
Plum, cassis and black cherry aromas. Medium-bodied and nicely balanced, with red and black fruits dominating the palate. Hints of spice and vanilla; pleasant finish.
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6/3/2012 - Chip Little wrote:
taste was smooth ; full flavor but not overpowering ; decanted it for 6 hours and loved every last drop
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6/2/2012 - Ajtrader wrote: 88 Points
Disappointing. Needs more time.
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5/18/2012 - steinersing wrote: 88 Points
Pretty solid for the price
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5/12/2012 - Brsed wrote: 86 Points
Disappointing for a Montelena. I know this is not the Estate, but this wine is extremely disappointing and not up to the standard of other "regular" Monty bottlings. Fine as a generic Cab but monolithic with little structure.
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5/4/2012 - JDV.DDSPHD wrote: 89 Points
Nice cab. The chocolate notes really stand out. Nice finish, very smooth. Sort of a high price point for what it is but nice finish. Having it with a ribeye from Ruth Chris & it does the job.
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4/22/2012 - mikev101 wrote: 86 Points
Same notes as before..won't buy again at this price..
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4/6/2012 - AllRed wrote: 87 Points
A pop & pour, first of the case. Deep crimson color. Notes of cassis, anise, black currants, chocolate and cherries. Medium-bodied, with flavors of chocolate and black fruit. Large-scaled tannins and quite austere through the mid palate and finish at this young stage. This will need some time in the cellar to soften and flesh out.
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3/13/2012 - Waitingforguffman wrote: 90 Points
A beautiful yet young expression of their stellar cab. Opened in a rush, poured too quickly, business partners just wanted to taste and three of the four stopped short and said, "Wow."
Great juice, silky without much age and smokey bacon on the back end.....I apologize to the wine maker for rushing through his work. But, I know how good this wine truly is, and it has yet to disappoint.
I will never apologize for opening.
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3/10/2012 - mikev101 wrote: 86 Points
This is a great everyday Cab.....but the price makes it NOT a great everyday Cab......so much better in the $20 range IMO...really dissapointing for a $45 Cab...
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2/27/2012 - Burgundy Al wrote: 89 Points
Aromas of blueberry, black plum and dark chocolate. Similar fruit comes through on palate, with modest spice and reasonably good balance. A nice option in the SFO United Club, more than fairly priced qt $10 for what seemed like an 8 ounce pour.
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2/21/2012 - rhanke wrote: 90 Points
great everyday Cab, Medium, opens up after an hour
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2/21/2012 - Frangee wrote:
Excellent. Decant.
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2/19/2012 - bobpsi wrote: 88 Points
Moderate nose of stewed fruits, tobacco and cocoa. Medium plus palate of slightly overripe blackberry and currants, semi sweet chocolate and leather. Medium plus finish.
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2/8/2012 - halprewitt wrote: 85 Points
Weak and overpriced for the taste
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1/29/2012 - ernie237 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Pop and poured. Improved a bit with air, but was easy to consume immediately. Very nice balance. Very smooth. Great wine for consuming with food. I would rate higher if it had more complexity like the estate, but I can't complain considering the considerably cheaper price compared to the estate. Looking forward to the next bottle.
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1/12/2012 - pifcho wrote:
Side by side with the 2007. I would drink this first. This showed much better from the get go on a pop and pour. Lighter concentration, but gorgeously balanced fruit. Light oak. Easy to drink and to enjoy with good earthiness on the finish. Would be great at $25-30, not so much at the asking price. B/B+
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1/2/2012 - graphite wrote: 89 Points
Rather closed on opening. With some air opened up with cassis, black cherry, and tobacco. Light to medium body, elegant, with well-integrated oak and very fine tannins. Nice now, could go another couple years. Enjoyable, but not very good QPR - who buys this? Those looking for an expensive alternative to mid-priced Bordeaux?
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1/2/2012 - tooch wrote: 84 Points
Dark wine with dense blueberry and plum components on the palate. Underlying chocolate and coffee tones suggest heavy oaking which doesn't necessarily surprise me. There's none of the wonderful minty-ness that you get on the Estate wines. Overall, this is pretty pedestrian.
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12/18/2011 - davidwhitedc wrote:
Terroirist Blogger Tasting #3: SRP: $49. Very sweet nose of black fruits, plums, black cherries, chocolate, tar, and green pepper, with a hint of acetone. The oak treatment feels harsh and way over the top, and the nose smells alcoholic. On the palate, it’s the same – but I’m feeling hot hot hot. A disappointing wine.
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11/5/2011 - Frank&Steph wrote: 89 Points
bon cabernet, une valeur sûre
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10/22/2011 - AllRed wrote: 90 Points
Domestic New Releases Tasting (Binny's, St. Charles): Dusty garnet color with aromas of red currants, florals- violets & rose petals, herbs and red berries. Medium- to full-bodied, with dusty tannins and chewy red berry and currant flavors. Long finish. 90+ pts. $42.99.
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10/9/2011 - lumpyelbow wrote:
Napa 2011; 10/6/2011-10/9/2011 (Napa Valley, California): 12% Merlot 2% CF. Great cab for early drinking. More pleasing than Estate Cab at the moment.
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10/9/2011 - Ebonn101 wrote: 91 Points
Really opens up after an aeration. Delicious cab, tastes a lot like the mid-2000s Estate Cab. Powerful and fruit-forward at such a young age. I've got another bottle which I'll probably keep shelved for a few years and am confident will age well. Looking forward to the 07 estate cab I've got ready to drink as well.
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10/2/2011 - slywka7 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Best of the recent vintages I have had. A more restrained style but with some nice fruit as well. Elegant.
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9/26/2011 - rsbeck wrote: 91 Points
Had this at a tasting bar in the St. Francis hotel in San Francisco, so it had been open for awhile. I would guess a few hours at least. This was surprisingly good. The fruit was perfectly ripe and had a touch of elegance. Layers of red and black fruit, nicely integrated wood spice, some earthy/leathery/forest floor notes, nice acidity, smooth, chalky tannin. Decently complex, classic and harmonious. Makes me wonder how good the 2008 Estate must be.
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