1991 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate

Community Tasting Notes (256) Avg Score: 93.7 points

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  3/15/2024 - N.Bonaparte wrote: 93 Points

  6th time drinking this. Last time was 16 months ago. I decanted this for an hour which was about right. This was a good bottle but certainly not the best bottle I’ve had of this. This had some drier fruits up front compared to prior bottles. This still had nice balance with a long dry finish. Good bottles should still drink well for 3-5 years at least. The last time I drank this with the owner of Zakin winery and she text Heidi Barret to tell her how good this was, which was pretty cool. Anyways, this was still delicious and paired well with wagyu filet, iberico ham, bone marrow and sweet potato. Sadly my last bottle.

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  2/13/2024 - Luvwine1 Likes this wine: 93 Points

  Initially, the nose was concerning. It smelled of tea, the cork had split, and I thought perhaps it was flawed. Over time, the nose came around and if not pleasant, it was less objectionable with some fruit coming through. I tasted it and found lovely sweet fruit, medium body, good length, some eucalyptus and mushroom and, well, it was lovely and balanced as we drank it with some NY strip steaks. Good stuff. Wish I had more.

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  12/19/2023 - Kim Yong-in Likes this wine: 94 Points

  It still has nice fruit note with elegant acidity. On the nose, blackcurrant with smooth oak and mushroom. On the palate, vevelty tannins and high acidity. Not yet over the peak.

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  10/20/2023 - SpenceP wrote: 97 Points

  Just a beautiful wine! I tend to avoid decanting, but this wine needs over two hours (I was watching the clock for once) in the glass to be at its best, so even I concede that a decant (I have no idea how long) might well be a good idea. Immediately after opening, the wine is misleadingly enjoyable, but not nearly as good as it will become. Blackberries, black plums, tobacco, blueberries, a hint of grilled meat or iodine, a touch of mint and of melon, amazingly light on its feet and utterly graceful, and followed by a phenomenally intense and endless aftertaste. Previously tasted 5/23/22 and 8/17/23. I initially scored this at 94 points, and raised it to 96 after an hour and a half in the glass. It only reached 97 after a little over two hours in the glass. As I said, either decant or plan a very slow long dinner! Should continue to be very very special for at least another three years and probably longer. [Tasted over more than two hours from the Jancis Robinson glass. I gave this bottle a week and a half upright for the sediment to settle out.]

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  9/29/2023 - mick978@gmail.com Likes this wine: 90 Points

  Start drinking these. Still have good life but on their way down.

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