1997 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga Cuvée

Community Tasting Notes (8) Avg Score: 90.4 points

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  12/21/2013 - Tom Myers Likes this wine: 90 Points

  Thought it might be way past its prime but I was pleasantly surprised at how well it held up...very good!

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  9/10/2012 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

  Brief note. Consumed for 15th wedding anniversary at restaurant, thus I didn't give this lots of time and attention in which to closely analyze. Main impression was very dark maroon color. A big nose upfront with lots of rich, smoky Cabernet fruit. The initial palate reflected the nose. However, with time and air, the wine degraded a little, becoming a little thin and bitter around the edges. The finish seemed a little hot (alcohol-wise) and one-dimensional. My overall impression was that I waited too long to open this bottle. However, given that we consumed this relatively quick, it's also entirely possible that had it opened even further it might have shed some of the rough edges and shaped up - but that is only a conjecture.

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  10/23/2009 - Kirk Grant wrote: 89 Points

  Another gathering on the island (66 Mouton, Lascombes, Musar, and photos...) (Scott Worcester's in Southwest Harbor, ME): Holding up quite nicely for 12 years old...and I think this can still last another year or two with good storage. It was a deep violet with light ruby bricking at the rim of the glass with scents of earth, cassis, dark fruits, dark chocolate, and a light hint of cedar. In the mouth this medium bodied wine was not what I think of in terms of California cabernet. It was more delicate, and finessed than what one might expect with flavors of dark fruits, tobacco, and dark chocolate along a medium length finish.

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  3/14/2009 - mellison wrote: 88 Points

  Pretty typical. Should have drank a few years ago.

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  8/6/2008 - mellison wrote: 92 Points

  Nicely balance wine with about the right amount of oak. Nothing special, borderline to serve to guests.

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