Second Sunday Group: Chateau Montelena Cabernet (Non-Estate) Vertical, 2005-2012 (Our house): Courtesy of R&D, an anniversary bottle opened the night before with dinner. A hint of oxidation had settled in overnight but there was still cherry and white currant fruit qualities remaining. Subtle floral notes are a nice addition. No noticeable tannins, ending with a pleasant cedar note in the finish.
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This bottle had a base neck fill. The cork was stained half way up but was extracted with an ah-so quite readily. A crimson red wine with significant bricking along the edges. Right out of the bottle, the wine smells of saddle leather and something reminiscent of a salt marsh- a kind of damp earth and minerality with a slight saltiness. The wine is quite dry with charcoal, tar, and even hints of black fruits remaining. At this stage, the tannins are fully integrated, making for a well-balanced wine. A truly outstanding wine.
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1977 California Cabernet horizontal. (Il Corso.): Not a good showing and I expected more. There's a touch of VA on the nose and a slight caramel note to the fruit, which had me thinking it might've seen some heat, but others with more experience with the wine said the showing was fairly typical. The caramel didn't show on the palate, but the wine was lean, hard and in desperate need of fruit. Drying out. B-/C+.
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6/11/2017 - AllRed wrote: 87 Points
Second Sunday Group: Chateau Montelena Cabernet (Non-Estate) Vertical, 2005-2012 (Our house): Courtesy of R&D, an anniversary bottle opened the night before with dinner. A hint of oxidation had settled in overnight but there was still cherry and white currant fruit qualities remaining. Subtle floral notes are a nice addition. No noticeable tannins, ending with a pleasant cedar note in the finish.
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6/1/2013 - prof b Likes this wine: 95 Points
This bottle had a base neck fill. The cork was stained half way up but was extracted with an ah-so quite readily. A crimson red wine with significant bricking along the edges. Right out of the bottle, the wine smells of saddle leather and something reminiscent of a salt marsh- a kind of damp earth and minerality with a slight saltiness. The wine is quite dry with charcoal, tar, and even hints of black fruits remaining. At this stage, the tannins are fully integrated, making for a well-balanced wine. A truly outstanding wine.
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4/3/2012 - BradKNYC wrote:
1977 California Cabernet horizontal. (Il Corso.): Not a good showing and I expected more. There's a touch of VA on the nose and a slight caramel note to the fruit, which had me thinking it might've seen some heat, but others with more experience with the wine said the showing was fairly typical. The caramel didn't show on the palate, but the wine was lean, hard and in desperate need of fruit. Drying out. B-/C+.
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3/5/2011 - ThomasDSilak@gmail.com wrote: 93 Points
Cherries, dark Chocolate, Smoke. Tasty after all these years.
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10/4/2009 - jergold wrote: 91 Points
I was amazed this held up so long. It was lovely, with soft fruit and well developed tanins.
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