Community Tasting Notes 18

• jeanclaude wrote: 94 points

  April 7, 2024 - This is just an outstanding bottle of wine. Definitely in it's zone right now and will hold for years to come. Just a heady nose of deep dark fruit with creme de casis nuances. On the palate very expansive and broad. Hitting on all cylinders. Delivers concentrated denseness without over extraction. Lovely fruit with just the right acidity. Excellent really to meditate without food. Great conversational piece.

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• Braunstein Cellars Likes this wine: 94 points

  August 18, 2023 - Absolutely delicious. Looked great on my sneakers and shorts!

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• Plasmatini Likes this wine: 94 points

  December 12, 2022 - Still young, but showing nicely. Great balance, mouthfeel, and acidity.

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• davidandrose Likes this wine: 92 points

  September 17, 2022 - Purchased from the winery and held in my walk-in since release. Notes begin after a 4 hr decant, followed in Sommelier stems as these added depth to the finish bs our regular Reidels.
  
  Relatively light coloring with a good grip on the stems. Red fruit and black tea on the nose. Tasted blind Mrs Davidandrose took this as an aged merlot. I beleive this follows the house style and see it as more of an aged Bordeaux blend rather than a cab, though I'd take it to be much older than it is and would be hard-pressed to disagree with my bride if tasted blind.
  
  I called the winery when I saw the composite cork, which has apparently been used since the 2014 vintage, though I don't recall recall this from the earlier vintages I've opened.
  
  As others note I too am struggling w Montys QPR, esp after the latest price increase from $105 to 150 as a 20 year member of their futures program. I just cut the cord w Shafer after a similar post buy-sell increase, and I have a much longer a personal relationship w Shafer as it's our wedding wine and the wine that opened our eyes (and wallet) to wine appreciation and collection.

  4 people found this helpful Comments (5)

• gannon.johnc wrote:

  September 11, 2022 - Was recently at the tasting room in SF. Russell thinks this is a 30-year wine.
  '13 and '16 Estate bottles for a few more years before trying one. (14 and 17 starting to drink now. 13, 16 are 30-year wines. 18 is on the edge.)

  1 person found this helpful Comment

Pro Reviews 2

Wine Definition

• Vintage 2016
• Type Red
• Producer Chateau Montelena
• Varietal Cabernet Sauvignon
• Designation The Montelena Estate
• Vineyard n/a
• Country USA
• Region California
• SubRegion Napa Valley
• Appellation Calistoga
• UPC Codes 733555100320, 733555251329, 733555251626

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 45 (1%)
• In Cellars 5,815 (87%)
• Consumed 859 (13%)

Food Pairing

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