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Red
1980 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate
Cabernet Sauvignon
- USA
- California
- Napa Valley
Label borrowed from 1979
Label borrowed from 1981
Label borrowed from 1981
Label borrowed from 1979
Label borrowed from 1979
Label borrowed from 1979
Label borrowed from 1979
Label borrowed from 1979
Label borrowed from 1979
Label borrowed from 1981
Label borrowed from 1981
Label borrowed from 1979
Label borrowed from 1982
Label borrowed from 1982
Label borrowed from 1982
Label borrowed from 1978
Label borrowed from 1978
Label borrowed from 1982
Label borrowed from 1978
Label borrowed from 1982
Label borrowed from 1982
Label borrowed from 1978
Label borrowed from 1978
Community Tasting Notes 29
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salcorn wrote: flawed
December 2, 2023 - This was the most controversial wine of our 23-bottle tasting event. A few liked it, but it was one of the strangest wines I've ever had. I'm hoping it was a flawed bottle, and I have one more to try. This one was quite literally like licorice in liquid form. Not just a hint of licorice in the nose. Absolutely intense licorice flavor, and nothing but licorice. Very weird.
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jlgnml Likes this wine: 98 points
October 18, 2022 - Incredible color and nose, lots of weight on the palate and just about perfect.
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winedupe Likes this wine: 92 points
August 23, 2022 - A few years ago I had a bottle of the 1982 Montelena Estate, which was not very good, so I had been putting off drinking my one remaining bottle of 1980. However, it seemed it was time to "get rid" of the 1980, so I popped and poured. The cork was in perfect condition, came out in one solid piece with the Ah So, and only purple stained to about the bottom 10%. Fill was still into the neck, about half an inch below the cork! Color was still medium red-purple, with almost no browning. I would not call the flavor fruity, but it was mellow, full, and multidimensional, with a touch of cooked turnip and soy sauce. I did not notice any mint, which a previous previewer had mentioned. Altogether a pleasant mouthful, and surprisingly young for its age. Not bad for a 42 year old!
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Bert’s Stache Does not like this wine: 69 points
May 29, 2020 - Bottle was spoiled, nothing left in the wine.
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ShadowIII Likes this wine: 92 points
July 23, 2018 - youthful, lovely wine, currants, red fruits, elegant with nice mid palate and finish, years to go
1 - 5 of 29
More notes
Pro Reviews 3
Add a Pro ReviewVinous
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By Stephen Tanzer
Chateau Montelena Cabernet Estate: 1977-2010 (May 2019), 5/1/2019 (link)(Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Montelena Napa Valley Red) Subscribe to see review text.
RJonWine.com
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By Richard Jennings
1/11/2018 (link) 94 points(Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate) From magnum - Lightly bricking dark red violet color; spice, cassis, plum, boysenberry nose; delicious, silky textured, boysenberry, spice, black currant palate with good balancing acidity and firm, sweet tannins; medium-plus finish (24 months in oak, 20% new)
Rockss and Fruit
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By Lyle Fass
10/28/2005 (link)(Chateau Montelena) This was singing with lots of mint and menthol and sweet blueberry and cassis fruit. Loads of concentration and freshness on the palate with a slight touch of green tannin.
Wine Definition
- Vintage 1980
- Type Red
- Producer Chateau Montelena
- Varietal Cabernet Sauvignon
- Designation The Montelena Estate
- Vineyard n/a
- Country USA
- Region California
- SubRegion Napa Valley
- Appellation Napa Valley
- UPC Code 733555251626
Community Holdings
- Pending Delivery 2 (1%)
- In Cellars 201 (70%)
- Consumed 84 (29%)
Food Pairing
No food pairings available.
Who Likes This Wine
92% Like It 12 votes
More About This Wine
Articles
- ProducerChateau Montelena
- VarietyCabernet Sauvignon
- CountryUSA
- RegionCalifornia
- SubRegionNapa Valley
- AppellationNapa Valley
Add Articles
- Wine1980 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate (add)
- FamilyChateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate (add)
- ProducerChateau Montelena
- VarietalCabernet Sauvignon
- DesignationThe Montelena Estate (add)
- CountryUSA
- RegionCalifornia
- SubRegionNapa Valley
- AppellationNapa Valley