March 23, 2024 - I feel like this bottle is currently in that middle stage of not knowing what it wants to be.... Upon opening, Big Bold & in your face, after 2 hours of decant, very muted, with small hints of Bordeaux like characteristics coming from the back end.... I feel as if this bottle needs another 5 years minimum to take on that older Napa style I believe it's made to resemble, but I will not think about touching my other bottles for a MINIMUM of 8-10 years. This bottle was great, but definitely let me down in terms of immediate enjoyment, but at the same time is talking to me on how amazing it will be with some patience.
March 9, 2024 - Decanted and started drinking well right out of the bottle.
Evolved really nicely over two hours of air.
Notes of ripe dark cherry and earth, maybe mushroom.
Truly great wine, very delicious. Paired especially well with truffles.
94 points.
October 13, 2023 - Excellent. Beautifl wine after a 4 hour decant. Cassis and berry fruit, long finish, great acid and tannins.
July 4, 2023 - Once again a cork broke off on an older bottle of Montelena Estate. Ruby red in the glass. After three hours in the decanter, tobacco was the predominant nose. Blackberry flavors that persist on a lengthy finish. Good and approachable, but still tannins still present and has time.
June 17, 2023 - Quite a step up from a bottle drunk in 2021. concentrated fruit and secondary flavors. With grilled beef tenderloin. Give it 30 minutes of air. Drink or hold
May 26, 2023 - Lovely floral aromas. Dark Burgundy in the glass. Flavors of dark fruit, blackberry and cassis. Integrated tannins with refreshing acidity. The wine is lively with a long finish. Wonderfully delicious.
May 2, 2023 - Huh. Thought I had more of these but this apparently was my only one. Hmmm..... Well, this one after bottle decanting for 3 hours and then consumed over the next 2 hours, this wine is half awake. Unfortunately it means that it is also half asleep. The fruit is quite expressive without a doubt. This is quintessential Calistoga fruit right here in this glass. Blackberry, hint of truffle, toasted nuts, tar, pipe tobacco. Stiff oak tannin. Lots of it here but honestly the 1979 Monty Cab enjoyed two weeks prior was more integrated than this one was. Really insane how these wines are so structured, and this one without a doubt still has the dang scaffolding on the outside of the bottle! If you have these, you might want to pop one. But my suspicion is that you'll be pushing all the rest to the back of the cellar and coming back to them after 2030.
March 27, 2023 - Needs more time, still a bit structured. Seems to be at an awkward stage in its life. Will let this vintage sit for 5-10 more years and come back to it then.
December 2, 2022 - Dyp, mørk lilla opak farge med tendenser til brunt. Blåbær, bjørnebær, steinsopp, tre, jord og trøfler på nesen. Smak av mørke bær, tranebær, sjokolade, sopp og lakris. Fortsatt fin syre, delikate, smått modne tanniner, sitter lenge. Flott vin. Perfekt moden nå, men tåler sikkert flere år til i kjelleren.
August 27, 2022 - 4th Saturday Brown Bagger (EBCC): Blind. Garnet color. Aromas of currant and red plum with earthy undertones. Full-bodied, with plum and red berry fruit, herb, forest floor and spice flavors. Balanced, with a lingering finish. Wine of the flight for many.
It wasn't until the end of the flight that I began to wonder if this was our bottle of Montelena. This had been decanted for nearly three hours. 93-94 pts.