Community Tasting Note

kanjimoti wrote:

Tuesday, July 13, 2010 - Such a beauty. The 1997 Montelena Estate Cab is still going strong. Very dark with only the slightest hue change towards the edge. On the nose the wine is dramatic and complex displaying eucalyptus (ala Heitz Martha's) cassis, licorice, gravel, and thankfully last, the oak which sits so nicely in the background. One of the reasons I opened this was that I was told most of the Napa cabs from 1997 were starting to unwind and even fall apart. That may be true of others but the Montelena has hardly reached middle age, yet to exhibit much of the tobacco I know this is hiding for now. The tannins are soft and beautiful but what is really holding it all together is the beautifully integrated backbone of acid. Another ten years and I think all the elements here will intertwine into near perfection and finally be able to display everything it has to offer. At least five years from peaking.

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