Credit for hanging in there but would have been much better a few years ago with more fruit. Subdued notes of red fruit. I probably wouldn’t have called Zinfandel blind.
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Double decanted off its sediment and brought along to m/m tlv's. Cherry, red currant, white pepper and plum. Still has some nice fruit at eleven years old, and pairs nicely with dinner.
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40th Annual Zinfandel Retrospective - the 2013s (R&Ds): Double decanted off its sediment and tasted with the other '08s about an hour later. Holding up nicely, showing red berry and pepper aromas. Medium-bodied with flavors of red fruit, pepper and spice. Mature, and in a nice spot...will drink the last two within the coming months. 89-90 pts.
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A little light on opening but body builds with some air until it plateaus at medium body. Good table wine, better than the jug variety, but none of the spice and body I look for in a zin. Meh!
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pleasant and balanced drinking experience. Not big and bright like cheaper Zins. But also not at rich as examples like Seghesio old vine or Ridge Geyserville. We debated whether this was all Zin or a blend. It didn't have the structure or life of a blend but was also not a aromatic as a 100% zin - no one was interested enough to look up the details. Not bad for the price, and definitely a elegant style of winemaking for California.
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Medium bodied, ripe cherry with elegance. Not as jammy as many Zins pleasant and drinkable. Might be just past it's prime, glad this is my last bottle.
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Wine overall is pleasant, but there is a very slight undertone of funk on the nose and palate that detracts from fully enjoying this wine. Given the bottle variations, we are not unhappy this is our last bottle of this vintage.
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Compared ’07 vs ’08 – ’07 shows a degree of bricken compared to the brightness of the ’08. Nose on the ’07 is more subdued giving off more heat than anything while the ’08 exhibits brambly fruit, savory spice and smoked meat. ’07 palate is as subdued as the nose with minimal fruit and spice with more fruit showing on a lingering finish. Nothing unpleasant on the ’07 it’s smooth, drinks well simply no depth. The ’08, on the other hand, tastes of pleasantly tart red currant berries and baking spice leading to a grippy food complementary finish. The ’08 is not as smooth but more interesting and fun to drink with greater depth in nose and palate. ’07 drink up! ’08 drink over the next 2 or 3 years.
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Chateau Montelena dinner with Brian Baker (Waterleaf Restaurant at College of DuPage): I have said many times before that Montelena's Zin is a style that I enjoy quite a bit. If you are looking for ripe and jammy, look elsewhere- even in warm years Montelena Zins tend to the elegant side, and the 2008 is no exception. Light ruby robe with notes of cherry, baking spices and berries. Medium-bodied, with flavors of vanilla, red fruit and cherries. Soft and elegant, with cherry and spice notes lingering on the finish. 89+ pts.
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Montelena dinner at Waterleaf. This is showing it's age visually with some bricking. Very light color with a clear hue throughout. Notes of plums and dark fruits. I think this is fading and I'd drink up if I had any left.
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Our last two tastings notes from 11/11/2011 and 9/15/2012 were not as positive as tonights. We thought this bottle was more typical of CM's eligent zin style with light jammy rashberry fruit, black pepper spice and touch of dusty tannins, which went very well with our grilled pork chops.
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Light Pinot-like body that was very smooth but then it hit you with a black pepper note. As somebody that prefers his zin more restrained rather than big and jammy I thought this was a very good wine and I would definitely recommend it to people that normally pass on zin.
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A bit tight on the nose. Restrained Zin, with decent tannins, not too powerful, but they're there. Not a big fruit forward or juicy type of Zin, but a decent bottle.
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Notes of cherry, lavender, white pepper, red fruit and raspberry. Medium-bodied, with flavors of peppery red fruit, spice and vanilla. Red fruit and pepper tones dominate the finish.
Those looking for heavy, ripe, full-throttle zins will be disappointed, as that is not the style made here. If you want raisiny 16.5+ abv zins, find yourself some Turley.
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I am not sure what happened to this wine but it was very disappointing. Tasted like a wet mop. I would expect much better from Montelena. Maybe its in a dumb stage. Could hardly drink it.
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Bright, ripe nose of bramble fruit and spice. Raspberry, white pepper and baking spice. On the palate, it feels richbut isn't jammy. It has a nice balance of bright acidity, ripe red berry fruit, tannin and spice. Nothing leans too heavy on the profile, making it well integrated and nicely structured. Mid palate, there are some nice red and black plum aromas and flavors. The finish is a tad hot with alcohol and all the flavor dissipates leaving you with just acid and alcohol. That's it's only downside.
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PnVnD. Garent claret stle color for a zin. Musky bramble blackberry aroma. Medium(-) slight black tea tannins. Earthy stemmy blackberry and gren tea flavors Medium finish echos the flavors with a bit of a fruit skin prickle give it a nice freshness. Pleasant enough but not enough depth or complexity to jusitfy the price. Can do waaaaaay better with a Dry Creek Valley Zin for haf the price.
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Got a lot better after aerating for over an hour. Much too right and crisp at first taste. Became much smoother and eminently drinkable after breathing for a couple hours. At that point, very good, full Zinfandel.
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Interesting wine, almost like a zin got the Cabernet treatment. Lots of oak, milder fruit and spice than I'm used to from zins. Tasty, though. Probably opened too early - could have used some more time in the bottle.
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Bought this after a tasting. At the tasting this blew me away... Deep, rich, silky, huge nose. Popped and poured a bottle at home and it was thinner. Still a smooth, fruity wine with a good nose. Why so much better at the tasting? Maybe it needs 1-2 hours of air.
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Aromas of pepper, black cherry, dark fruit and leather. Medium bodied, with cherry, black fruit and white pepper flavors. An elegant Zin, very much in a style I prefer.
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8/6/2023 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine: 86 Points
Credit for hanging in there but would have been much better a few years ago with more fruit. Subdued notes of red fruit. I probably wouldn’t have called Zinfandel blind.
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3/16/2019 - AllRed wrote: 88 Points
Double decanted off its sediment and brought along to m/m tlv's. Cherry, red currant, white pepper and plum. Still has some nice fruit at eleven years old, and pairs nicely with dinner.
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5/27/2018 - AllRed wrote: 89 Points
40th Annual Zinfandel Retrospective - the 2013s (R&Ds): Double decanted off its sediment and tasted with the other '08s about an hour later. Holding up nicely, showing red berry and pepper aromas. Medium-bodied with flavors of red fruit, pepper and spice. Mature, and in a nice spot...will drink the last two within the coming months. 89-90 pts.
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7/19/2014 - JR512 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Liked it but not blown away. Was only bottle of it and glad I drank it now rather than waiting much longer.
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7/18/2014 - crushzone wrote: 85 Points
A little light on opening but body builds with some air until it plateaus at medium body. Good table wine, better than the jug variety, but none of the spice and body I look for in a zin. Meh!
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6/25/2014 - kakpoo wrote: 88 Points
pleasant and balanced drinking experience. Not big and bright like cheaper Zins. But also not at rich as examples like Seghesio old vine or Ridge Geyserville. We debated whether this was all Zin or a blend. It didn't have the structure or life of a blend but was also not a aromatic as a 100% zin - no one was interested enough to look up the details. Not bad for the price, and definitely a elegant style of winemaking for California.
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2/1/2014 - lslayton@me.com wrote: 89 Points
Medium bodied, ripe cherry with elegance. Not as jammy as many Zins pleasant and drinkable. Might be just past it's prime, glad this is my last bottle.
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1/17/2014 - Bob in NC wrote: 86 Points
Wine overall is pleasant, but there is a very slight undertone of funk on the nose and palate that detracts from fully enjoying this wine. Given the bottle variations, we are not unhappy this is our last bottle of this vintage.
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12/26/2013 - cucycling wrote: 86 Points
mine too showing age with bricking, not at all the pleasureable wine I enjoyed at winery when this bottle was purchased.
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11/22/2013 - Bob in NC Likes this wine: 88 Points
Compared ’07 vs ’08 – ’07 shows a degree of bricken compared to the brightness of the ’08. Nose on the ’07 is more subdued giving off more heat than anything while the ’08 exhibits brambly fruit, savory spice and smoked meat. ’07 palate is as subdued as the nose with minimal fruit and spice with more fruit showing on a lingering finish. Nothing unpleasant on the ’07 it’s smooth, drinks well simply no depth. The ’08, on the other hand, tastes of pleasantly tart red currant berries and baking spice leading to a grippy food complementary finish. The ’08 is not as smooth but more interesting and fun to drink with greater depth in nose and palate. ’07 drink up! ’08 drink over the next 2 or 3 years.
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7/10/2013 - AllRed wrote: 89 Points
Chateau Montelena dinner with Brian Baker (Waterleaf Restaurant at College of DuPage): I have said many times before that Montelena's Zin is a style that I enjoy quite a bit. If you are looking for ripe and jammy, look elsewhere- even in warm years Montelena Zins tend to the elegant side, and the 2008 is no exception. Light ruby robe with notes of cherry, baking spices and berries. Medium-bodied, with flavors of vanilla, red fruit and cherries. Soft and elegant, with cherry and spice notes lingering on the finish. 89+ pts.
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7/10/2013 - thelostverse wrote: 88 Points
Montelena dinner at Waterleaf. This is showing it's age visually with some bricking. Very light color with a clear hue throughout. Notes of plums and dark fruits. I think this is fading and I'd drink up if I had any left.
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5/27/2013 - Adam T 12 wrote: 85 Points
Mature, drink up
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5/26/2013 - AllRed wrote: 89 Points
35th Annual Zinfandel Retrospective - the 2008s (Rich & Dana's): Notes of cherry, raspberry and red fruit with subtle spice undertones. Medium-bodied with red fruit and white pepper flavors. Nce finish.
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4/8/2013 - Bob in NC wrote: 88 Points
Our last two tastings notes from 11/11/2011 and 9/15/2012 were not as positive as tonights. We thought this bottle was more typical of CM's eligent zin style with light jammy rashberry fruit, black pepper spice and touch of dusty tannins, which went very well with our grilled pork chops.
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3/18/2013 - Wine Gopher wrote: 90 Points
Light Pinot-like body that was very smooth but then it hit you with a black pepper note. As somebody that prefers his zin more restrained rather than big and jammy I thought this was a very good wine and I would definitely recommend it to people that normally pass on zin.
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2/21/2013 - Arthur4wine Likes this wine: 91 Points
Another great wine from Chateau Montelena. Served with spicy baby back ribs. Yum.
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12/18/2012 - superlove Likes this wine: 88 Points
A bit tight on the nose. Restrained Zin, with decent tannins, not too powerful, but they're there. Not a big fruit forward or juicy type of Zin, but a decent bottle.
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9/15/2012 - Bob in NC wrote:
Drank this wine in a vertical with 2007 and 2009. Overall the ’08 was not as expressive on the nose or palate as the ’07 or ’09.
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8/1/2012 - AllRed wrote: 89 Points
Notes of cherry, lavender, white pepper, red fruit and raspberry. Medium-bodied, with flavors of peppery red fruit, spice and vanilla. Red fruit and pepper tones dominate the finish.
Those looking for heavy, ripe, full-throttle zins will be disappointed, as that is not the style made here. If you want raisiny 16.5+ abv zins, find yourself some Turley.
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4/6/2012 - kreame Does not like this wine: 83 Points
I am not sure what happened to this wine but it was very disappointing. Tasted like a wet mop. I would expect much better from Montelena. Maybe its in a dumb stage. Could hardly drink it.
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4/5/2012 - TeamPnM wrote: 72 Points
Disappointing. Had more characteristics of a Pinot Noir than of a Napa Valley Zinfandel. Weak and watery, no finish to speak of.
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3/7/2012 - Arthur4wine wrote: 89 Points
Nice fruit forward wine. The finish is a bit hot tasting of alcohol, but overall a very nice bottle of wine.
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3/4/2012 - vegasoenophile wrote: 87 Points
Bright, ripe nose of bramble fruit and spice. Raspberry, white pepper and baking spice. On the palate, it feels richbut isn't jammy. It has a nice balance of bright acidity, ripe red berry fruit, tannin and spice. Nothing leans too heavy on the profile, making it well integrated and nicely structured. Mid palate, there are some nice red and black plum aromas and flavors. The finish is a tad hot with alcohol and all the flavor dissipates leaving you with just acid and alcohol. That's it's only downside.
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2/26/2012 - Arthur4wine wrote: 90 Points
I greatly enjoyed this bottle. Still a little young, I will wait a year before opening the next bottle.
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11/11/2011 - Bob in NC wrote: 83 Points
Drank with friends; did not enjoy this bottle as much as past vintages due to some off flavors.
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11/4/2011 - df1962 wrote: 85 Points
PnVnD. Garent claret stle color for a zin. Musky bramble blackberry aroma. Medium(-) slight black tea tannins. Earthy stemmy blackberry and gren tea flavors Medium finish echos the flavors with a bit of a fruit skin prickle give it a nice freshness. Pleasant enough but not enough depth or complexity to jusitfy the price. Can do waaaaaay better with a Dry Creek Valley Zin for haf the price.
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10/23/2011 - Ebonn101 wrote: 90 Points
Got a lot better after aerating for over an hour. Much too right and crisp at first taste. Became much smoother and eminently drinkable after breathing for a couple hours. At that point, very good, full Zinfandel.
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9/17/2011 - jdb123 wrote: 88 Points
Interesting wine, almost like a zin got the Cabernet treatment. Lots of oak, milder fruit and spice than I'm used to from zins. Tasty, though. Probably opened too early - could have used some more time in the bottle.
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9/3/2011 - CalWineFan wrote: 91 Points
A very elegant Zin. Smooth finish.
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8/20/2011 - Adam T 12 wrote: 91 Points
Served this bottle at cellar temp and it was much better, that was the problem.
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8/19/2011 - Adam T 12 wrote: 89 Points
Bought this after a tasting. At the tasting this blew me away... Deep, rich, silky, huge nose. Popped and poured a bottle at home and it was thinner. Still a smooth, fruity wine with a good nose. Why so much better at the tasting? Maybe it needs 1-2 hours of air.
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6/23/2011 - AllRed wrote: 91 Points
Aromas of pepper, black cherry, dark fruit and leather. Medium bodied, with cherry, black fruit and white pepper flavors. An elegant Zin, very much in a style I prefer.
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6/5/2011 - hubas wrote: 87 Points
En hel del röda bär som blandas med en tydligt närvarande jordighet.
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5/7/2011 - ews3 wrote: 87 Points
2011 Philadelphia Wine Festival (Marriott, Philadelphia PA): light and fruity. picks up some depth on the finish.
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4/11/2011 - Jdubb wrote: 90 Points
Sweet and mellow for a zin, it's a unique wine that will appeal to those who like concise, smooth but nothing spectacular.
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