With JY Dark red fruit, big cherry fwd/nose Not super tannic on the finish but started to expand as it warmed up; not crazy complex but was trending that way Very tasty
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Cork broke when we pulled it, made us nervous but the wine is wonderful. Glad we drank it tonight. Doesn't have many years left but still full bodied and fruit forward. Balanced between acid and fruit. Storing wine in cool dry spot so important
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Very good but still not fully mature, or at least at the plateau.There's more life in it.Red fruit and a bit of saddle leather. Fighting above its weight class - remember this is the cheap entry level Montalena Cab. Bought about 2002.
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(From memory) Very much alive. Smooth but with noticeable acidity still present. Medium body, smooth. Not a rich-styled wine, but a very good food accompaniment. Flavorful. Enjoyed.
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Sadly, I opened this bottle 3 hours before dinner which was a huge mistake. I believe I would have rated this wine higher but for my error. At first there was a musty aroma but still discernible fruit. By the time I poured this wine at dinner along side a bottle of Estate from the same vintage, this wine had grown tired and lost any luster it still had. It was better with food than standing alone, so enjoy any you may have as soon as possible so that you can get the last few drops of a very nice wine...
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Was afraid this might be a bit past its prime, but this wine showed well with solid fruit, great drinkability and a very nice balance. Drink em if you got em.
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Wonderful surprise. Big plum, black Cherry and currant. After about 30 minutes this really opened up. Longish finish with a very pleasant nose. This bottle has no more than 2 to 3 years max, so if you have it, enjoy. Use a sneaky butler, if you have one...cork is soft.
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At first I thought it was a little rough but after about ten minutes in my glass - it smoothed out - was rich and full of flavors. Had with appetizers and wish I had had this with my main course
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Opened the bottle an hour and a half before tasting. Wonderful full bodied aroma. Very mellow smoky and plum taste taste. Got even better after breathing more. Excellent bottle.
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One word: Excellent. Wow - this one was special and did not dissapoint. I decanted this for about 1 hour before drinking. (Glad I did...) Color: deep, dark purple. Nose: boatloads of plum, blackberry and leather. Smelled like a bunch of black fruit sitting in old baseball gloves. (But it was good somehow...) Taste: Dirt, dark fruits, leather and cedar. Aftertastes did "heat up" with some pepper afterhoughts... Mouthfeel: silkly, smooth and beautiful. Awesome. If you've got this one - drink up and you won't be dissapointed. I really liked this wine a lot and wish I had more. Definitely seek this one out.
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Just an outstanding Old World style mature and well aged Napa cab enjoyed earlier this afternoon at an impromptu wine tasting with Kim and good CT wine buddies sidboy and neighborbill. Dark, elegant and complex, in prime drinking window, really improved with aeration and oxygenation in glass and thus I believe needs decanting for maximal enjoyment. Nose initially had a surprising amount of barnyard and funk on it with underlying layers of dark plum, blackberry and earth. Primary flavors included terroir, underlying cassis, dark stone fruit with further development of tar and leather and then some white pepper and smoke on a very pleasant and lingering aftertaste. Too expensive to be a reasonable QPR at this point in time but what a wine, really highly recommend this.
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Drinking very, very well, lovely balance, quite elegant and representative of a different era in Cali wines, lower alchohol, balanced and quite food friendly - It was dark red/purple, medium concentration, notes of black fruit, plum, cedar, spice and oak on the nose, very well structured, complex, quite feminine and smooth on the palate, excellent (92 Points).
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Hey, we really liked this. The nose was more old world, closer to Loire Cabernet than Napa. Menthol, herbs (something between mint and basil), a little black currant, maybe some licorice. Not too sweet or fruit forward in the mouth with some tannins but everything pretty well integrated. I think we caught this at a nice point in its life, mature but not OTH. Good match with grilled steaks, string beans w/ black bean and garlic sauce, and roasted new potatoes.
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Decanted for about 1/2 hour before serving. Full-bodied and beautifully balanced with notes of cherry, cassis, spice, and a touch of oak. Tannins were present but nicely integrated.
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Rather uninspired, nice nose of cabernet fruit with cedar and leather, palate does not keep up and is very light. Well integrated, drink now before the fruit diminishes.
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Opened the bottle and didn't like the first glass, so I corked it and opened a 99 Matriarch....I thought this was just austere...somewhat tart....it didn't have the up-front impact that I was looking for on this night.
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2/7/2021 - dodgek Likes this wine: 94 Points
With JY
Dark red fruit, big cherry fwd/nose
Not super tannic on the finish but started to expand as it warmed up; not crazy complex but was trending that way
Very tasty
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12/21/2018 - Radio60 wrote: 90 Points
Cork broke when we pulled it, made us nervous but the wine is wonderful. Glad we drank it tonight. Doesn't have many years left but still full bodied and fruit forward. Balanced between acid and fruit. Storing wine in cool dry spot so important
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12/25/2016 - Viking 61 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Pop and pore in a nice place with no tannins and dark integrated fruits. A surprising please of sophistication.
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11/6/2016 - Jay Hack Likes this wine: 89 Points
Very good but still not fully mature, or at least at the plateau.There's more life in it.Red fruit and a bit of saddle leather. Fighting above its weight class - remember this is the cheap entry level Montalena Cab. Bought about 2002.
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12/3/2015 - aChave wrote: 91 Points
(From memory) Very much alive. Smooth but with noticeable acidity still present. Medium body, smooth. Not a rich-styled wine, but a very good food accompaniment. Flavorful. Enjoyed.
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9/4/2015 - rfras Likes this wine: 92 Points
Smooth and silky Napa Cab. Still some nice cherry flavors mixed with a hint of vanilla. Excellent body with a smooth finish.
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2/10/2015 - JJKinch wrote: 92 Points
Nice dark fruit (cherry, blueberry), nice cassis, leather, nice
acidity. Nice spice. Lengthy finish. Really enjoyable.
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8/19/2013 - rcasaw wrote: 93 Points
Smooth tannins ..don't open more than 1/2 hour before dinner...drink EM now if you have any left
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5/14/2013 - allfalkedup wrote: 88 Points
Sadly, I opened this bottle 3 hours before dinner which was a huge mistake. I believe I would have rated this wine higher but for my error. At first there was a musty aroma but still discernible fruit. By the time I poured this wine at dinner along side a bottle of Estate from the same vintage, this wine had grown tired and lost any luster it still had. It was better with food than standing alone, so enjoy any you may have as soon as possible so that you can get the last few drops of a very nice wine...
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2/9/2013 - plambert12 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Was afraid this might be a bit past its prime, but this wine showed well with solid fruit, great drinkability and a very nice balance. Drink em if you got em.
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12/24/2011 - Calhounmi wrote: 90 Points
Dark, earthy, mossy. Decanted for two hours -barely long enough. Great for a relaxed evening by the fire.
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10/17/2011 - Rcorrao wrote: 93 Points
Wonderful surprise. Big plum, black Cherry and currant. After about 30 minutes this really opened up. Longish finish with a very pleasant nose. This bottle has no more than 2 to 3 years max, so if you have it, enjoy. Use a sneaky butler, if you have one...cork is soft.
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8/28/2010 - Fookonson65 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Drank these too early... lots of life left. Will probably warrant a much higher rating down the road with some age.
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6/23/2010 - Zinlady wrote: 90 Points
At first I thought it was a little rough but after about ten minutes in my glass - it smoothed out - was rich and full of flavors. Had with appetizers and wish I had had this with my main course
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9/19/2009 - insanediver wrote: 92 Points
Opened the bottle an hour and a half before tasting. Wonderful full bodied aroma. Very mellow smoky and plum taste taste. Got even better after breathing more. Excellent bottle.
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6/26/2009 - plow68 wrote: 92 Points
A true Napa Cab Classic. Open it up and let it breathe for about an hour. Will last a few more years but definitely at its peak.
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3/26/2009 - plasiter67 wrote: 93 Points
One word: Excellent. Wow - this one was special and did not dissapoint. I decanted this for about 1 hour before drinking. (Glad I did...) Color: deep, dark purple. Nose: boatloads of plum, blackberry and leather. Smelled like a bunch of black fruit sitting in old baseball gloves. (But it was good somehow...) Taste: Dirt, dark fruits, leather and cedar. Aftertastes did "heat up" with some pepper afterhoughts... Mouthfeel: silkly, smooth and beautiful. Awesome. If you've got this one - drink up and you won't be dissapointed. I really liked this wine a lot and wish I had more. Definitely seek this one out.
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3/7/2009 - wicke30 wrote: 89 Points
Well balanced and a great compliment to our steak dinner. Was a little thin and mild on the finish but enjoyable.
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2/21/2009 - ikkaariainen wrote: 92 Points
Just an outstanding Old World style mature and well aged Napa cab enjoyed earlier this afternoon at an impromptu wine tasting with Kim and good CT wine buddies sidboy and neighborbill. Dark, elegant and complex, in prime drinking window, really improved with aeration and oxygenation in glass and thus I believe needs decanting for maximal enjoyment. Nose initially had a surprising amount of barnyard and funk on it with underlying layers of dark plum, blackberry and earth. Primary flavors included terroir, underlying cassis, dark stone fruit with further development of tar and leather and then some white pepper and smoke on a very pleasant and lingering aftertaste. Too expensive to be a reasonable QPR at this point in time but what a wine, really highly recommend this.
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5/31/2008 - Tarrant wrote: 92 Points
Drinking very, very well, lovely balance, quite elegant and representative of a different era in Cali wines, lower alchohol, balanced and quite food friendly - It was dark red/purple, medium concentration, notes of black fruit, plum, cedar, spice and oak on the nose, very well structured, complex, quite feminine and smooth on the palate, excellent (92 Points).
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4/27/2008 - jmh st louis wrote: 92 Points
Big blackberry and currants on a sleek frame with long finish.
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12/25/2007 - bobfrank wrote: 90 Points
Decanted an hour before drinking. This was second bottle with Prime Rib from the grill. Very good fit.
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12/6/2007 - Haltermr wrote: 87 Points
Banana ester, herbaceous, lavendar, red cherry...palate is a bit thin with coarse tannins and shortish finish. Disappointing.
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8/16/2007 - marc d wrote:
Hey, we really liked this. The nose was more old world, closer to Loire Cabernet than Napa. Menthol, herbs (something between mint and basil), a little black currant, maybe some licorice. Not too sweet or fruit forward in the mouth with some tannins but everything pretty well integrated. I think we caught this at a nice point in its life, mature but not OTH. Good match with grilled steaks, string beans w/ black bean and garlic sauce, and roasted new potatoes.
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8/1/2007 - carlwhat wrote:
not very good at all... herbal mess...
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6/16/2007 - longhorncab wrote: 92 Points
Excellent
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6/15/2007 - rwilk_2000 wrote: 89 Points
deep fruits possibly a dark cherry taste with a bit of chalkiness. Strong bouquet. Wine has aged nicely and is probably ready for consumption.
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4/14/2007 - rwilk_2000 wrote: 89 Points
hanging on nicely. Very smooth and not too tanic. Let breathe for over an hour and the flavours starting coming out....
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4/7/2007 - raadams wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for about 1/2 hour before serving. Full-bodied and beautifully balanced with notes of cherry, cassis, spice, and a touch of oak. Tannins were present but nicely integrated.
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1/5/2007 - fisk15 wrote: 88 Points
Good, but nothing to write home about. You are really hard pressed to find a good $35 Napa cab anymore.
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12/24/2006 - fisk15 wrote: 87 Points
Rather uninspired, nice nose of cabernet fruit with cedar and leather, palate does not keep up and is very light. Well integrated, drink now before the fruit diminishes.
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12/1/2005 - Alpine wrote: 85 Points
Opened the bottle and didn't like the first glass, so I corked it and opened a 99 Matriarch....I thought this was just austere...somewhat tart....it didn't have the up-front impact that I was looking for on this night.
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2/22/2005 - Siggy wrote: 89 Points
Chateau Montelena "Past, Present, and Future" (Metropolitan Club, Minneapolis): Ruby/purple, showing slight amber at the rim. Medium bodied, with cloves and blueberries. Tart acidity on the finish; not much tannin.
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12/17/2003 - R2-D2 wrote: 88 Points
Slightly musty with underlying cough syrup, cigar box, and minerals. Palate was pleasant, but a tad oakey.
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