1996 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate

Community Tasting Notes (271) Avg Score: 92.5 points

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  4/24/2024 - Geaux Tigers Likes this wine: 95 Points

  Full disclosure, I am homer for aged Montelena so take this note with my bias in mind.
  
  PnP, ready to go on open, even better after 60 min.
  
  On the nose, medicinal spice, hint of barnyard, eucalyptus, sour cherry, mushrooms.
  
  On the palate, red fruited delight, elegant and balanced, charcoal, red cherry, green olive (a positive even though I hate green notes), cigar box, saddle leather, hint of chocolates. Oak? Tannins? Not today.
  
  This bottle was amazing and everything I want in an aged Montelena. At age 28, dare I say this is in the zone. Need to find more!

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  2/19/2024 - philtheone wrote: 94 Points

  belles note tertiaires, mature, ne devrait pas se bonifier plus...

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  9/24/2023 - DH90 Likes this wine: 94 Points

  Deep garnet color with relatively little separation. Our tasting group guessed that it was a 5-10 year old wine! Powerful aromatic nose that early had some acetone elements but they quickly dissipated to reveal black fruit, hints of green bell pepper, and a long concentrated finish. Surprisingly low alcohol content listed on the label at 13.5%. Lovely wine with lots of life left.

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  7/3/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Still in a good place after all these years. Not the best Montelena, but it is still a Montelena and thus a wonderful glass of Cali Cab.

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  7/3/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine: 94 Points

  A top flight bottle from this great estate. A wonderful expression of California cab. In a great place right now. Unlikely to improve with more time in the bottle, but no rush to drink up. Opened about 7 hours before drinking, not decanted, but probably would have benefited from a short decant before serving.

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