I just attempted to open this '04 with a corkscrew and I unfortunately ripped the cork apart, so we are attempting a new strategy . We have decanted and let the wine breathe for a while and upon first taste I can definitely sense some spice and black currant flavors. There is nothing overpowering about this wine but it certainly has some intense flavors and some tannic kick still left in it. That tells me its got some balls and long term aging potential. The aroma alone is powerful and so briery that I get a serious kick in the ass(nose). Following that is a mid palate lingering flavor of blackberry currant with another kick of tannin. I'm amazed that there is a tannic edge left in this bottle, but apparently the winemaker planned it that way, lucky for us.!!! Its got a lot of guts.!
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Very good. Opened sat one hour. Drank slowly over 4 hours and kept improving. Past peak but very good. Soft smooth levels of silkiness. Layered and reasonable complexity.
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Château Montelena Vertical: Lots of plum fruit, a little over extracted. Plush but dark palate. Classic but straightforward. 2004, ‘03, ‘02, and ‘01 are more or less indistinguishable on first impression, and each come across tightly wound on the palate. Starts to get a little more interesting at 2000.
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3/6/2022 - Windacre in the Slope Likes this wine: 92 Points
Eucalyptus on the nose, also on the body. Still a bit wound tight, tannins really dry out the mouth, but a really lovely long inky finish.
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11/3/2019 - pdbender Likes this wine:
I just attempted to open this '04 with a corkscrew and I unfortunately ripped the cork apart, so we are attempting a new strategy . We have decanted and let the wine breathe for a while and upon first taste I can definitely sense some spice and black currant flavors. There is nothing overpowering about this wine but it certainly has some intense flavors and some tannic kick still left in it. That tells me its got some balls and long term aging potential. The aroma alone is powerful and so briery that I get a serious kick in the ass(nose). Following that is a mid palate lingering flavor of blackberry currant with another kick of tannin. I'm amazed that there is a tannic edge left in this bottle, but apparently the winemaker planned it that way, lucky for us.!!! Its got a lot of guts.!
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1/1/2019 - jimmadden Likes this wine: 88 Points
Very good. Opened sat one hour. Drank slowly over 4 hours and kept improving. Past peak but very good. Soft smooth levels of silkiness. Layered and reasonable complexity.
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8/3/2018 - joelbkaplan wrote: 90 Points
paired so well with steak and hearty meats and rich pastas.
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3/13/2018 - The Vines That Bind wrote: 88 Points
Château Montelena Vertical: Lots of plum fruit, a little over extracted. Plush but dark palate. Classic but straightforward. 2004, ‘03, ‘02, and ‘01 are more or less indistinguishable on first impression, and each come across tightly wound on the palate. Starts to get a little more interesting at 2000.
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