Chateau Montelena is a Napa Valley winery established in 1882 located just north of Calistoga at the base of Mount Saint Helena, its name actually a contraction of Mount Saint Helena. The Estate vineyard is comprised of sedimentary, alluvial and volcanic soils on various hillsides and flats which help in creating complex flavors and aromas in their wines. In 1976 at what is now called The Judgment of Paris, Chateau Montelena helped to bring California to the forefront of the world wine stage by scoring the highest placement amongst ten White Burgundies and California Chardonnays. However, it is probably their iconic Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, first released in 1978, that most people have collected over the years. As Robert Parker has mentioned: "Buying Montelena's Estate Cabernet Sauvignons is equivalent to buying blue-chip stock. The home vineyard is so consistent that even in difficult vintages such as 1989 and 1998, this wine is far better than its competition."
Last Spring, we came across a pristine stash of the 1998, which received a respectable score of 93 points from Mr. Parker. Knowing how well the wine can age along with the above comments, we were eager to try a sample. It didn't disappoint, and we scooped up the entire lot for inventory. One of my clients had purchased some back then and last weekend with cooler weather kicking in, popped a few bottles with his family. They enjoyed it so much that he thanked me for hooking him up by gifting me a bottle, and I too enjoying fine aged red wine in the fall, opened it this weekend for some "Sumptuous Sunday Sipping" with my wife and friends.
Tobacco was the trait everyone noticed most wafting from the glass along with hints of sage and underbrush. The wine was plummy, full of blackberry and currant with a burst of black cherry in the mid-palate. Soft and plush tannins remained as the wine faded out with notes of eucalyptus leaving everyone craving for the next sip. The whole experience was wonderful, delivering exactly what you want from mature claret and proving once again why we consider Montelena a California King. We still have a few cases left at $87.99/btl which is a bargain when you consider the age and caliber of the wine. Do yourself a favor and get some to enjoy this fall and winter.