Chateau Montelena -

Notes and impressions from a Ch. Montelena tasting - Saturday, March 24, 2001, at the Hi-Time Cellars in Costa Mesa, CA. Ten wines were poured for a tasting fee of $37.

Overall impressions: interesting look as some Montelena Cabs over a few vintages. Of my favorites, I liked the '97 just a bit better than the '94, owing to the softnes of the latter. Impressive, was the '97 Calistoga Cuvee and St. Vincent. Although Montelena's Chardonnay will always be a staple, I predict that both the Cuvee and the St. Vincent will become fast favorites.

1997 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay - Napa Valley. $69.95. Yellow gold color. Aromas of peach and pear, with a touch of toast. Crisp, toasty fruit, excellent balance, very long clean finish, with a pineapple aftertaste.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

1998 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay - Napa Valley. $31.99. Yellow gold color. Buttery caramel aromas, with a slight sweaty undertone. Clean and crisp mouthfeel, with an off-sweet/sour citric quality. Certainly more citrusy than the '97. Somewhat less fruit on the long finish, with a distinctive pineapple aftertaste.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B Overall score: B

1992 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa Valley. $130.00. Dark ruby color. Nose of cassis, cheddar, pepper, and a hint of shoe polish. Flavors of oaky cassis and tar, with a bit of spiced oak. Still has plenty of tannins and oak left to resolve. Long tannic finish.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

1993 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa Valley. $120.00. Dark ruby color. Mature aromas of cedar, cassis, cheddar, vanilla, and a hint of tar. Smooth mouthfeel, generally more cedar/woody mature flavors to the fruit, with a medium-long finish. Smells and tastes older than '93, but very enjoyable.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

1994 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa Valley. $175.00. Dark ruby color. Complex nose of tar, toast, licorice, ripe cassis, and oak. Surprisingly soft mouthfeel initially, with lots of ripe off-sweet cassis, toast, and vanilla flavors. Oak and tannins come on about mid-palate, and lead to a long smooth, but big finish.
Aroma score: A Taste score: A- Overall score: A-

1997 Chateau Montelena St. Vincent - Napa Valley. $22.55. Medium dark ruby color. Nose of ripe blackberry, raspberry, and tar. Slightly soft mouthfeel, but big and fruity mouthfeel, with some notes of oak, and a bit of toast and tar. Smooth, slightly soft flavorful finish. Blend of Zin, Primitivo, Sangiovese.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

1997 Chateau Montelena Calistoga Cuvee - Napa Valley. $29.95. Dark ruby color. Big effusive nose of cassis, tar, and floral notes. Moderate-full mouthfeel; has lots of flavors, but seems a little diluted. Very long finish. Considering it's just 85% Cab, the balance of the blend may not be paying its share of the bill.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

1997 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa Valley. $125.00. Very dark ruby color. Beautiful, complex nose of toast, cassis, tar, licorice, and oak, with a note of herbaceousness in the background. Nice mouthfeel, off-sweet chewy fruit and toasted oak. Very long fruit-filled toasty/chalky finish.
Aroma score: A Taste score: A- Overall score: A-

1998 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa Valley. $75.00. Very dark ruby color. Nose of cassis, oak, powdered cocoa, and hardwoods. Big mouthfeel, with flavors of tar, cassis, toast, and a long slightly chalky finish. Less than 20% Merlot added.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

1998 Chateau Montelena Calistoga Cuvee - Napa Valley. $30.00. Dark ruby color. Nose of smoky cassis, tar, and toast. A little lean in mouthfeel, with decent cassis flavors, and a long finish.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B Overall score: B