Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

IWC 93 (6/2007): Good bright ruby-red. Aromas of cassis, licorice, dark chocolate and menthol. Dense, thick and powerful, with a chewy texture and impressive concentration to the plummy fruit. This has a silky texture but no shortage of inner-mouth energy. Finishes long and aromatic, with late-arriving tannins. In spite of Barrett's description of the ""Aussie-like surmaturite"" that figured in the harvest of 2004, I am not put off by a hot-vintage character. (However, I retasted the 2003 this year and found it in a very tough stage, with the tannins cutting off read more...the fruit; on this occasion I scored the wine 89+?. My impression is that the 2004 was made from more consistently ripe fruit.). This wine weighs in at 14.2% alcohol, making it the first Montelena estate cabernet to surpass 14% since the '78, which was 14.4%.    (hide)

October 2008

The 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, all from their old vineyards in Calistoga. This is a dense, ruby/purple-tinged wine with full body, and despite the softness of the general vintage, Montelena has plenty of structure. Lik... Robert Parker. A Cabernet Sauvignon wine from California in USA. 2004 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon Estate 750ml

January 2009

The Montelena earthy-berry aroma is very concentrated, showing lovely, classic Cabernet, warm earth and sun baked cassis with licorice and spice. On the palate there is integration of strong, deep, concentrated fruit in a perfect balance. Super fine tannin grips the palate, with ripe, round flavors that dance right on the seam between classic Bordeaux and California styles. The 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, all from their old vineyards in Calistoga. This is a dense, ruby/purple-tinged wine with full body, and despite the softness of the general vintage, Montelena read more...has plenty of structure. Like nearly every vintage of their top Cabernet Sauvignon, it will last for 25 or more years. The wine has sweet tannin in a broad, flavorful, concentrated style with plenty of black currant, licorice, and spice. The wine is beautifully textured, slightly more forward than most Montelena Cabernets tend to be. It is another beauty from probably the most consistent winery for Cabernet Sauvignon over the last three decades. -Robert Parker, Wine Advocate 94+    (hide)

October 2008

The wine has a nice dark, garnet Cabernet color. In the glass, the nose is primarily rich aromas of black cherry currant and menthol. It is very much fruit-dominated, and for the first few years its jammy Cabernet-berry and menthol characteristics will predominate - after which the soil's contribution and winemaking, with the hints of new wood will begin to emerge. On entry it delivers a broad mouthful of fruit with cherry and cassis, plus relatively pronounced Cabernet tannins typical, at this young stage, of a fast-ripening crop. Vintages like 2004 do tend to concentrate the juice so read more...every flavor element comes across stronger. Think of this wine as I do, as a good old school example of our Napa Valley Cabernet.    (hide)

The 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, all from their old vineyards in Calistoga. This is a dense, ruby/purple-tinged wine with full body, and despite the softness of the general vintage, Montelena has plenty of structure. Like nearly every vintage of their top Cabernet Sauvignon, it will last for 25 or more years. The wine has sweet tannin in a broad, flavorful, concentrated style with plenty of black currant, licorice, and spice. The wine is beautifully textured, slightly more forward than most Montelena Cabernets tend to be. It is another beauty from probably the read more...most consistent winery for Cabernet Sauvignon over the last three decades.    (hide)

September 2009

Loved this. Dark and brooding fruit. Lots of coffee scent on the nose, and just a great weight to it.

October 2008

International Wine Cellar rating: 93

The Wine Advocate rating: 94

The inky purple 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate offers up abundant quantities of sweet earth/loamy soil notes intermixed with black cherry and blackcurrant fruit as well as a floral characteristic. There is superb fruit concentration in addition to a heady blueberry/blackberry component in this effort. Again, these wines need plenty of time to reveal all their attributes, but at the moment, I would be hard pressed to say its better than the 2003 or 2002. It should be ready to drink in about five years and last for 25 or more. At the end of my tastings, Bo Barrett opened a 1986 Montelena (rated 94), read more...and it is still incredibly young, rich, vibrant, and full-bodied. It is a terrific expression of Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon made by a master. It appears to have another 20-25 years of aging potential. RP 93-95    (hide)

January 2009

Rating: 89/100 - As reviewed in Wine Advocate # 168 on Dec-06

Rating: 89/100 - As reviewed by The Wine Advocate in Issue 168

Rating: 94/100 - As reviewed by Robert Parker

Rating: (89-91) - As reviewed in Wine Advocate # 162 on Dec-05

Rating: (93-95) - As reviewed in Wine Advocate # 168 on Dec-06

Rating: (93-95) - As reviewed in Wine Advocate # 162 on Dec-05

No written review

December 2008

No written review

February 2009

No written review

March 2009