Buy 3 - 2018 Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet and Mystery Bottle
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S$72888
Buy 3 - 2018 Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet and Mystery Bottle
Indulge in a bit of clandestine with new limited edition mystery bundles from Winehours.
We'll give you a hint on one of the bottles you'll receive in each set, but the rest will be revealed when the box is opened - the anticipation is half the fun.
2018 Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet
Winemaker Notes
Fresh and lively, the wine opens exclusively with raspberry, mint and plum sauce. The baking spices soon follow, leaning clove initially but with plenty of cedar and vanilla. Still subtle, the ripe fruit elements, mostly cassis and fig at this stage, lurk beneath the surface along with beautiful hints of graphite and toasted sage, awaiting additional time in glass. Still very tightly wound, it’s the texture and mouthfeel that drive the palate initially. The tannins in particular are somewhat coarse but not so angular to overshadow the abundant dark fruit. The dynamic tension on the midpalate serves to focus and magnify the layers of black cherry, cocoa powder, and black pepper, before turning slightly earthy and dusty. The structure is pronounced, but still harmonious and well defined. It’s in the transition to the finish that the acidity materializes in almost candy-like fashion, a beautiful
contrast to the supple tannins. Here the wine’s density shines elegantly, well balanced between smoky, espresso bean and delicate, dried blackberry. It’s the latter that defines the finish at this moment, persistent in length and depth.
Blend: 98% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1.5% Petit Verdot, 0.5% Cabernet Franc
Hint Mystery Bottle 1
Vinous 95
This wine is rich, bold and dramatic, with all of its customary intensity on display. Black cherry, blueberry jam, plum, lavender and exotic spice overtones crescendo as this dramatic, sweeping Pomerol shows off its grandiose personality. Ample and voluptuous, but with plenty of underlying structure, it possesses fabulous depth as well as pedigree. A touch of Cabernet Franc adds aromatic intrigue, but above all else, this wine is a wine of breadth.
Hint Mystery Bottle 2
Vivino 4.5
Genoa native Dino Dina christened his Howell Mountain vineyard. A very special site indeed, where grapes and olive trees grow side by side in soil composed primarily of red volcanic rock and dust. Not much can be cultivated on these steep slopes, rising from 1,800 to 2,300 feet in elevation. The grape clusters are small, the berries are tiny, and the flavors are deep.
Buy 3 - 2018 Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet and Mystery Bottle
Indulge in a bit of clandestine with new limited edition mystery bundles from Winehours.
We'll give you a hint on one of the bottles you'll receive in each set, but the rest will be revealed when the box is opened - the anticipation is half the fun.
Winemaker Notes
Fresh and lively, the wine opens exclusively with raspberry, mint and plum sauce. The baking spices soon follow, leaning clove initially but with plenty of cedar and vanilla. Still subtle, the ripe fruit elements, mostly cassis and fig at this stage, lurk beneath the surface along with beautiful hints of graphite and toasted sage, awaiting additional time in glass. Still very tightly wound, it’s the texture and mouthfeel that drive the palate initially. The tannins in particular are somewhat coarse but not so angular to overshadow the abundant dark fruit. The dynamic tension on the midpalate serves to focus and magnify the layers of black cherry, cocoa powder, and black pepper, before turning slightly earthy and dusty. The structure is pronounced, but still harmonious and well defined. It’s in the transition to the finish that the acidity materializes in almost candy-like fashion, a beautiful
contrast to the supple tannins. Here the wine’s density shines elegantly, well balanced between smoky, espresso bean and delicate, dried blackberry. It’s the latter that defines the finish at this moment, persistent in length and depth.
Blend: 98% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1.5% Petit Verdot, 0.5% Cabernet Franc
About Winery
Chateau Montelena’s history is one of the deepest and most storied in the Napa Valley and California. Founded just north of Calistoga by a senator and San Francisco entrepreneur in 1882 at the turn of the century, it was one of the largest wineries in the state. Prohibition put an end to Montelena’s winemaking, and the next major era began in 1968, when Jim Barrett purchased the estate. Jim fell in love with this exceptional property, blessed with a complex mix of soils, slopes and biodiversity of wildlife and fauna. He had a dream of creating wine at the level of the great First Growths of Bordeaux, and set about replanting the vineyard, outfitting the winery with modern equipment, and studying the processes necessary for farming and winemaking at the highest quality level.
In 1976 Chateau Montelena put California at the forefront of the wine world. That year a who’s-who of the French wine and food establishment gathered for a grand tasting at the Inter-Continental Hotel in Paris. Four white Burgundies were tasted against six California Chardonnays. When the scores were tallied, the French Judges were convinced that the top-ranking white wine was one of their own. In fact, it was Chateau Montelena’s 1973 Chardonnay, rated above all other wines. This seminal event has been memorialized in the book "The Judgment of Paris," by George Taber, as well as in the 2008 feature film Bottle Shock.
Today Chateau Montelena’s distinct 19th century stone structure stands as a quality icon in Napa Valley, consistently producing some of the finest wines in California. Master Winemaker Bo Barrett, Jim’s son, now runs the estate with the help of Winemaker Matt Crafton and Vineyard Manager Dave Vella.
2018 Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet
91 points Decanter
Lavender, dates, raspberries and shrubs on the nose. The palate is classically structured: high-toned, focused, slightly rustic with a beaming core of acidity that continues through the finish. The tannins are subtle, making the wine overall enjoyable and ready to drink. (ML)
