Chateau Montelena
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
The Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon represents the purest expression of the Montelena Estate Vineyard, a site defined by its exceptional terroir and natural diversity that cannot be replicated anywhere else in Napa Valley. Recognized as a benchmark for classically styled, age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon, the evolution in this wine is remarkable, offering enjoyment at every stage of its life, revealing additional depth and complexity over time.
Vintage Factsheets
The Chateau Montelena Estate is one of Napa Valley’s most treasured sites. At the top of the Valley, the vineyard is located in the Calistoga AVA and home to an immensely diverse range of soils, slopes and microclimates. The soils of the Estate Vineyard are primarily Volcanic in origin, well-drained, difficult to work, and nutrient poor. It’s in these soils as well as in the cobbly Alluvium adjacent to the headwaters of the Napa River that the vines struggle, producing low yields but of extremely high quality.
- Region
- California: Napa Valley
- Appellation
- Napa Valley
- Sub-Appellation
- Calistoga
- Varietal Composition
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot
- Aging
- Aged 22 months in French Oak, 45% new
- Alcohol
- 14.1%
On the nose, there’s an elegant introduction of perfectly ripe blackberry and cranberry sauce notes. In it’s youth, the aromatics are dominated by fruit and earthy character punctuated by hints of black pepper and cedar, with additional layers of mint, cassis and black cherry revealed with a swirl of the glass. The palate is intense as the tight, angular tannins vie with silky, bright fruit for dominance. The finish on this wine doesn’t quit. It keeps evolving through coffee bean, then vanilla and finally dried blackberry. These slowly morph both texturally and in flavor into fresh walnut and dark chocolate.
