92

Stephen Tanzer

Vinous

Bright medium ruby. Medicinal aromas of cassis, black cherry, crushed stone, graphite, bitter chocolate and herbs. Wonderfully fine-grained but very tight, even a bit herbal and hard-edged today. The wine's strong herb and mint notes may still harmonize with its brisk black fruit flavors. Conveys a strong impression of vinosity and acidity but this very backward 2015 is not a sweet or fleshy style. Finishes edgy and unevolved, with slightly elevated acidity and a firm tannic spine to support an extended life in bottle.

93

Robert M. Parker, Jr.

Robert Parker/Wine Advocate

The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon at age ten is still a young, vibrant, dense ruby/purple -colored wine with lots of classic cassis fruit and a touch of earth undertones. It offers relatively soft and silky tannins by the standards of Montelena, but they’re there. It is full-bodied, rich and impressive. Cabernet Sauvignon from the northern end of the Napa Valley in Calistoga tends to be the St.-Estèphe of Napa. This wine is certainly one of the great ones. Forget it for another 3-4 years and drink it over the following 20-25.Beautiful Montelena Winery was established in 1882, which says a lot. It has been owned by the Barrett family for a long time, becoming one of the iconic wines of Napa Valley. (There’s probably as much Château Montelena in my California collection as any Napa Cab.) However, the aging curve of Montelena is irrefutable, with the estate Cabernet easily going the distance of 20-30 years, even in lighter vintages.