Reviews & Ratings

2010 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon "Napa Valley"

Winery: Chateau Montelena

Vintage: 2010

Wine Name/Vineyard: "Napa Valley"

Wine Category: Cabernet Sauvignon

Grape blend: 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, & 2% Cabernet Franc

Bottle size: 750 ml

Region: Napa Valley

State or country: CA

Price: $50

Cases produced: 21,963

KWG Score: 90.3 (based on 3 reviews)

Ken's Wine Rating: Very Good+ (90)

Review date: September 20, 2013

Wine Review: This opaque and dark ruby colored Cabernet opens with a mild black cherry bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, nicely balanced, smooth and easy to drink. The flavor profile is a tasty black cherry with delicate oak in the background with a hint of blueberry. The finish is dry and its fine tannins and flavors drift away nicely. I would pair this food friendly Cab with cherry amaretto chicken. Enjoy - Ken

Winemaker Notes: This wine shows deep dense plum color with great density. The nose opens with anise and spice before moving into rich layers of blackberry and cherry compote. All that great concentrated fruit is beautifully complemented with barrel tones of vanilla and clove. It is quite youthful and lively on the palate with a good firm acid core - great for food pairing - and abundant velvety tannin. Complex layers of black fruits through the mid palate, with good barrel spice underlayment throughout, are nicely complemented by bright red fruit on the finish. This wine is quite approachable so young, but it will definitely improve with additional time in the bottle, if you've got the patience. If you do plan to drink it now (through the end of '13), I'd recommend decanting it in order to help it open up even more.

Buy it: Use 1000 Corks to find stores that sell Chateau Montelena 2010 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon.