Reviews & Ratings
2021 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon "Napa Valley"
Winery: Chateau Montelena
Vintage: 2021
Wine Name/Vineyard: "Napa Valley"
Wine Category: Cabernet Sauvignon
Grape blend: 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot & 1% Cabernet Franc
Bottle size: 750 ml
Region: Napa Valley
State or country: CA
Price: $85
Cases produced: unknown
KWG Score: 94 (based on 1 review)
Ken's Wine Rating: Excellent (94)
Review date: October 30, 2024
Wine Review: This midnight black colored Cabernet Sauvignon from Chateau Montelena opens with a black currant and graphite bouquet with hints of new leather, moist pipe tobacco, and blueberry. On the palate, this wine is medium plus bodied with integrated medium plus acidity. The mouthfeel is nicely balanced, smooth, and seamless. The flavor profile is a black currant and oak blend with notes of toasted coconut and graphite. We also detected hints of black tea, plum, and milk chocolate. The finish is dry, and its well-managed moderate tannins stick around for a very long time. We would pair this mature Cab with a beef wellington. Enjoy – Ken & Dave
Winemaker Notes: Nose: The density and richness of this wine are teased right from the start. Pomegranate, plum and dried blackberry lead a lavish charge of ripe, dark fruit. In the midst, there’s a hint of barrel toast, first as charcoal and then as fresh wood. The aromas remain elevated, with potpourri and black pepper initially, and then concluding with fig jam and cherry tobacco.
Palate: This Cabernet has all of the markers of a great Montelena wine. The palate is bursting with a dynamic and seemingly haphazard array of fruit, acid, and tannin, all tied together with fresh mint and graphite. Rest assured; all of these elements will settle into place over time. There’s a beautiful, almost velvety, softness from the Merlot that rounds off most of the coarse edges and lends refinement. Best of all, this wine is approachable now but will build complexity with time in glass.
Finish: The baking spices really come into focus here along with notes of earth and toasted almond. The tannins are chalky, rather than angular, and roasted hazelnut complements the fresh raspberry and black tea. This is truly an elegant, restrained, food-friendly wine.
Buy it: Use 1000 Corks to find stores that sell Chateau Montelena 2021 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
