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1997 Chateau Montelena
Cabernet Sauvignon
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Estate
(USA / California / Napa)
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ALCOHOL: 13.5%
CASES: 12,000
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- COMPOSITE DETAILS - |
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| COLOR: |
Purple. |
| AROMA: |
Woody.
Oak.
Blackberry.
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| FLAVOR: |
Lychee.
Oak.
Cedar.
Blackberry.
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| PROFILE: |
Tart.
Alcoholic
Mouthfeel.
Moderate
Tannin.
Long
Finish.
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© 2004-2005 WINEDEMOCRACY.COM |
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| SCORE: 96 (3 ratings)
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| PRICE: $100 |
| DRINK: Now |
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1997 Chateau Montelena
Cabernet Sauvignon
-
Estate
(USA / California / Napa)
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ALCOHOL: 13.5%
CASES: 12,000
RATED: 02/04/2005 |
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| COLOR: |
Purple.
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| AROMA: |
Woody. Oak. Blackberry.
French Oak : Forest Floor : Roots.
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| FLAVOR: |
Lychee. Oak. Cedar. Blackberry. Black Currant.
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PROFILE: |
Tart.
Alcoholic
Mouthfeel.
Moderate Heavy
Tannin.
Long
Finish.
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| COMMENTS: |
A wonderful wine. Montelena's estate cab from the 1997 uber vintage exceeds HIGH expectations. In the decanter, the wine has a dark and inky purple appearance with high viscosity. Its aroma is a triumph with an omnipresence of oak, cedar, and dark fruit. Closer examination of the bouquet picks up notes of a damp forest floor and the inside of the used French oak of barrel. This nose is extraordinary.
In the mouth, an equally wonderful experience awaits. The wine is complex and balanced. The tip of the tongue detects a hint of tart fruit. On the palate, the fruit rapidly evolves into a firm and astringent cab with lots of oak and cedar. The finish reveals cellar-softened tannins and a clean astringent mouthful.
Buy this wine and cherish it!
Score breakdown: Color: 5/5, Aroma: 14/15, Flavor: 18/20, Quality: 9/10
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1997 Chateau Montelena
Cabernet Sauvignon
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Estate
(USA / California / Napa)
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ALCOHOL: 13.5%
CASES: 12,000
RATED: 09/21/2004 |
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| COMMENTS: |
WOW, great example of why Napa Cabs are great, and why 1997 was such a banner year! Well integrated, and sweet tannins, cassis and earthy. Dark purple in color. Still young, with many years of life left.
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1997 Chateau Montelena
Cabernet Sauvignon
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Estate
(USA / California / Napa)
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ALCOHOL: 13.5%
CASES: 12,000
RATED: 02/23/2004 |
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| COMMENTS: |
Sampled 2/23/04. The nose screams high-end Napa Cab (fruit and cedar), but the flavors are a unique blend in this vintage of fruit bombs. The flavors can be described as a chalky and minerally mocha, spice, black currant, cedar, and black cherry blend, but that would make it sound potentially harsh and/or bitter. This wine is neither and somehow these flavors are all subtle and wrapped together in a smooth drinking wine. The first signs of sediment are starting to appear, so I'm not sure it will last the 30 years Parker claims, but it certainly does seem like it will age for a while longer.
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