The California Wine Tasting Notes
CHATEAU MONTELENA
WINERY
CHATEAU MONTELENA, ‘NAPA VALLEY’ CHARDONNAY 2018
Composition
100% Chardonnay
Tasting Notes
Golden straw-colored in the glass, the wine opens with cinnamon and ripe peach, bolstered by aromas of melon, fig, and pear. More fruity than floral upon release, there’s nonetheless plenty of honeysuckle and spice, softening to green apple and vanilla. Initially fused with lemon curd and ripe orange, there’s dynamic tension transitioning to the midpalate between the suppleness of summer stonefruit and the austere acid beneath. The citrus lingers as well, amidst a billowy texture that bolsters the bare minerality, contrasted only by the whisper-soft hint of fresh baked bread. Bright and fresh, ripe apricot along with orange marmalade lend a slight sweetness peppered by toasted almond and clove.
CHATEAU MONTELENA, ‘NAPA VALLEY’ CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018
Composition
88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc
Tasting Notes
Dark garnet, nearly violet in the glass, the aromatic intensity of this wine is irresistible. Fresh berries and dried cherries comingle with bergamot, lavender, mint, gunpowder and sage without a single element dominating another. Fresh and dynamic, with cranberry, cola and raspberry jam. The acidity is laser focused, the spine pulling the layers of flavor into harmony with the wine’s supple, yet dense, structure. The tannins here serve to elevate, not overwhelm, the kinetic balance of texture, ripeness and vineyard character. Toasted hazelnut and vanilla emerge as the wine leans savory with mushroom, black pepper and cedar. The Merlot in the blend really shines here with rhubarb, cassis and velvety softness.
CHATEAU MONTELENA, ‘ESTATE’ CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010
Composition
98.75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1.25% Cabernet Franc
Tasting Notes
The nose is loaded with rich aromas of black fruits and spices. Notes of blackberry solicit memories of hot summer afternoons while clove, allspice, vanilla, and hints of cocoa tease with thoughts of baked goodies. A core of brandied cherries, light oak and a hint of anise, building to a full, fleshy mid palate that evolves seamlessly into a rich, spicy finish. There are loads of fine grain tannins that give mass to the wine without being aggressively astringent, hinting at the delicacy and suppleness that will come with time in the cellar.