Chateau Montelena - 2021 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 750ml
"What makes a vintage great? Is it quantifiable or is it purely opinion? Unlike so many facets of modern-day life, wine is still encoded with mystery. Its ability to evoke special memories from our past is uncanny, but a wine’s future potential is what excites many of us. Furthermore, it’s within that sense of looking forward that bottles are amassed and saved. A wine collection, be it 5 bottles or 5000, is a physical repository of stories and experiences to be shared. For most, great vintages are simply those that have personal ties to life’s greatest moments. The bottles themselves are purely vessels to convey that sense of joy and storytelling. For us, a great vintage is nothing short of effectively conveying the sense of this special place we farm, connected to each and every nuance of the growing season, in a way that lays the foundation for that wine to grow and evolve over time. It’s beyond a rating or a characterization or a declaration. It’s an internal standard much higher than that. It’s the bar that drives us each and every day to relentlessly scrutinize every detail in delivering a wine that is a true reflection of possibility, creative expression and execution. Simply put, great wines build connections and great vintages endure.
VINTAGE WEATHER: The early start to spring and the sustained warm weather throughout the growing season defined this vintage. Moreover, the lack of soil moisture as the vines awoke from dormancy, pushed every indicator toward an early harvest. Bloom was approximately 10 days ahead of average, as was veraison. However, the most critical aspect of the season as harvest approached was the lack of extreme heat. The result was an astonishing concentration of flavor and texture in the fruit. In looking back to the drought years of the late 1980s, 2021 has the potential to rival their longevity and complexity.
NOSE: It’s an elegant introduction for this wine on the nose with perfectly ripe blackberry and cranberry sauce notes. Given its youth, it’s not surprising that the aromatics are dominated by fruit and earthy vineyard character punctuated by hints of black pepper and cedar. An ambitious swirl of the glass reveals additional layers of mint, cassis and black cherry.
PALATE: The palate is intense, to say the least, as the tight, angular tannins vie with silky bright fruit for dominance. There’s a youthful exuberance here as well that’s both hedonistic and magnetic, tied to fresh strawberry and sweet, raspberry candy. The acid runs the seam of the wine like a spine, from which build stacks upon stacks of chalky, dense tannin. With some additional air, the wine’s breadth begins to reveal itself with mouthcoating texture, black plum and mocha.
FINISH: The finish on this wine doesn’t quit. It just keeps evolving through coffee bean, then vanilla and finally dried blackberry. These slowly morph both texturally and in flavor into fresh walnut and dark chocolate. It’s delicious now but will reward with additional patience and time in glass." - Chateau Montelena
Style / Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon (94.1%), Cabernet Franc (4.9%), Petit Verdot (1%)
Region: Napa Valley, California, USA
ABV: 14.1%
Vol: 750ml
