| 2004 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon | .pdf version |
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 | | Outstanding
"A broad, flavorful, concentrated style with plenty of black currant, licorice, and spice. Another beauty from probably the most consistent winery for Cabernet Sauvignon over the last three decades." 94+ Robert M. Parker, Jr. - The Wine Advocate - December 2007
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 | | Outstanding
"Dense, thick and powerful, with a chewy texture and impressive concentration to the plummy fruit. This has a silky texture, but no shortage of inner mouth energy. Finishes long and aromatic." 93 Stephen Tanzer - International Wine Cellar - June 2007
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| 2003 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon | .pdf version |
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| | Outstanding
"Opaque ruby/purple color along with a sweet, spicy nose of black currants, licorice, herbs and damp earth. Rich and concentrated, it is the most accessible, and possibly the most elegant and French-oriented of the Cabernets produced." 93+ Robert M. Parker, Jr. - The Wine Advocate - December 2006
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| | Outstanding
"Sweet aromas of black cherry, flowers, menthol and creosote. Supple, sweet and fine-grained...finishes with a fairly fine dusting of tannins and lingering notes of cherry and licorice." 91+ Stephen Tanzer - International Wine Cellar - June 2006
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 | | 5 Stars
"Rich dense brambly nose. Voluptuous, highly concentrated, punchy and shows plenty of grip, but luxurious overall." Decanter - August 2007
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| 2002 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon | .pdf version |
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| | Outstanding
"A relatively flamboyant effort. Its opaque purple color is followed by a gloriously pure nose of crème de cassis, licorice, earth, truffles, and flowers. Full-bodied, powerful, and rich, with high tannin as well as concentration." 95+ Robert M. Parker, Jr. - The Wine Advocate - December 2005
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| | Outstanding
"Highly aromatic nose combines musky red currant and tobacco. Plush, broad and fine-grained; atypically sexy and showy for this wine." 93 Stephen Tanzer - International Wine Cellar - June 2005
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| | 3 Stars
"Pronounced firm aromatics with vanilla and oriental spice. Well-rounded, exotic wine." Decanter
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 | | Classic
"Dense and ripe, opens into a classic, brambly Cabernet with dark fruit. The finish is long and layered." 95 Larry Walker - Wine International
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| 2001 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon | .pdf version |
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| | Extraordinary
"One of Bo Barrett’s finest efforts. Dense ruby/purple with a nose of crushed rocks intermixed with crème de cassis and a hint of licorice... full-bodied, pure, and deep." 95+ Robert M. Parker, Jr. - The Wine Advocate - February 2005
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| | Outstanding
"Quintessential cabernet aromas of black currant, black cherry, dark chocolate, licorice, black olive, mint and earth. Dense, supple and seamless. Old-style, classic Napa cabernet with a powerful, building finish." 93+ Stephen Tanzer - International Wine Cellar
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| | Fabulous 2001 Cabernets
"Assertive, with an iron base to its robust 100% Cabernet Sauvignon fruit that will keep it going for two decades." Steven Spurrier - Decanter
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 | | 4 Stars
"Big, dense powerful wine. Rich, opulent nose; exotic, generous style. Gorgeous fruit, nicely balanced." The World of Fine Wine
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| 2000 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon | .pdf version |
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| | "Outstanding. The dense purple-colored 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate reveals a sweet perfume of black currants, an expansive, full-bodied palate, surprising elegance as well as accessibility, excellent purity, and a long, layered finish. It is a successful 2000 Cabernet to drink now and over the next 12-15 years." 90 Robert M. Parker, Jr. - The Wine Advocate
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| | "Outstanding. Red-ruby. Claret-like aromas of black cherry, plum, currant, cocoa powder, loam, smoke and spice. Rich, dense and supple, with depth of flavor for the year and very good vinosity. Rather showy wine, with the characteristic medicinal-but-sweet flavors of Montelena. Tannins spread out nicely on the lingering finish." 90 Stephen Tanzer - International Wine Cellar
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 | | Napa’s Top Ten Cabernets
"Outstanding. This California “Grand Cru” made outstanding wines in 2000, one of Napa Valley’s Vintage 2000 Top Cabernet Sauvignons, Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon." Eleanor and Ray Heald - Quarterly Review of Wines
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| 1999 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon | .pdf version |
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| | "Outstanding. Boasting a saturated inky purple color as well as extraordinary density of fruit and cassis, and huge tannin, body, and extract, it is a substantial palate-staining, long, muscular Cabernet." 95 Robert M. Parker, Jr. - The Wine Advocate
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| | "Outstanding. Concentrated, focused and penetrating; substantial but thoroughly ripe tannins and a late burst of dark fruit." 92 Stephen Tanzer - International Wine Cellar
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 | | 10 Top Bottles
"The Barrett family resurrected this classic 19th-century estate in northern Napa in 1971 and built it into a leading American winery. Its densely coiled, concentrated Cab has elegance and a sense of proportion sometimes lacking in big-ticket bottles." Richard Nalley - Food & Wine - September 2003
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| 1998 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon | .pdf version |
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| | "Outstanding. Montelena’s 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is unquestionably one of the vintage’s most successful wines. Rich, complex, and full-bodied, it is more enjoyable to drink now than the super-sized 1997. Bravo Bo Barrett and his winemaking team for fashioning a wine of such character." 93 Robert M. Parker, Jr. - The Wine Advocate - December 2000
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| | "Excellent. Currant, black raspberry, licorice, dark chocolate, menthol, loam and tarry oak on the nose. Fat and full for the vintage, this will be a supple `98 with several years of bottle aging." Stephen Tanzer - International Wine Cellar
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 | | "  An engaging beauty. Its impressive, concentrated black cherry and curranty fruit is fit with a sweep of creamy, somewhat toasty oak, and its full body is impressively balanced at every turn. A wine that simply does not quit now and will keep going for years to come." Connoisseur's Guide
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 | | Wine of the Month
"This power dresser takes no hostages. Intensely perfumed with eucalyptus, cedar bark, cassis and mint. It's firm, full-bodied and long." The Dubliner
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| 1997 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon | .pdf version |
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| | "Extraordinary. This brilliantly made, super-concentrated, pure, blockbuster possesses sweet tannin as well as a terrific finish. Sumptuous, multilayered, profoundly concentrated, it is a candidate for 25-30 years of longevity." 98 Robert M. Parker, Jr. - The Wine Advocate
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| | "Outstanding. Offers impressive texture and stuffing for a young Montelena Cabernet. Finishes with very lush tannins and strong dark berry flavor. This appears to be an outstanding vintage for this classic Napa cabernet." 93+ Stephen Tanzer - International Wine Cellar
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 | | "Superb. Possessed of incredibly ripe, creamy tannins and impeccable fruit, this youthful wine is another great Montelena. Toast and cholate, mint and cassis meld together in a plush, supple whole." 94 Joe Czerwinski - Wine Enthusiast
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| 1996 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon | .pdf version |
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| | "Outstanding. Another behemoth Cabernet Sauvignon is the stern, tannic, concentrated 1996 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate. Full-bodied, but closed, with gorgeously pure black fruits, powerful, loamy, earthy scents along with fruit and extract. Should easily last through the first 2-3 decades of the next century." 93+ Robert M. Parker, Jr. - The Wine Advocate
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| | "Superb. A showpiece of harmony and grace, though my raw notes are somewhat disjointed: 'Toast, smoke. Herbal, cassis. Sweet, intense, creamy and supple. Very easy drinking--surprisingly so, but firms up considerably on the finish. Great potential.'" 95 Joe Czerwinski - Wine Enthusiast
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| | "Outstanding. Spicy, roasted aromas of cassis, black plum, toasty oak and pepper... The tannins are quite fine for the vintage and there's excellent finishing persistence." 90 Stephen Tanzer - International Wine Cellar
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| 1995 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon | .pdf version |
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| | "Outstanding. Appears to be on of the vintage's most noteworthy wines. The color is a dense, saturated ruby/purple. The nose displays copious quantities of jammy black fruits (cassis) intermingled with spice, huge body, and moderately high tannin, all presented in a layered, mouth filling style." 94 Robert M. Parker, Jr. - The Wine Advocate
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| | "Outstanding. Bright aromas of black cherry, pepper, chocolate and fresh herbs. Sweet and lush, finishes with fresh cassis and cherry flavors, moderate tannins and great length." 91+ Stephen Tanzer - International Wine Cellar
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| 1994 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon | .pdf version |
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| | "Outstanding. The spicy, loamy, earthy nuances combined with the wealth of black fruit create a remarkable impression in the mouth as well as in the wine’s25-30 second finish. It should keep for 20+ years." 93+ Robert M. Parker, Jr. - The Wine Advocate
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| | "Outstanding. Highly expressive, superripe aromas of cassis, black raspberry, and loganberry, with complicating notes of pepper and minerals. Sweet and impressively concentrated; bright, delineated and dense on the palate. Very sweet back end features thoroughly ripe, fine tannins." 93+ Stephen Tanzer - International Wine Cellar
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| | "Excellent. It's young, intense Cabernet, loaded with fruit and firmly structured." 91 Joe Czerwinski - Wine Enthusiast
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 | | "Wow! Medium ruby with a fabulous bouquet of black cherry, blackberry, cassis, vanilla, toast, and mint with a hint of spice. The flavors of cherries, berries, spice, cassis, and vanilla are very rich and complex with exceptional depth and balance, followed by a very fruity, spicy, vanilla etched finish." 94 The Insider's Wine Line
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| 1993 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon | .pdf version |
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| | "Extraordinary. Offers an opaque purple color, a huge extroverted set of aromatics offering plenty of black fruits, minerals, chocolate, and earth, beautiful purity, full body, supple tannin, considerable glycerin, and a big, lusty mouthfeel. Will last for 20+ years." 95 Robert M. Parker, Jr. - The Wine Advocate
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| | "An intensely perfumed nose of black currant, black cherry, blackberry and fresh plum, with a hint of toast and vanilla. There are rich, intense, lovely flavors of black pit fruits, layered berries, spice, vanilla and cocoa followed by a long, lingering, complex finish that seems to last forever -- This is another show-stopper from Chateau Montelena." 93 The Insider's Wine Line
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| | "Excellent. Highly extracted. Currants, black cherries, black tea. Deep, ripe, black fruit aromas follow through on the palate. " 90 Wine Enthusiast
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| 1992 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon | .pdf version |
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| | "Extraordinary. The wine’s opaque ruby/purple color is followed by a sweet, jammy nose of black fruit and minerals, huge body, a sweet inner-core of ripe fruit, and a long, low acid, opulent finish. Rich and full, this Cabernet is destined for 20+ years of gorgeous drinking." 95+ Robert M. Parker, Jr. - The Wine Advocate
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| | "Superb. A whiff of surmaturité graces huge flavors of cassis and vanilla ice cream. The mouthfeel is velvety-rich, and the wine seems to find every pleasure-giving cranny of your mouth." 94 Joe Czerwinski - Wine Enthusiast
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| | "Outstanding. Deep red-ruby. Expressive, jammy, cherry, redcurrant and cedar nose, with notes of tobacco, coconut and game. Big, lush, and flashy; sweet and concentrated, with an herbal, inky complexity... finishing with substantial tongue-coating tannins." 92 Stephen Tanzer - International Wine Cellar
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| 1991 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon | .pdf version |
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| | "Extraordinary. Appears to be a natural born legend. It possesses amazing depth, an impenetrably opaque purple color, and a finish that lasts for nearly a minute. The wine offers a fabulously ripe nose of black raspberries, cassis, spices, and vanillin. This is clearly a 20-30 year Cabernet." 97 Robert M. Parker, Jr. - The Wine Advocate
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| | "Outstanding. Deep black-ruby. Perfumed, multidimensional aromas of cassis, smoke, minerals, licorice and a gamey, woodsy note: totally expressed ripe fruit. Terrific attack, followed by great richness and sweetness in the mouth; has an uncanny mouthcoating texture. Very long finish, with totally ripe tannins." 93+ Stephen Tanzer - International Wine Cellar
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| | "Excellent. Crystalline cherry and vanilla aromas gradually exapand, becoming deeper and fuller. Broad and expansive in the mouth,... a heckuva bottle." 91 Joe Czerwinski - Wine Enthusiast
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| | One of the 12 Best Wines of the Vintage
"A winery of the first order. The 91 is sumptuous, rich, layered, viscous -- a veritable thing of beauty." Quarterly Review of Wines
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| 1990 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon | .pdf version |
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| | "Outstanding. Splendidly concentrated, broad, expansively-flavored, full-bodied Cabernet with a high level of tannin. Its stunning display of highly extracted, blackcurrant fruit judiciously wrapped in toasty oak is impressive. A 20-30 year wine." 93+ Robert M. Parker, Jr. - The Wine Advocate
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| | "Outstanding. Opaque deep rep color. Briary, sappy, virtually impenetrable nose hints at a tobacco quality. Thick, full, and stuffed with fruit; a huge, outrageously ripe wine with great flavor intensity and layered texture. Substantial ripe tannins are buried in explosive primary fruit. " 93+ Stephen Tanzer - International Wine Cellar
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| 1989 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon | .pdf version |
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| | "Outstanding. This winery makes fine Cabernets in vintages where other producers flounder. The 1989 Estate Cabernet is a superb wine." 91 Robert M. Parker, Jr. - The Wine Advocate
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| 1988 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon | .pdf version |
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| | Wine of the Year - California Cabernet Sauvignon
"Anyone who wrote off the '88 better taste this wine in a hurry. Big, beautiful, luscious, deep, with balance and fruit to match. Super wine." Quarterly Review of Wines
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 | | California's Best of 1992
"Another powerhouse from Montelena. The nose exudes ripe, blackberry fruit and the tart, very focused fruit has loads of mint and black cherry. Nobody in California makes biggeer Cabernet than this top-flight producer. Yet, big does not impress me; I want balance, and this wine has that and more. This will surely be one of the best Napa Cabernet produced from the 1988 vintage and one of the few really worth the investment." The Wine News
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 | | "Perfumed aroma of expansive, deep black cherry fruit with a spicy, toasty, balanced vanilla tone. In the mouth, the same spicy black cherry fruit has a ripe tone with some currants and a touch of cedar with the spicy, toasty vanilla flavor." 16.5/20 Underground Wine Journal
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| 1987 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon | .pdf version |
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| | "Extraordinary. The wine's black/purple color, extraordinary bouquet of rich cassis, violets, and licorice, massive extraction of flavors, sensational depth, super ripeness, and length are awesome. The extract level is incredible, yet the balance is there. Anticipated maturity: 1997-2025." 98 Robert M. Parker, Jr. - The Wine Advocate
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| | "A big wine with deep fruit and moderately full tannins... (it) has aromas of black of black cherries, spice and moderate vanilla with some tinges of ripe plums, berries and cassis with touch of violets and is very complex. On the palate there are flavors of cherries, berries and plums with spicy vanilla tones and is concentrated. It is rich, intense and well-balanced, and has good depth... another fine wine from the Barretts." 18/20 Underground Wine Journal
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| | "Superb. Firm, youthful and packed with cassis, yet showing more developed notes of chocolate and molasses. This should drink well now-2015 and probably longer." 96 Joe Czerwinski - Wine Enthusiast
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| 1986 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon | .pdf version |
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| | "Outstanding. This is an example of Chateau Montelena at its best. The big, cassis and chocolate-scented bouquet has a whiff of toast, but primarily relies on powerfully rich, ripe aromas that explode upward from the glass. There is no letting up in the mouth, as the wine is exceptionally concentrated, full-bodied, ... gloriously rich and full. Bravo!" 92 Robert M. Parker, Jr. - The Wine Advocate
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| | "Deep perfume of chocolate and berry. Heaps of fruit. Olalliberries, cedar, chocolate and spice. Flavorful and softly tannic, with a long finish. Big, rich, powerful, generous yet balanced. " 18.5/20 Underground Wine Journal
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 | | Best Wines of 1990
"Very Highly Recommended. Attractive, intense, herbal, cedary, ripe currant aroma which continued to develop intensity and depth with airing; forward, rich, concentrated, ripe currant flavors in the mouth with good depth and concentration; well balanced; medium-full to full tannin. Superior quality." 16/20 California Grapevine
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| 1985 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon | .pdf version |
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| | "Outstanding. A breathtaking wine of stunning depth and richness that is destined to be one of the great classics of Napa Valley. It is loaded with pure, rich, blackcurrant fruit...is very full-bodied, shows good acidity, and has a finish that seems to last for several minutes. A sumputous, extraordinary wine." 94 Robert M. Parker, Jr. - The Wine Advocate
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| | "Ripe and oaky in the nose with overtones of earth and roasted coffee, this big, broad, brooding young Cabernet offers full, aggressively ripe flavors.   " Connoisseur's Guide
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| | "This dark wine has a perfumed nose of ripe cherry-like fruit with some cassis, hints of vanilla and a very slight tinge of mint. There are similar flavors on the palate along with some dense cherry fruit and chocolate tones. The wine has some richness, is intense and well-balanced with very good depth. This is one to lay away as it should develop beautifully - a lovely wine. " 17/20 Underground Wine Journal
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| | "Very Highly Recommended. Attractive, rich, earthy, black cherry, ripe currant aroma with notes of herbs and olives; medium-full body; intense, textured, concentrated fruit flavors which are well balanced and structured and show hints of complexity; Superior quality. " 16.2/20 California Grapevine
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| 1984 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon | .pdf version |
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| | "Outstanding. Chateau Montelena's wines possess gorgeous potential when young, and are even better when revisited later. The 1984 Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits the forward, jammy, cassis, and black fruit character of the vintage, marvelously rich, full-bodied, concentrated flavors, high extract, gobs of glycerin, and moderate tannin on the finish." 92 Robert M. Parker, Jr. - The Wine Advocate
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| | "Excellent. A hot, dry growing season led Bo to compare this vintage to '78, and the resemblance is reflected in the wine. Brown sugar graces dark fruit, and firm tannins. Drink or hold; for a 20-year-old Cab, it's remarkably youthful." 92 Joe Czerwinski - Wine Enthusiast
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| | "A most engaging nose! Deep, hard flavors of cherry and berry show good complexity, with nuances of vanilla and spice. This is a rich, intense, layered wine, balanced, and with very good depth. A lovely wine that needs lots of time, this is a truly fine 1984 Cabernet." 18/20 Underground Wine Journal
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| 1982 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon | .pdf version |
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| | Highly recommended
"Outstanding. A brilliant example of a full bodied, deep, broadly flavored, profound Napa cabernet. From its dense color, huge, full intensity bouquet of spices and berry fruit to its luxurious texture, this is one of the great cabernets of the 1982 vintage." 92 Robert M. Parker, Jr. - The Wine Advocate
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 | | Highly Recommended
"Bright peppermint, eucalyptus, mint; ripe fruit, with fleshy chocolate, cedar, and chalky notes; full, long." Wine and Spirits
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| | "The attention-grabbing aromas feature rich oak underlain by dense, fully extracted curranty fruit in a nose that wants for neither intensity nor depth. The wine is loaded with lush, concentrated varietal fruit flavors that set a striking counterpoint of rich oak against notes of pepper, smoke and tar. Full-bodied, lush, well-stuffed, and nicely balanced.  " Connoisseur's Guide
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| 1981 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon | .pdf version |
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| | "Attractive, rich, cherry-fruit aroma with oaky overtones; well balanced; medium-full body; rich, textured, concentrated fruit flavors." 16.5/20 California Grapevine
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| | "This cabernet lives up to our intial expectations. The flavors are complex and rich and the texture and balance are very pleasant." 16.5/20 Underground Wine Journal
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| 1980 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon | .pdf version |
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| | "Outstanding. Extremely deep in color and youthful, with pure aromas of cassis and new oak. The wonderful texture and long flavors are a complete turn on. " 90 Robert M. Parker, Jr. - The Wine Advocate
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| 1979 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon | .pdf version |
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| | "Outstanding. No other winery in California has such a consistent record of excellence over the last 25 years. That point was brought home to me at a blind tasting on October 8, 1998, where a vertical of Chateau Montelena was served, including every vintage from 1978 through 1995. Not oly was the consistency of the wines mind-boggling... (but) when the first flight of 1978 through 1983 Montelenas was served, every taster thought the wines were from vintages in the early nineties!" 93 Robert M. Parker, Jr. - The Wine Advocate
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| | "  There are hints of grandeur in the youthful, tight aromas. The nose carries briary suggestions of black pepper, but currants and oak can be found under the tough facade. Rough and tannic but very well-structured, the wine has nice weight on the palate and shows promise of a lovely supple quality once the tannins soften." Connoisseur's Guide
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| | "One of the best Montelenas ever. Young, hard, tannic, peppery tones, and plum-like. Much cellaring needed for this excellent cabernet sauvignon." Quarterly Review of Wines
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| 1978 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon | .pdf version |
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| | "Superb. Montelena's first estate-bottled Cabernet. Dark and earthy... Hints of molasses layered over dark berries and plums. A tour de force in American Cabernet." 94 Joe Czerwinski - Wine Enthusiast
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| | "Outstanding. An exceptionally impressive, profound bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. The huge nose seems crammed with red fruits, spicy oak, licorice and cedar. In the mouth, the wine has a jammy richness, but is not heavy or port-like. It finishes with impressively well-balanced, long, lingering, satisfying flavors." 92 Robert M. Parker, Jr. - The Wine Advocate
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| | "Deep color; classic Cabernet nose of olives, tar, bell-pepper and black cherry; lots of coffee and dark chocolate on the palate; lots of spicy young oak, too; a dense, mouth-filling wine; long and intensely finished; powerful; super stuff." Quarterly Review of Wines
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| | 1978's Best
"Some great wines were made in California the year F&W was founded. A particularly memorable Cabernet." Food & Wine
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