No Products in the Cart
Cabernet Sauvignon · North Coast
95 points from Robert Parker.
“Montelena's backward, elegant, complex 2001 Estate reveals a dense ruby/purple color along with foresty, earthy notes intermixed with black currant characteristics as well as sweet tannin. Always a less ripe outlier (although it contains 14% natural alcohol), it will benefit from 2-3 more years of cellaring and should keep for at least 20 more years based on the extraordinary longevity Montelena Cabernet Sauvignons possess.”
Every detail we hold on this bottle, in one place, so you know exactly what is going into your cellar.
Chateau Montelena is one of the most prominent Napa Valley wineries. It was directly associated with bringing international recognition to the California wine industry through the 1976 Judgment of Paris. Based in Calistoga, it is famous for its varietal Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay wines.
Chateau Montelena's real success came in the famous 1976 Judgment of Paris tasting, where its 1973 Chardonnay was deemed the best of a lineup of top wines from California and France. The top red wine, the Stag's Leap Cabernet Sauvignon, was also from California.
The victory upset the French dominance of the wine industry, catapulting California producers onto the international stage, and opening the door for New World producers. The tasting was covered in Time magazine by George Taber, who went on to write a book about it titled Judgment of Paris, which in turn inspired the 2008 movie "Bottle Shock."
Despite its claim to fame with Chardonnay, the flagship wine of Chateau Montelena has actually been its Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. It was born in the early 1980s, when the estate vines had matured enough to start producing quality fruit. After fermentation in stainless steel, it is barrel-aged in a series of tunnels and caves beneath the winery for up to 22 months.
One bottle, 750 ml, of the 2001 vintage.
Local pickup is by appointment only. If you choose pickup at checkout, please email sales@cultwine.com to schedule your pickup.
Montelena Chateau.
Yes. You must be 21 years of age or older to purchase.
Looking for a specific bottle, vintage, or large format? Tell us what you're after, and a CultWine specialist will personally track it down for you. Request a wine or call 1 877 285.8946.
Can't find it? We'll find it. A CultWine specialist will personally track down the bottle you're after.
