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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."
| Varietal | Cabernet Sauvignon |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 1990 |
| Rating | 93 RP |
| Bottle Size | 750 ml |
| Bottle Quantity | 1 |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Location | North Coast |
| Producer | Montelena Chateau |
| Color | Red |
| Wine Type | Table |
| Robert Parker | 93 RP - The 1990 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate was reviewed in issue #95 from tastings done before its release. Tasted twice from purchased bottles, it is a backward, but 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. It is a 20-30 year wine. Every time I participate in a blind tasting of a specific vintage of California Cabernets, whether it be 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, etc., Chateau Montelena's wines consistently come out near or at the top. The style of their Estate Cabernet Sauvignon has remained an uncompromising blend of super-ripe fruit, power, concentration, and tannin. The only refinement has been that the type of tannin achieved in vintages in the nineties is softer, giving the wines earlier accessibility. That has been obtained without sacrificing any of the splendid richness and purity that are the hallmarks of Montelena's Cabernets. Winemaker/proprietor Bo Barrett is thrilled with what looks to be another great California Cabernet Sauvignon vintage in 1994. Wine enthusiasts looking for the best money can buy should be thrilled that this property, like many of the better California north coast wineries, has had an unprecedented five consecutive terrific vintages. |
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| Varietal | Cabernet Sauvignon |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 1990 |
| Rating | 93 RP |
| Bottle Size | 750 ml |
| Bottle Quantity | 1 |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Location | North Coast |
| Producer | Montelena Chateau |
| Color | Red |
| Wine Type | Table |
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