1995 Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet - 750ml

1995 Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet - 750ml

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1995 Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet - 94 Pts!
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. 

Product Details

Varietal Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage 1995
Rating 94 RP
Bottle Size 750 ml
Bottle Quantity 1
Country USA
Region California
Location North Coast
Producer Montelena Chateau
Color Red
Wine Type Table

Winery Details

Varietal Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage 1995
Rating 94 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

Rating 94 RP - At the winery I rated the 1995 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate one point below what I gave it in the blind tasting. Nevertheless my notes on both tastings are nearly identical. This is another winery where the 1995 may be as strong as the 1994. The color is an opaque purple. The wine is full-bodied and powerful with classic notes of cassis intermixed with loamy soil scents underbrush and spice. There is massive body and elevated but sweet tannin that is well-integrated with the wine's other components a blockbuster mid-palate and a finish that lasts for 30+ seconds. Anticipated maturity: 2000-2025.Modern-day society seems to always be in search of new stars but this winery has been a super hero for great California Cabernet Sauvignon for nearly 25 years!Montelena's Estate Cabernet Sauvignons are equivalent to buying blue chip stock. They get better and better with age and as the vertical tastings I have attended so persuasively attest they are still relatively young wines at 20 years of age! 

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