WTN: 2008 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

[David M. Bueker]

As has been the case with numerous recent vintages, this is drinking pretty well out of the gate, especially with a grilled burger. Lots of deep red and black fruit, and the oak is nicely in balance. Tannins are pretty supple for such a young wine.

10 or 15 years ago I would have lamented this forward style for Montelena. Now I really don't want to wait 20 years to drink the wine, and I think the balance and style of this bottling will carry it in a much more drinkable fashion for plenty of years.

David - this is a surprising note on a very young Montelena. Does it have something to do with the vintage? I have yet to taste a 2008 Cab from California, and when I look at Tanzer's score on this wine, it does give me pause. In 2010, he gave a barrel score of 91-94 pts, and in 2011, his bottle score was lowered to 88 pts. I don't subscribe, but I was able to see his notes on barrel tasting, but did not see his notes once in bottle. I no longer buy any wines that require 20 years of aging, but this sounds like a wine I could buy and drink.

[David M. Bueker]

Diane,

Unfortunately I no longer have access to Tanzer (or Parker, or Gilman or WoFW, etc.), so I can't comment on what he did or did not find in the '08.

I have 1998 and 2001. Any comments?

[David M. Bueker]

1998 was not a strong year overall in Napa. The Montelena is pretty good, but not up to normal standards.

2001 is really good, despite some damning press from Jim Laube at Wine Spectator.

1998 was not a strong year overall in Napa. The Montelena is pretty good, but not up to normal standards.

I tasted the '98, along with the '97 and '99, at the winery ca. 2002. At that time, I preferred the style of the '98 to either of the other, more ballyhooed vintages. It was more savory, with greater herbal character and more interest (to my palate). Whether I'd make the same judgment today I can't say, but I have two bottles of the '98 to examine in the next few years.

Mark Lipton

[David M. Bueker]

1998 is indeed AFWE-friendly,

1998 was not a strong year overall in Napa. The Montelena is pretty good, but not up to normal standards.

I tasted the '98, along with the '97 and '99, at the winery ca. 2002. At that time, I preferred the style of the '98 to either of the other, more ballyhooed vintages. It was more savory, with greater herbal character and more interest (to my palate). Whether I'd make the same judgment today I can't say, but I have two bottles of the '98 to examine in the next few years.

Mark Lipton

Dittos. GOOD wineries handled 1998 very well, imho. I tasted through a vertical of Reserfve Clos Du Val Cabs, and the 1998 demolished the 1997 and the 1999.

YMMV!

1998 is indeed AFWE-friendly,

LOL!

I am looking forward to the 2011s, to be honest!

David, did you pop and pour the 2008, or decant it for a while? I picked up a bottle of this a couple weeks back and was planning on decanting it for a couple of hours before drinking. My last Montelena (Napa Cuvee, IIRC), was supposed to be "drinkable on release", but it was tighter than a gnat's ear and never opened up over a 4 day period.

[David M. Bueker]

pop and pour from 375ml

'98 was not a matter of good wineries vs. bad wineries. It was cold and miserable, and many vineyards never ripened properly. I made an excellent Eaglepoint Ranch '97, but rejected the fruit in the vineyard because they didn't even reach 22 brix average. The fruit went to Kendall-Jackson instead, and Casey barely forgave me. Yet there were vineyards where the fruit, with long hang times, managed to get to 23 or 24 brix, and made nice, sometimes spectacular wine. If you liked a '98, it's likely because the fruit ripened in that vineyard.

'98 was not a matter of good wineries vs. bad wineries. It was cold and miserable, and many vineyards never ripened properly. I made an excellent Eaglepoint Ranch '97, but rejected the fruit in the vineyard because they didn't even reach 22 brix average. The fruit went to Kendall-Jackson instead, and Casey barely forgave me. Yet there were vineyards where the fruit, with long hang times, managed to get to 23 or 24 brix, and made nice, sometimes spectacular wine. If you liked a '98, it's likely because the fruit ripened in that vineyard.

Thanks Craig, you beat me to it describing the 98 vintage. It truly was a miserable year for the fruit ripening in the valley. Mark has a peculiar palate for liking wines in off years. There were some good wines made in 98 but I know many winemakers in the valley who dumped much of their crop or sold it to others. I have tasted the 98 Montelena Estate and by my standards it is not one of the better wines they have made. But to each his own.

I will have to open one i guess. I notice this is the only California wine I own from 98,

Thanks Craig, you beat me to it describing the 98 vintage. It truly was a miserable year for the fruit ripening in the valley. Mark has a peculiar palate for liking wines in off years. There were some good wines made in 98 but I know many winemakers in the valley who dumped much of their crop or sold it to others. I have tasted the 98 Montelena Estate and by my standards it is not one of the better wines they have made. But to each his own.

Thanks, Lou! Remind me to bring out one of those great '02 Chateauneufs for you the next time I'm in your neck of the woods.

Mark Lipton