WTN: Montelena (short and yummy)

1998 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate A couple of weeks ago I asked about the 1998 Montelena on this site and after reading comments from this forum, realized that it was time to drink my bottle. Some said 1998 was a lousy year and anything should be done by now. Cellartracker had great comments in 2012 on the 98 vintage on their tastings but I never believe what they say. We went to a Western Indian Fusian restaurant with two close friends. I had a cabbage based minestrone soup (light) and duck breast with orange sauce. Upon opening of the bottle came fruit smell. It was still a bit cold and tasted peppery. After a couple of minutes it opened up to Blackberry, blueberry, some plum, some spice and a long delicious ending. I am not a scorer but based on my usual dinner wines this would have a high rating. It was at its peak and stayed there for the meal when all was gone. I have no idea on the long term future but will say that once again Chateau Montelena makes a great Cab, I was wise to buy in off vintage at reduced price.

David
Thanks for the note. I do tend to trust the adage that a good producer will invariably make a good wine even in bad vintages, so no surprise to hear it did well. We had a bottle of mid-late 1970s Ch Montelena a handful of years ago that was still singing. Definitely a wine I keep an eye out for if the price is reasonable.
It sounds like the food wasn't overly spicy, which can be a challenge for decent red wine.
regards
Ian

Rain came fairly early 1998 in the valley, so it depends on your location and when you picked. There were many wineries that didn't do well with their cabs in 1998.

Rain came fairly early 1998 in the valley, so it depends on your location and when you picked. There were many wineries that didn't do well with their cabs in 1998.

Lou, as has oft been said before, I'll take the wines from a great producer in an "off" year over the wines of an indifferent producer in a "great" year.

Mark Lipton

Mark, there were wines released by ordinarily good producers in 1998, that were pathetic. That's putting it nicely.

I enjoyed a 1998 Sequoia Grove Cabernet some years ago and was told that their side of the highway (29?) didn't get as much rain as some other properties.

Mark, there were wines released by ordinarily good producers in 1998, that were pathetic. That's putting it nicely.

Lou,
True to my word, I just opened a bottle of the '98 Montelena Estate tonight with grilled ribeyes. Yes, it's in fine shape: a nose of graphite and dark berries, chalky tannins, balanced acidity and medium body. All in all, it put us in mind of earlier examples (like the '78, which I lugged to NYC and opened for Jean ca. 1987) and was particularly fine with the steak. It had just enough fruit to balance out the non-fruit elements and I certainly think that the wine is capable of going another 5 or so years. (BTW, we had another bottle of the '78 courtesy of a friend ca. 1999 and it was still shockingly primary)

Mark Lipton