WTN: Montelena Horne

[David M. Bueker]

• 2008 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate - USA, California, Napa Valley (6/19/2021)
  From half bottle this is still quite young, but with a two hour decant it’s drinking very well. There’s plenty of fruit, and the structure can support another decade or two of cellaring. It’s rich, yet retains a classic style. Admittedly I am not incredibly excited about this, but it’s definitely a good wine, just doesn’t have a spark to make it memorable.

[Jenise]

Ten points for the way I laughed out loud when I saw your title. A few more for mentioning "the spark" that wine can have, that thing you can't quite define or quantify with stupid points about the difference between a technically good wine and one that grabs your fancy with a hook and doesn't let go, even when the bottle's empty.

Thanks for the report. I'll be keeping my hands off the 2008 for a while, then.

-Paul W.