WTN: Estate Planning

[David M. Bueker]

1997 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate - USA, California, Napa Valley (2/1/2023)
Well cared for bottle purchased on release. Just an hour of air (no decanter), but it showed very well from first sip. Silky on entry, but with just a bit of bite on the finish, it was easy to drink. Aromas showed more tobacco and cedar up front than I expected, but with cassis and black cherry emerging over time. Good acidity made for a fresh mouthfeel, and the fruit and cedar elements lingered long after each sip. Nothing overdone or overripe here. Classic Cabernet with a touch of extra richness from the vintage.

Thanks. Montelena seems to always manage to stay balanced in the really ripe years, nice capture of the style.