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: 1999 Château Montelena "Estate" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

1999 Château Montelena "Estate" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

SKU #1002622 95 points Wine Advocate

Outer quote mark The 1999 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate (an 8,600-case cuvee made from yields of 1.98 tons of fruit per acre) is considered by Bo Barrett to be a 'great' year. The wine boasts a saturated inky/purple color as well as extraordinary density of fruit and cassis, and huge tannin, body, and extract. It is a substantial, palate-staining, long, muscular Cabernet that should only be purchased by connoisseurs with cold cellars as well as patience. The Estate Cabernet Sauvignon remains one of California's most remarkable Cabernets. I have been following it since the early seventies, and even the most difficult vintages are still drinking beautifully. The home vineyard is so consistent that even in vintages such as 1989 and 1998, this wine is far better than its competition. (RP) Inner quote mark (8/2002)

92-95 points Int'l Wine Cellar

Outer quote mark Bright ruby-red. Very pure, perfumed aromas of cassis, redcurrant, black cherry, bitter chocolate, minerals and tobacco; shows none of the herbal, minty quality of the '98. Powerfully structured, primary and fresh, with firm acidity; real essence of Napa Valley cabernet. Very long, palate-staining finish features firm but perfectly buffered tannins. This will develop slowly and be long-lived. A potentially great vintage for this wine. (ST) Inner quote mark (5/2001)

94 points Wine Spectator

Outer quote mark Beautifully crafted, dark, rich and polished, with a tight beam of blackberry and currant fruit that's sharply focused and tightly wound. Turns supple and finishes with a long, lingering, fruit-propelled finish. Excellent structure for aging. (JL) Inner quote mark (11/2002)

93 points Vinous

Outer quote mark Good dark red with no amber showing. Medicinal black fruits, violet, menthol and mint on the nose, complemented by rocky volcanic minerality. Very pure and intense, with its ripe but youthfully primary dark fruit, mineral and bitter chocolate flavors framed by a strong impression of acidity. The tannins are substantial but ripe, with the finish showing lovely subtle flavor development and sneaky building length. Today this wine stands out for its purity and cut and I'd expect it to expand further with more time in the bottle. Barrett did not even start harvesting the small crop (1.8 tons per acre) in '99 until the last day of September, about two weeks later than average. (ST) 93+ Inner quote mark (5/2019)

Jancis Robinson

Outer quote mark Dark crimson and healthy glow. Aromatic, almost Cabernet Franc-like aromas. Very fresh rather than big and warm. Still lively, fine tannins. Pretty wine for food. 18/20 points (JR) Inner quote mark (9/2019)

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1999 Château Montelena "Estate" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

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Varietal:

Cabernet Sauvignon and Blends

- Cabernet Sauvignon has come a long way from its role as a blending varietal, however dominant, in the wines of Bordeaux. Today it is the most planted red varietal in the world. Identified as a descendent of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, the late-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon needs to be planted in warmer climates to fully ripen. Its small berries can easily be identified for their distinctive blue color, thick skins and high tannins. And while the varietal has its own definitive characteristics: green pepper-like aromas and black currant flavors among them, it is perhaps most prized for its ability to convey terroir, vintage and winemaking. A relatively new varietal, Cabernet Sauvignon started making inroads into the wines of the Médoc and Graves in the late-18th century. Today it is also dominant in the up-and-coming Entre-Deux-Mers region of Bordeaux and can also be found in Southwest France. It is the companion varietal to Sangiovese in Italy's Super Tuscans and is planted all over Europe, stretching to lesser-known winegrowing regions like Russia and Lebanon. In the Americas Cabernet Sauvignon has found champions in every nook and cranny of California and among winemakers in Washington, where it complements plantings of Merlot. In South America, Cab thrives in Chile, but can also be found in smaller amounts in Argentina and even in Mexico.

Country:

United States

- When people consider domestic wine, they normally think about the state of California. The fine viticultural Region within California, including the Napa Valley, Sonoma, Santa Cruz Mountains, Mendocino and Santa Barbara, are capable of growing grapes of world-class quality. But there's plenty of fabulous wine coming from other states, too. Oregon, Washington and New York are also causing eyebrows (and glassware) to be raised around the world.

Sub-Region:

California

- With the explosive growth that California's wine industry has seen the past several years, it's easy to view winemaking and grape growing in the Golden State as a recent phenomenon. And while it's true that California's viticultural history is brief compared to several European countries, this state's roots date back well over 200 years. Due to the enormous response to California wine within the United States and worldwide, there are thousands of excellent and diverse wines being produced within the state each year.

Specific Appellation:

Napa Valley

- America's most famous wine region, which encompasses a varied geographical territory running about 20 miles long from the San Francisco Bay northward to the foot of Mount St. Helena. Napa's great diversity, both in terms of climate and terroir, has led to the creation of a number of smaller AVAs like Stags Leap District, Rutherford, Howell Mountain, Oakville and Mount Veeder, among others. Cabernet and chardonnay still reign supreme, but just about everything under the sun is grown in Napa Valley, in quality levels ranging from $2 jug wine to $500 a bottle California cab.