1998 Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Wine Information:
Appellation: Napa Valley, California (Calistoga)
Grapes: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Oak program: 18 – 20 months
Price: $30/ 375ml bottle
My Tasting Notes:
Color: dark brick red, slightly brown at the edges
Nose: slightly oxidized and “portish”, fresh corn tamale, tobacco
Taste: raisin, blackberry, suede, red clay, and tart cranberry at the back of the palate
Mouthfeel: full body but on the lighter side, still velvety rich tannins and “spicy” acidity
Finish: long with dark fruit and leathery notes
This is my first time tasting a Chateau Montelena wine as well as my first time tasting a ’98 Napa wine. Although slightly oxidized on the nose, it blew off after while and gave way to interesting corn tamale and tobacco notes. I was impressed with the structure, still alive and well but on the down side for sure. I have another bottle of this that I’ll probably drink very shortly, and will be excited to see if it will show as well.
Cheers!
There you go with the tamales again… ;-)
I had a chance to share in a bottle of the 1989 a few weeks ago. Still very nice.