2001 Chateau Montelena - Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - USA - California - Napa - Napa Valley - Red

We may have opened this prematurely. Structure was present but there wasn't as much to it as expected. Nice nose but a lackluster finish.

Gorgeous wine that is really firing on all cylinders right now. Smooth drinking wine with a lip smacking mouth feel . Well balanced nose of dark jammie fruit, earth tones, cedar and sweet vanilla. Excellent balanced flavors of fruit, earth, cedar and baking spices. The spices and vanilla tastes linger nicely on a well integrated soft tannic finish.

Beautiful wine. No hint of rumored TCA

Everything you expect from Chateau Montelena, big fruit nose, and a nice smooth cab. Tannins have mellowed nicely.

A very nice Cabernet Sauvignon with deep ruby color.

Probably not as strong an effort as the first bottle I had in March. Still a goood wine, with big CA cab blast out of the bottle. Smooth, and very berry. Well liked by all who tated it.

14.1% alcohol Aromas: Robust fruit, supple black currant and toffee Palate: Firm, ripe black stone fruits and rich red and purple berries Impression; Very youthful with plenty of grip

Was either really closed or an off bottle. Drinkable but not right.

A hugely disappointing wine. Tasted six times with inconsistent results. Some bottles were slightly corked with muted fruit while others were just middling efforts. One bottle was so dirty it was undrinkable and then just when I was ready to give up the sixth bottle tasted like a young Chateau Montelena from a good (but not great) vintage. Based on my experiences only a daredevil would want to cellar these wines ? purchasing cases of this wine as an untasted future was a serious mistake on my part. My note, maturity estimate, and score is for the lone good bottle. Darkly colored with aromas of chocolate brownies, red fruits, a touch of saddle leather, wax, and oak. In the mouth, the wine?s acidity is a little too prominent. Tannins are firm. Good fruit and decent length.