1997 Chateau Montelena

The winemaking philosophy at Chateau Montelena is to highlight the fruit and not the wood. Clearly a successful formula for this winery that has about 20% new barrels with the remainder being 2 to 3 years old. Those who have followed Montelena since its beginning in 1972, know their Cabs are among the longest lived and best structured in the world.

James Barrett founded Chateau Montelena in 1972, and his son, Bo Barrett, is the winemaker responsible for a long string of great Cabernets.The Paris tasting of 1976 put Chateau Montelena on the international wine map when their 1973 Chardonnay was voted the best wine in a competition with White Burgundy. The shocking thing was that the nine judges where definitely francophiles who tried their hardest to slight what they thought were California wines. And the irony is that Montelena went on to become best known for its Cabernet Sauvignon, not its Chardonnay.

1997 Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, 95-99 pts, C4+N3?F4+?T4E4+?: My first notes were "could be a great one." The appearance is a fresh, deep red; the nose cedar/closed. Mouth-coating, it shows spicy, rich fruit flavors enveloped in an ageable tannic structure. It exhibits great complexity even in its youth. Super potential. This sample is an approximation of the final blend. Tasted 3/30/99. Release date: March 1, 2001. Note: Montelena offers it customers a three tranche (release) system of purchase. The first was March 1 to May 30, 1999 at which time one could purchase the 1997 vintage for about $52 per bottle. (Some retailers discounted it to about $48.) The second tranche will be March 1 to May 30, 2000 when the 1997 vintage will be available at a higher price and the 1998 will be released on a first tranche basis. If you'd like to get the information "from the horses mouth," call the Chateau at 707-942-5105.

Contact: alchemist@wineperspective.com