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Chateau Montelena Buy Online |
Rating: A-B
Apr 3rd, 2005 |
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1429 Tubbs Lane, Calistoga, CA 94515
Phone: 707 942 5105 Hours: 9.30am-4pm Club/Discounts: Four Clubs to choose from with various discounts Tasting Fees: $15 Current Release; $25 Library Tasting The winery is a fantastic Chateau - as if it is straight out of France, overlooking a lake, bocce court and vineyards.
Unfortunately the service does not match the splendor of the winery though. If you are a club member, they ignore you and if you are not a club member then they will insist you read the club order form. No wine allowed outside. All outdoor seating was reserved the day we were there - but that may just have been a deterrent. The staff will tell you the name of nearby wineries that allow picnicing !! Kind of annoying when you have just bought a $100+ bottle of wine and have them open it for you. Plastic cups and a log don't quite encourage you to rush back even though they have great wines.
The estate wines are excellent if you don't mind the snobby attitude. The tasting room is in the top floor of the Chateau with the Reserve Tasting Room further back. The best deal is to sign up for their Futures Program, as their wines are consistently good, and the futures prices are almost half the release price.
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Sort by : Vintage / Name / Rating
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| 1991 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon ($119) | Rating: D
Jul 22nd, 2005 |
 Best Wine - July, 2005
Very good - still lots of fruit, need to breathe/decant first for 1-2 hrs |
| 1994 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon ($100) | Rating: D
May 2nd, 2009 |
Best Wine - May, 2009
Well integrated, very good fruit, acidity balance. Nice round tannins. Drinking very nicely. Was opened and left to breathe for a number of hours. |
| 1998 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon ($90) | Rating: D
Apr 3rd, 2005 |
| Excellent wine. Favourite wine of the day. Tasted great out of the bottle even in plastic cups!!! Ready to drink now. Best 98 I have tasted, especially considering this was supposed to be a terrible vintage. |
| 1999 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon ($140) | Rating: D
Apr 3rd, 2005 |
Best Wine - April, 2005
Another great wine that will age for years to come. Great color, smell and taste. Drinkable now, but not as fleshy and smooth as the 98 now.
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| 2001 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon ($125) | Rating: D
Apr 3rd, 2005 |
| Has huge potential but does not taste as good as the 1998 right now. Will need time to prove itself. This "addict" can't yet identify great wines this young, but I am confident it will be good. Ignore James Laube's TCA "tainted" ratings
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| 1992 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon ($105) | Rating: C-D
Jun 30th, 2006 |
Best Wine - June, 2006
Excellent, ideal for special occasions, lots of flavour and depth |
| 1993 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon ($95) | Rating: C-D
Dec 2nd, 2004 |
Best Wine - December, 2004
Very enjoyable, good body and long finish. "I could drink this all night" |
| 1995 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon ($100) | Rating: C-D
Mar 8th, 2008 |
Best Wine - March, 2008
Great depth on this wine, still good fruit and a beautiful finish. A classic example of the Montelena Cabs. |
| 1996 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon ($79) | Rating: C-D
Oct 17th, 2004 |
| Well balanced with fruit on the nose, a favourite of the vintage |
| 1997 Calistoga Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon ($30) | Rating: C
Mar 19th, 2006 |
Best Value Wine - March, 2006
Best Wine - March, 2006
Not as big as the estate, but still a very good wine. |
| 2002 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon ($95) | Rating: C
May 28th, 2006 |
| Big wine. Very early to drink it right now but this wine will be very good in a few years. |
| 2004 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon ($115) | Rating: C
Oct 25th, 2008 |
| Classic Montelena - good nose & body with tons of potential. |
| 2000 Napa Valley Chardonnay ($41) | Rating: B-C
Dec 9th, 2006 |
| We were surprised to be served a 2000 Chardonnay, but were even more surprised that it tasted so good. Full bodied with a refreshing balance |
| 2001 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($37) | Rating: B-C
Dec 11th, 2004 |
| Good smell, needs to store longer, tannins not quite balanced yet, should improve |
| 2003 Estate Zinfandel ($28) | Rating: B-C
May 28th, 2006 |
| A well balanced Zinfandel. Smooth yet spicy. Well balanced. Drinking well right now. A nice wine |
| 2004 Potter Valley Riesling ($18) | Rating: B-C
May 28th, 2006 |
| Our first wine of the day and a very nice Riesling. Very smooth. A nice picnic wine. Good value |
| 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($45) | Rating: B-C
Mar 6th, 2008 |
| Soft to start, but has good balanced fruit and a really nice finish. |
| 2005 Potter Valley Riesling ($20) | Rating: B-C
Dec 9th, 2006 |
| Another very good Riesling from Chateau Montelena. Good Summer wine. Good value at $20 |
| 2000 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon ($105) | Rating: B
May 28th, 2006 |
| Not hugely impressed with the 2000 Estate. Flat finish. Hard to enjoy when drinking it beside the great 1998 Estate Cab |
| 2003 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($40) | Rating: B
May 28th, 2006 |
| Great bouquet. Big tannins. Not drinking very well at the moment and could probably do with some time in the bottle. Will improve in time |
| 2004 Napa Valley Chardonnay ($38) | Rating: B
May 28th, 2006 |
| This Chardonnay would probably go a lot better with food as it is quite rich. Nice flavor |
| 2005 Estate Zinfandel ($28) | Rating: B
Jan 31st, 2009 |
| Medium spice, good body and easy finish. Sweet & fruity finish. |
| 2006 Estate Zinfandel ($30) | Rating: B
Jan 31st, 2009 |
| Chalky taste mingled with fruit flavours. A bolder nose, but lighter taste than the 05. |
| 2007 Potter Valley Reisling ($20) | Rating: B
Oct 25th, 2008 |
| Sweet to start, crisp to finish |
Sort by : Vintage / Name / Rating
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