2012 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
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Tasting notes
A subtle red with red pepper, berry and sweet tobacco character. Full-bodied, balanced and refined. Very fine and polished tannins. Needs a few years to come completely around. Drink or hold.
Critic scores
Robert Parker
James Suckling
More reviews and scores
A pretty, accessible wine, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon is a solid choice for drinking now and over the next handful of years. Sweet red stone fruits, tobacco, smoke, licorice and spices flesh out nicely in the glass. The style is soft, open and silky, all qualities that are typical of 2012. The Cabernet Sauvignon is made from five sources in Calistoga.
The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is meant for up-front, immediate drinkability, and is primarily designed for restaurants. It reveals Montelena’s damp earthiness and spiciness as well as a dark ruby color, no evidence of oak, and medium-bodied, spicy flavors. Drink it over the next 6-8 years. An iconic offering, their Cabernet Sauvignon Estate has long been one of the staples in my private cellar with vintages going back to the 1970s. It has been one of the longest-lived wines in Napa.
About the producer
Chateau Montelena is a historic Napa Valley estate that rose to global fame after its 1973 Chardonnay won the 1976 Judgment of Paris. Renowned for both its Chardonnay and Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, the winery continues to produce elegant, age-worthy wines with a legacy of excellence.