1984 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
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Tasting notes
Medium red. Restrained nose conveys lovely floral lift to the aromas of redcurrant, potpourri spices, cedar and earth; the green notes of most of the preceding vintages are not apparent here. Juicy and penetrating on the palate, projecting claret-like energy and definition to its red berry and soil flavors. An integrated spine of acidity accentuates the impression of precision and vinosity. Finishes firmly tannic but not at all dry, clinging to the palate and building on the aftertaste. Bo Barrett experimented with long macerations of 25 to 45 days in 1984--and again in 1990--but he told me that he didn't keep the temperature in the tank high enough. He also noted that in the early '80s, 'our reputation was that the wines needed ten years because of their tannins.' The estate sold each new vintage over a four-year cycle, he added, 'because the wines were hard to sell.' (ST)
Critic scores
Robert Parker
The Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The wine's opaque ruby/purple color is followed by a sweet, jammy nose of black fruit and minerals, huge body, a sweet inner-core of ripe fruit, and a long, low acid, opulent finish. (RP)
Last Tasted 10/93 Chateau Montelena's wines possess gorgeous potential when young, and are even better when revisited later. The 1984 Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits the forward, jammy, cassis, and other black fruit character of the vintage, marvelously rich, full-bodied, concentrated flavors, high extract, gobs of glycerin, and moderate tannin in the finish. Its virtues - purity, richness, and opulence - along with a firm underpinning of tannin, should serve it well for another 10-15 years.
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.