Montelena, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon other_regions_australia Some rather appealing graphite on

Some rather appealing graphite on the nose

200 meters altitude on slate slopes where they yield minuscule quantities of grapes

Somewhat surprisingly this appears to be even riper than the Clos de Bèze with its mocha-infused nose of plum

While certainly a good effort I was somewhat under-whelmed given the usual standards this wine offers

The wine covers the palate fully

Montelena, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon other_regions_australia Some rather appealing graphite onGood deep red. Red berries, pungent herbs, menthol and cedary oak on the nose. Brisk and tightly wound, with edgy flavors of cherry syrup and rhubarb. The tannins are a bit dry but hit the palate late, allowing the red fruit flavors to express themselves on the back. Shows a slight overripe underripe character but I would not be at all surprised if this wine came into better harmony with another year or two of bottle aging. Stephen Tanzer