Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
(Napa Valley, California) - [VM 94] [WA 93+] [DM 93]

Winemaker Notes:

This wine is 100% made with estate fruit. The diversity of soils and slopes where this is grown in Calistoga directly translates to layers of complexity and depth in the glass. The Estate vineyard is comprised of varied terrain, from flat to steep hillsides. The vineyard gently slopes downward towards its base, where a small patch of sedimentary soil was deposited by the settling of an ancient ocean or lake. Extending out from the Napa River is the alluvial soil, the most prevalent type on the property. In the back and outside areas of the vineyard are volcanic soils, formed by ancient lava flows caused by tectonic uplifting.

The wine is made up of 98.25% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1.75% Cabernet Franc. The wine is aged in 100% French oak barrels (34% new) for 22 months. It exuberantly reflects the Calistoga vineyard, while balancing power with an extraordinary ability to age.

Vintage Weather:

Starting out with fairly typical spring weather, the growing season in 2009 was defined by the cool summer, with no major heat waves all season. Whenever it would get warmer, it was immediately followed by a long cool period. The effect was slow and steady ripening with long hang time and a later than average start to the harvest. The heat did eventually show up in September, just in time to kick that final ripening stage into gear.

Tasting Notes:

“It’s no surprise how fresh this wine presents, given the vintage weather and deep garnet color. Aromatically, red fruit leaps out of the glass first as cherries, then dried cranberries, and finally as raspberry jam. Here’s certainly some dark fruit lurking in the background but it’s incredibly well-integrated with notes of cedar, allspice and fresh leather. The entry here is astoundingly bright but also refined; the acid is fresh and energizing, balancing the earthy and savory characteristics of the vintage. The wine’s tannins are slightly coarse but integrate beautifully into the dark and dried fruit, which dominate the mid-palate. Moreover, the texture is sublime in that the wine has plenty of density and complexity, all while remaining polished and precise. After a few moments, black tea and tobacco leaf resolve into the forefront along with a touch of toasty barrel, which supports rather than overwhelms the delicate balance of flavor. The finish sways back to red fruit with ripe strawberries and cherry candy slowly yielding to mint and black pepper. The tannins do persist here but do so in a way that prolongs these incredible flavors rather than just extending texture. Gradually the berries recede to reveal star anise, plum and a hint of clove. This wine still has not reached its apogee and should continue to develop for another two decades.” - Winemaker Matt Crafton

Technical Data

GRAPE VARIETIES Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
APPELLATION Calistoga, Napa Valley, California
FARMING The Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 100% estate fruit, all of which is sustainably farmed and produced in their solar powered winery
ALCOHOL 14.8%

Ratings & Reviews

94 Points - Vinous Media:
"Bright ruby-red. Penetrating aromas of black cherry, dried glowers and brown spices. Not as silky as the 2004 through 2007 vintages here but boasts noteworthy refinement and savory intensity, with fresh, harmonious acidity giving the wine good focus and finesse. Excellent depth here if not quite the flavor development of vintages like '07 and '04. Still, this conveys a thickness of texture and a faintly exotic quality and finishes with very suave tannins. The summer was rather cool but steady, and there was enough warmth in September to ensure ripe tannins without burning off needed acidity, noted Bo Barrett. A fairly elegantly styled Montelena Estate." - Stephen Tanzer (Jul 2018)

93+ Points - Wine Advocate: 
"Montelena’s 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate wraps around the palate with serious depth. Even with all of its intensity, the 2009 has a silkiness that makes it incredibly delicious at this early stage. Red berries, flowers, tobacco and sweet herbs all flesh out on the generous, radiant finish. While many 2009s are a bit tight today, Montelena’s 2009 Estate is showing very nicely, although it is keeping some cards close to the vest. I imagine the 2009 will start to enter its prime drinking window around age 8-10 and drink well for at least another decade beyond that. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2029" - AG (Dec 2012)

93 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"Of the four vintages tasted from the ‘00s, it was tough to pick just two. Like 2005, the 2009 was less muscular, more Bordeaux-like, with a bright, dark red fruit style, smoky spice and a wonderfully silky, caressing texture. At the heyday of high alcohol Napa Cabs, its alcohol is below 14%, partly thanks to a cool summer with no heat spikes and a five-week long harvest from mid-September." (Jun 2018)