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All Wines from Ch. Montelena
Inventory updated: Fri, May 15, 2026 04:02 PM cst
Our vintages of Ch. Montelena wine currently include: 1987, 1994, 1996, 2003, 2005, 2012, 2021
Flickinger Fine Wines' inventory of Ch. Montelena wine is listed below. We have an excellent and vast assortment of fine wines to choose from. If you do not see what you are looking for, give us a call and we can suggest another Ch. Montelena vintage or even another producer that we are sure you will enjoy.
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | USA Red |
| Ch. Montelena |
1987 |
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon  Scuffed Label |
$250 |
1 |
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WA 98 (10/1993): Chateau Montelena has made so many sensational Cabernets that it seems almost impossible to believe that their 1987 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate could be even more profound than any of the exceptional wines made previously at this property. The black/purple color, the extraordinary bouquet of rich cassis, violets, and licorice, the massive extraction of flavors, sensational depth, super ripeness, and a length that must last over a minute, suggest to me that this is easily the most concentrated and potentially longest-lived Cabernet Sauvignon that Chateau Montelena has ever made. The extract level is incredible, yet the balance is there. Anticipated maturity: 1997-2025.
VM 94 (8/1998): Very youthful, saturated ruby-red color. Penetrating, powerful aromas of roasted plum, cassis, tobacco, earth, truffle, tar and meat, plus a floral topnote. Thick and sweet but sharply delineated, with impressive extract and very strong underlying structure. This is approachable now due to its balance and sheer sweetness of fruit but will go on for another decade or more. Finishing flavors build slowly and linger. Ripe, chewy tannins coat the entire palate. Perhaps better as a meal substitute than as an accompaniment to food. |
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1994 |
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon |
$199 |
1 |
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WA 95 (12/1998): The 1994 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, which has been closed since bottling, has just begun to open and display its enormous potential. The saturated black/purple color is followed by aromas of gorgeously pure blackberry and cassis scents. Toasty oak notes are barely discernable given the wine's bombastic display of black fruits, huge, chewy glycerin level, and sensational finish. It will be exciting to follow the evolution of the 1994 and 1995.
VM 93 (8/1998): Ruby-red. Deep, complex, perfumed aromas of black cherry, redcurrant, plum, tar and loam. Lush, velvety and very intensely flavored, with strong extract and lovely ripe acidity giving the fruit excellent delineation. Full, rich, sweet and refined. Very slow to build on the long finish. Tannins are substantial but sweet. |
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1994 |
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$199 |
1 |
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WA 95 (12/1998): The 1994 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, which has been closed since bottling, has just begun to open and display its enormous potential. The saturated black/purple color is followed by aromas of gorgeously pure blackberry and cassis scents. Toasty oak notes are barely discernable given the wine's bombastic display of black fruits, huge, chewy glycerin level, and sensational finish. It will be exciting to follow the evolution of the 1994 and 1995.
VM 93 (8/1998): Ruby-red. Deep, complex, perfumed aromas of black cherry, redcurrant, plum, tar and loam. Lush, velvety and very intensely flavored, with strong extract and lovely ripe acidity giving the fruit excellent delineation. Full, rich, sweet and refined. Very slow to build on the long finish. Tannins are substantial but sweet. |
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1996 |
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon |
$135 |
1 |
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WA 93 (1/2000): A behemoth Cabernet Sauvignon is the stern, tannic, concentrated 1996 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate (13.5% alcohol). Full-bodied, but closed, with gorgeously pure black fruits, powerful, loamy, earthy scents along with fruit and extract, this wine also needs 5-6 years of cellaring, and should easily last through the first 2-3 decades of the next century.
VM 90 (6/1999): Good ruby-red. Spicy, roasted aromas of cassis, black plum, toasty oak and pepper. Lush, jammy and a bit undifferentiated; showing its baby fat today. Seems distinctly less lively than the '95, but the tannins are quite fine for the vintage and there excellent finishing persistence. |
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2003 |
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon |
$99 |
1 |
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WA 93 (12/2006): While the 2002, which was quite extroverted right before bottling, has shut down, the 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is still open-knit, although I suspect it will probably close down as well. It exhibits an opaque ruby/purple color along with a sweet, spicy nose of black currants, licorice, herbs, and damp earth. Rich and concentrated, it is the most accessible, and possibly the most elegant and French-oriented of the Cabernets produced between 2002 and 2004. This top-notch effort should be cellared for 2-3 years, and consumed over the following 20-25 years.
VM 91 (6/2006): Bright ruby-red. Sweet aromas of black cherry, flowers, menthol and creosote. Supple, sweet and fine-grained, though not especially nuanced for this wine. Strong note of chocolate. Finishes with a fairly fine dusting of tannins and lingering notes of cherry and licorice. This seems a bit less vibrant than it was from barrel a year ago. Barrett noted that the December 2005 bottling date was quite late for this wine, and my sample had not yet recovered. |
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2012 |
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon |
$119 |
3 |
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VM 93+ (10/2015): The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is one of the more open-knit, young Cabernets I can remember tasting at Montelena. Crushed flowers, sweet tobacco, mint, red cherries and plums are some of the signatures. Resonant and silky, the 2012 will drink well pretty much upon release, although today it comes across as less expressive than it was last year. Even so, there is plenty of vintage 2012 radiance and suppleness throughout.
WA 93 (1/2015): From bottle a solid 93. Surprisingly lush and charming for a young Montelena, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate has a deep ruby/purple color, with earthy, black cherry and blackcurrants. The wine has very ripe tannins, and is medium to full-bodied with Outstanding purity and balance. Most Montelena estate Cabernets have traditionally required patience, but this one is set for drinking now and over the next 20 years.
JS 93 (7/2015): 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. |
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2021 |
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon |
$169 |
6 |
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| WA 95-97 (3/2023): Winemaker Matt Crafton showed me a sample of the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate (Montelena didn't pick any red grapes in 2020) that he said represented, "kind of what I think the Cabernet Sauvignon portion will look like." It reveals engaging floral nuances, intense red fruit notes and hints of cedar and vanilla. As yet, it's not quite as opulent as the 2019 but maybe a touch more elegant yet concentrated and boldly flavored. |
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2005 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Bin-Soiled Label |
$95 |
1 |
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WA 90 (12/2007): The winery continues to turn out a strong Cabernet Sauvignon from vineyards in the Calistoga area. This is a big production item (10,000 cases), and tends to be a good value for a high-class Napa Cabernet. The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon (22,000 cases) is a beauty. Savory black currant fruit notes intermixed with some licorice, underbrush, and spice jump from the glass of this medium to full-bodied, smoothly textured, beautifully elegant wine meant to be served and drunk in its first 10-12 years of life. This clearly has the fingerprints of Chateau Montelena’s Bo Barrett and his father Jim Barrett, but at a much lower price point, and for that reason seems an ideal steakhouse Cabernet that gives both value and pleasure.
VM 87 (6/2008): Good deep ruby-red. Wild aromas of cassis, game, leather and licorice, plus a whiff of band-aid. The distinct wildness carries through on the palate, where the dark berry and game flavors are framed by juicy acidity. This is pretty sauvage, and the finish is a bit edgy with acids and tannins. |
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