Description
93 rating Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“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.”
In 1976, Chateau Montelena put California on the global wine map. That year, a prestigious group of French wine and food experts gathered at the Inter-Continental Hotel in Paris for a grand tasting, comparing four white Burgundies with six California Chardonnays. When the results came in, the judges were surprised to find that the top wine was Chateau Montelena’s 1973 Chardonnay, outranking all others. This landmark event is chronicled in George Taber’s book “The Judgment of Paris” and the 2008 film “Bottle Shock.”
Today, the iconic 19th-century stone structure of Chateau Montelena remains a symbol of quality in Napa Valley, known for producing some of California’s finest wines. Master Winemaker Bo Barrett, the son of founder Jim Barrett, now leads the estate alongside Winemaker Matt Crafton and Vineyard Manager Dave Vella.
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