Established in 1882 by California entrepreneur Alfred Tubbs, the modern-day Chateau Montelena Winery has been owned and operated by the Barrett family since 1972. In 1976, Chateau Montelena helped put California at the forefront of the wine world when a who’s-who of the French wine and food establishment rated the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay above all other white wines in a blind tasting, convinced that this wine was one of their own. These results proved that Chateau Montelena could produce some of the world’s finest wines, and that California’s wine industry had come of age. Decades later, Chateau Montelena remains committed to producing world class wines with the Barrett family at the helm.
96+ Points Wine Advocate
I tasted the soon-to-be-released Montelena 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate from two bottles, one freshly opened and one that had been opened the day before. Both were clearly outstanding, with the freshly opened bottle being just a bit tighter and less luxuriously textured but obviously packed with potential. Mixed currants and cherries appear on the nose, joined by hints of dark chocolate, while the palate is medium to full-bodied, rich, expansive and velvety, with a lingering, mouthwatering finish.
96 Points Vinous
The Chateau Montelena 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is heady and quite extroverted, especially compared with the 2018 tasted alongside it. Readers will have a very hard time keeping their hands off this jewel of a wine. Silky, plush tannins wrap around a core of dark fruit, chocolate, lavender, spice and leather. The combination of a generous, opulent style with the classically-leaning Montelena style makes for a hugely appealing Cabernet to drink over the next two decades or more
99 Points Robert Decanter
Bright red-toned fruits and dried wild herb notes are tethered to rich cedar spices. Well-endowed with impressive depth and concentration, particularly evident in the mid-palate which is weighted by crushed stones and earthen minerality. Elongated tannins are crisp while acids are firm and tangy. Those capable of looking past its upfront approachability will be rewarded with patience as this wine will evolve and shine over the next four decades.