Chateau Montelena 2005/2006/2009 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 750ml

Bright medium ruby. Medicinal aromas of cassis, black cherry, crushed stone, graphite, bitter chocolate and herbs. Wonderfully fine-grained but very tight, even a bit herbal and hard-edged today. The wine's strong herb and mint notes may still harmonize with its brisk black fruit flavors. Conveys a strong impression of vinosity and acidity but this very backward 2015 is not a sweet or fleshy style. Finishes edgy and unevolved, with slightly elevated acidity and a firm tannic spine to support an extended life in bottle. (2005 Vintage)

Score: 92+ points -- Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, March 2016

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Bright ruby-red. Blackberry, cassis and boysenberry aromas complemented by licorice, violet, menthol and bitter chocolate. Juicy, intensely flavored and quite fresh but a bit youthfully disjointed, with a firm tannin/acid spine supporting the crushed dark berry and menthol flavors. The wine's substantial tannins will need time to knit, but this wine retains good aromatic freshness. (2006 Vintage)

Score: 92 points -- Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, May 2009

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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. (2009 Vintage)

Score: 93+ points -- Antonio Galloni, Vinous, Dec 2012