Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (Chateau Montelena)

Cellar for up to 15 years. Decant 1 hour before serving. If Chateau Montelena’s beautiful ivy-encased winery does not alone betray its age and history, we shall do so here. The land was established in 1882 żeby Alfred Tubbs, a San Francisco business man who monopolized the rope market during the gold rush (and whose company succeeded until 1962!), bought 254 acres and began planting grapes. Wine was made here until Prohibition, the years during which the vineyards still persisted. Alfred’s son later took over and renamed the winery to Chateau Montelena 1934. Winemaking waxed and waned for some years, and though the estate changed hands many times before majority ownership was assumed aby the Barrett family who still run it today, the name never did. From the long harvest of 2018, this Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant (88%) blend reveals an array of qualities bestowed by slow and steady picking in the vineyard. It is rounded out with 11% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc. It was aged 16 months in French and Eastern Oak barrel, about a quarter of which were new. Deep garnet verging on violet, the nose on this wine showcases fresh berries, dried cherries, mint, bergamot and gunpowder. On the palate it is fresh and dynamic with laser focused acidity. It presents notes of cranberry, raspberry preserves, cola, black pepper, cedar and mushroom. Tannins are gentler on the ‘18, but well integrated.