Chateau Montelena
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Calistoga, Napa Valley, California
Jim Barrett’s dream of Chateau Montelena was that this wine, their flagship Cabernet Sauvignon, achieve the balance and complexity of flavors, aromas and textures to be considered among the great examples of Cabernet in the world. Almost since his first vintages in the 1970s, this wine has been a show-stopper that has everything in place, while revealing the majesty and distinctive character of the estate vineyard site in the northern Napa area that the Barretts led to recognition as its own appellation, Calistoga.
Today, the 50-year legacy of excellence in farming, crafting and blending powerful wines and continued innovation and attention to detail is what sets Chateau Montelena Winery apart.
Vineyard
This wine is 100% made with estate fruit. The diversity of soils and slopes where this is grown in Calistoga directly translates to layers of complexity and depth in the glass. The Estate vineyard is comprised of varied terrain, from flat to steep hillsides. The vineyard gently slopes downward towards its base, where a small patch of sedimentary soil was deposited by the settling of an ancient ocean or lake. Extending out from the Napa River is the alluvial soil, the most prevalent type on the property. In the back and outside areas of the vineyard are volcanic soils, formed by ancient lava flows caused by tectonic uplifting.
Winemaking
The wine is made up of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc. The wine is aged in 100% French oak barrels (28% new) for 18 months. It exuberantly reflects the Calistoga vineyard, while balancing power with an extraordinary ability to age.
Vintage
We saw cool temperatures and an exceptionally wet spring, especially the month of May. June was mild, with some rain. July brought much needed steady warmth, but no major heat spikes, and continued into August. September started off cool, which was great for fruit ripening. At the end of the month, there was a heat wave, just in time to push the Cabernet to full maturity.
Tasting Note
Luscious and rich on the nose with great depth, we find top notes of violets, cassis, and rich, dark cherry, all riding over a base of warm leather, cocoa, wet stone and molasses. The palate opens with red raspberry and blackcurrants before building to mouth-filling ripe cherry, a beautiful acid balance, and round rich velvety tannins. The incredible intensity of the palate fades slowly leaving a finish of dried fruits and hints of clove with remarkable weight and tremendous persistence.
Food Pairing
This is a powerhouse wine that can stand up to any number of complex dishes, but can be best enjoyed with beef, lamb, game (deer, venison) and mature, hard cheeses.
Color
Red
Grape Varieties
Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation
Calistoga, Napa Valley, California
Farming
The Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 100% estate fruit, all of which is sustainably farmed and produced in their solar powered winery
Alcohol
14.2%
Suggested Retail Price
$160.00
Reviews
More on Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
An Anniversary for an Icon: Chateau Montelena Celebrates Five Decades of Winemaking
July 24, 2018 - Bo Barrett, the CEO of Chateau Montelena, put together a retrospective of the winery’s primarily Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines from the 1970s to the present. It was meant as a testimony…
Five Decades of Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
July 24, 2018 - Roger Morris of The Drinks Business joined the Chateau Montelena "Dream" Tasting in NYC on June 27th. Bo Barrett took a room full of eager guests through 5 decades of…
Where Can You Buy Older Premium Wines? The Winery that Put Napa on the Map
March 13, 2019 - Leading luxury publication Robb Report published a feature story on Chateau Montelena. Wine columnist Sara Schneider recently visited Winemaker Matt Crafton at the estate for a robust tasting and tour to learn more…
Vinous features a retrospective on Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
May 22, 2019 - Vinous has published an article dedicated to the history of Chateau Montelena, the impact of evolving winemaking and cellar improvements, and above all the history of the flagship Estate Cabernet…
Trade Materials
Other Wines by this Producer
Potter Valley Riesling
Mendocino, California
Riesling is a hidden gem within the Chateau Montelena portfolio. Many people don’t know it exists, and once they do – they keep coming back for more. Stylistically, it is amazingly refreshing with notes of lemon blossom, honeysuckle and rose petal that are balanced by lively acidity.
Zinfandel
Napa Valley, California
Produced from grapes grown on the Montelena Estate vineyard, the Zinfandel is a classically-structured, subtle and refined wine. More than anything, it hearkens back to the way that Zinfandel was made in the 1960s and 1970s, with completely distinctive, rich and spicy California berry fruit, but a balance that made them no heavier than their Cabernet counterparts.
Napa Valley Chardonnay
Napa Valley, California
A true icon. The Napa Valley Chardonnay is the wine that put Chateau Montelena and Napa Valley at the forefront of the wine world in 1976, in what is now memorialized as “The Judgment of Paris.” To great disbelief, the Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Chardonnay was the top-ranking wine against four white Burgundies and five other California Chardonnays. And as they say, the rest is history.
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California
The Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon embodies the balance of Montelena, classic “old-world” structure with ripe California fruit. It is crafted from fruit coming from the Montelena vineyard and several prime neighboring vineyards, all in the Calistoga AVA. The Montelena Napa Cabernet is a wine that delivers immediate pleasure upon release, but in Montelena style, while age and develop beautifully.