A Napa Cab

2001 Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
$125
Shane’s Notes

We spent the last of our wedding money on this Cab. We decanted for about 45 minutes, and most people will probably want to decant it for twice that long. The aroma showed blackberry jam, spices and tobacco. The palate displayed flavors of green olives, blackberry, licorice and had a spicy finish. The palate was complex, concentrated and had good astringency. The finish is long. I’d love to try this one again in 7-10 years.

This is a truly magnificent Napa Cabernet, but is it worth $125? At tastings, we have tried the Opus One and the Phelps Insignia, both of which are more expensive than this wine. I definitely prefer this Montelena Cab to both of those wines. The Montelena shows more distinctive flavors and tastes truly unique. So, the answer is yes, it is worth the money (sigh).