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  • Country ranking ?

    439
  • Producer ranking ?

    21
  • Decanting time

    3h
  • When to drink

    now-2025

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The Story

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 are...

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Wine Information

Some years Mother Nature throws you a curveball, but with years of practice and experience you can see that pitch coming and still connect for a home run. 2008 was one of those years where everything seemed to conspire to make life difficult here in the Napa Valley.The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is a gorgeous, mid-weight wine laced with mint, cassis, sweet herbs and tobacco.

VINTAGE WEATHER

First, a cold and frosty spring caused a bi...

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Latest Pro-tasting notes

<10 tasting notes

Tasting note

color

Deep

ending

Long, Round and Pure

recommend

Yes

taste

Average in Acidity, Balanced, Developing, Full-bodied, Full, Fruity and Perfumed

Verdict

Full-bodied and Good everyday wine

Written Notes

Some years Mother Nature throws you a curveball, but with years of practice and experience you can see that pitch coming and still connect for a home run.  A cold and frosty spring reduced the size of the crop, and then strong winds at bloom again reduced the crop.  The heat of the growing season was normal, but then more heat showed up at harvest.  Despite (and beacuse of) these varying conditions, 2008 produced an incredible, concentrated and exceptional Estate Cabernet.  

Dense, rich ruby in color, it shows complex aromas of dark cherry, dried fruits, earth, cedar, and vanilla cream along with hints of licorice and leather.  The palate opens with big, chewy tannin and builds even bigger into a mid-palate loaded with ripe red fruits and dried black fruits. There is a good, strong acid backbone completing the balance and structure.  Still young and powerful, this wine will open beautifully with time in bottle or glass.

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Information

Origin

Calistoga, Napa Valley

Grapes

98% Cabernet Sauvignon
2% Cabernet Franc

Vintage Quality

Above Average

Value For Money

Satisfactory

Investment potential

No Potential

Glass time

2h
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