Lot 74
CHATEAU MONTELENA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2002 (2)
CHATEAU MONTELENA CABERNET SAUVIGNON THE MONTELENA ESTATE 2002 (2) WA 96
DUNN VINEYARDS CABERNET SAUVIGNON HOWELL MOUNTAIN 2007 (2) WA 97
Lot 74 Details
CHATEAU MONTELENA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2002 (2)
Napa Valley.
u. 2 x bn.
CHATEAU MONTELENA CABERNET SAUVIGNON THE MONTELENA ESTATE 2002 (2)
Napa Valley.
u. 2 x vts. 1 x nicked label.
This appears to be one of the great efforts from Chateau Montelena, something I think I was correct about when I gave it an “in the bottle” rating in 2006 of 95+. It is still an amazingly young wine that came from old vines on the famous St. George rootstock that did not require replanting because of the phylloxera epidemic that swept through Napa in the late 1980's and 1990's. Despite its lofty 14.4% alcohol (high by Montelena standards) and the overall flamboyance of the 2002 vintage, it needs another 4-6 years of cellaring. This young, classic Cabernet Sauvignon represents the quintessential traditional school of Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. It possesses an inky/blue/purple color in addition to a tight, but promising nose of black currants, crushed rocks, earth and spice. Rich, full-bodied, pure and brilliantly executed, with perfect harmony, this is a sensational yet forebodingly backward, youthful Cabernet Sauvignon that needs 4-6 years of cellaring and should keep another quarter of a century. WA 96
DUNN VINEYARDS CABERNET SAUVIGNON HOWELL MOUNTAIN 2007 (2)
Napa Valley.
The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is unlike any wine I have ever tasted from Dunn. Layer after layer of flavor saturates the palate in this opulent, full-throttle Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2007 possesses dazzling textural richness, depth and sheer intensity. Purists may prefer more structured vintages, but for a producer known for such slow maturing wines, the 2007 is a huge pleasure to taste today. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2037. WA 97