I finally saw the movie "Bottle Shock" yesterday, and it inspired me pull a bottle of Montelena for dinner last night. No, I didn't have a Chardonnay, but I did have a 1991 Estate Cabernet.

We decanted the wine for about 45 minutes, but had a small taste immediately after opening the bottle. The wine was somewhat muted and I thought it seemed very young. However, during the next hour, it opened an became an outstanding wine!

A deep black/purple juice with no signs of ageing---A rich & sweet floral nose---the juice was thick, rich, & with a creamy texture---a big wine with plenty of dark fruits, spices, excellent concentration, structure. An outstanding bottle ------97 points

Also, I think the 1991 Montelena Estate Cabernet will go another 20 years. It is a remarkable wine.

As for the movie "Bottle Shock": 2.5 out of 4! However, enjoyable with

When I first got into wine I used WS as my bible in terms of compartmentalizing in my mind what wines were "good" and what wines were "bad", so needless to say I had a very poor impression of Montelena. With a bit more insight I now know that not to be the case, but certainly would like to try some myself to see if it is my style. The '91 sounds superb, any other vintages that you'd recommend for current drinking?

Appreciate the notes latour, and agree on its' longevity.

quote:

Originally posted by Dunder:
The '91 sounds superb, any other vintages that you'd recommend for current drinking?

Dunder-
FWI: The '91 vintage is arguably the greatest vintage for Cali Cab, especially if you're comparing bang for the buck!