Chateau Montelena - The Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 1986 (750ml)

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Price: $279.99

Producer	Chateau Montelena
Country	United States
Region	Napa Valley
Subregion	Calistoga
Varietal	Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage	1986
Sku	119998
Size	750ml
ABV	13.50%

Chateau Montelena Description

Logan

96 points Wine Advocate

Outer quote mark What a remarkable performance! I must admit that I purchased more of the 1985 and 1987, somehow neglecting to secure much of the 1986. Do I feel stupid? As I have written so many times in the past, every time I do a vertical tasting of Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignons, they taste better than my initial laudatory notes suggested. This great wine exhibits a black/purple color, a fabulous, sweet, pure, cassis-scented nose, massive body and richness, and total harmony among its components - fruit, wood, alcohol, acidity, and tannin. Still exceptionally youthful and vigorous, with no signs of age in either its color or taste, this 1986 could easily pass for a 3-4 year old California Cabernet. It is an extraordinary effort that appears to be a legitimate candidate for the 'wine of the vintage.' So what's new? Owners of this beauty should try a bottle for its pure, glorious richness, but this wine has 15-20 more years of delicious drinking. A bodacious Cabernet!" Inner quote mark (8/1996)

92 points Wine Spectator

Outer quote mark A candidate for wine of the vintage, this is ripe, rich, complex and deeply concentrated. It has maintained its youthful core of juicy black cherry and plum flavors and, while it remains firmly tannic and potent, the finish is long and complex. Enjoy now or can be cellared... (12/1996) Big and robust, with lots of rich fruit and substantial tannins. A real mouthful. (JL) Inner quote mark (11/1999)

91 points Int'l Wine Cellar

Outer quote mark Good deep fresh red. Very expressive, Graves-like aromas of roasted plums, hot bricks and tobacco. Sweet, expansive and pliant in the mouth, with a flavor of chestnut. Soft and accessible. Finishes with even, fine tannins and a note of syrupy red fruit. Barrett says he has always liked the '86 as much as the '87 or '85. Inner quote mark (8/1998)