Chateau Montelena The Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

It’s an elegant introduction for this wine on the nose with perfectly ripe blackberry and cranberry sauce notes. Given its youth, it’s not surprising that the aromatics are dominated by fruit and earthy vineyard character punctuated by hints of black pepper and cedar. An ambitious swirl of the glass reveals additional layers of mint, cassis and black cherry. The palate is intense, to say the least, as the tight, angular tannins vie with silky bright fruit for dominance. There’s a youthful exuberance here as well that’s both hedonistic and magnetic, tied to fresh strawberry and sweet, raspberry candy. The acid runs the seam of the wine like a spine, from which build stacks upon stacks of chalky, dense tannin. With some additional air, the wine’s breadth begins to reveal itself with mouthcoating texture, black plum and mocha. The finish on this wine doesn’t quit. It just keeps evolving through coffee bean, then vanilla and finally dried blackberry. These slowly morph both texturally and in flavor into fresh walnut and dark chocolate. It’s delicious now but will reward with additional patience and time in glass.

97 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate