WINE =======: 1997 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
AOC         : Napa Valley
Tasting Date: 2005-10-22
Varietal    : Cabernet
Score       : 93
Country     : USA
State       : CA
Region      : Calistoga

Notes
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Deep red color with pink edges; nose with hints of pine
needle, red meat and a noticeable absence of the mineral
qualities of earlier vintages.  This wine had the most
character and complexity of the flight, with a medium-body
and excellent balance.

Note that I tasted this wine from a magnum a year or two ago
and felt it was in a dumb phase.  This bottle was not.

Production Notes
----------------
Average rainfall, with a warm winter and spring followed by
a mild summer. The weather during harvest ws great with warm
days and cool evenings - perfect ripening weather. If we
could have ordered it a la carte it could not have been
better. Although yields were somewhat higher than average,
berry size was surprisingly small, resulting in high extract
and concentration levels. Harvest: Sep 1-26; Bottled: Aug
1999; Released: March 2001

Additional Notes
----------------
This was part of a ten-year (85,89,90,95,96,97,99,00,01,02) vertical
tasting at the California Grill, Contemporary Resort, Walt Disney World in
association with Chateau Montelena and the Epcot Food and Wine Festival,
2005.

Reviewer Note: This vertical was tasted in chronological order (from oldest
to most recent vintage) at the request of the hosts, which included
representatives from Chateau Montelena.
Output generated by La Wine Club - http://LaWineClub.com/
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