Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 (750ML)

98 Points, Jonathan Cristaldi, Decanter: "The Montelena Estate is a gorgeous wine in 2021, built of 94.1% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4.9% Cabernet Franc, and 1.0% Petit Verdot, aged 22 months in 45% new French oak. It is super bright and wonderfully aromatic with gorgeous light brown spices, white pepper, and sagebrush. Medium-bodied with cranberry and huckleberry fruits, they have very ripe and powerful tannins with supreme granularity and a fine, pinpoint, pixelated texture. Fantastic, linear, and racy acidity brings this wine into focus. Tasted with winemaker Matt Crafton at Chateau Montelena, Crafton explained that 'the aromatic potential of the vintage leapt out.' For him, the challenge was to reflect the concentration and richness and keep the fresh aromatics. So he moved to very light toast barrels in this vintage." 06/24

95-97 Points, Joe Czerwinski, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Winemaker Matt Crafton showed me a sample of the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate (Montelena didn't pick any red grapes in 2020) that he said represented, "kind of what I think the Cabernet Sauvignon portion will look like." It reveals engaging floral nuances, intense red fruit notes and hints of cedar and vanilla. As yet, it's not quite as opulent as the 2019 but maybe a touch more elegant yet concentrated and boldly flavored." 03/23