When considering the legendary Judgement of Paris tasting in which a relatively unknown California winery eclipsed the French and took first place for its blue-ribbon Chardonnay, it’s hard not to think of Chateau Montelena as anything less than an iconic producer.
The year was 1976; the California wine industry had Prohibition deep in its rearview, but it hadn’t yet given the world a reason to think it was worthy of crafting a bottle of wine one could look forward to. With top podium placement in a tasting organized by a bold British wine merchant and scored by an all-French panel, that quickly changed, and all eyes were suddenly focused on the Napa Valley.
The Paris tasting proved to set a timely stage for the region during a time when lots of work had already been done to rehabilitate not just the image of the Valley, but the method by which wine was being made there.
The 1940s were especially formative as the decade saw a pioneering winemaker named André Tchelistcheff make massive technical advances. With the development of methods such as sterile filtration, temperature-controlled fermentation, induced malolactic fermentation, and the use of smudge pots and fans for frost protection, Tchelistcheff took the quality of winemaking to heights that Napa Valley had never seen before. However, some would argue that his most significant contribution came in the form of small French oak barrels intended for post-fermentation aging.
At the time of its triumph in Paris, Chateau Montelena was a recently revived historic winery. The estate, located in the Valley’s northernmost viticultural area of Calistoga, was founded in 1882 by Alfred Tubbs, for whom the road to the winery is now named. The Tubbs purchase consisted of 250 acres of land in which over 100 acres of vines were planted. In 1888 he built the large stone winery that still functions as Montelena’s headquarters (now on the U.S. Register of Historic Places).
While the winery shuttered due to Prohibition (as did most wineries in the Valley), the estate itself stayed operational but changed hands several times in the years that followed, eventually landing (in 1972) with an ownership trio that included a Los Angeles lawyer named James Barrett.
Barrett and his family, along with a young and upcoming winemaker named Mike Grgich, would prove to be the driving force behind Montelena’s newfound success, and subsequently, the individuals responsible for Napa Valley’s second chance at life.
Today, Chateau Montelena is one of the most visited wineries in the world. As their Chardonnay provides an exciting introduction to the story, for me, it is their Cabernet Sauvignon that speaks to the true identity of the estate and its terroir.
Cabernet fruit for the Estate bottling comes from the 100-acre vineyard that runs from just behind the old stone winery upward to the foot of Mount St. Helena.
Stylistically, the wines are built to last. Intensity of fruit is often matched by freshness and structure. The wines carry a dark and muscular character, and in the best vintages, they can find the perfect balance between power and elegance.
Today, it is my distinct honor to offer you an exclusive vertical 6-pack of Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, with vintage representation from 2007-2012.
There are only six 6-packs available in this offer and so were are limiting each order to one per Member. With that being said, if you are interested in securing one for yourself, please place your order as soon as possible.
As always, you are welcome to let me know if you have any questions regarding these wines. Thank you for your support!
Cheers!
Carey Vanderborg Wine Director
6-Pack of Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, 2007 - 2012
Click here for more information regarding the wines.
Mayacama Member Price: $1,200
One 6-pack per Member maximum
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