Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Chateau Montelena, Notes from the Winemaker (hentet 17. okt. 2026): 2019 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon – høst: September 17 – October 15; fadlagring: 22 months in 100% French oak, 40% new; alkohol 14.1%; blend: 99% Cabernet Sauvignon 0.5% Petit Verdot 0.5% Cabernet Franc. Introduktion (producentens tekst, engelsk): Farming requires optimism. That’s especially true in viticulture, given the timeline to transition bare ground into a finished wine. At a minimum it takes three years from gently hand-planting each individual vine to the first harvest. However, that initial crop is quite small and it will be another two to three years before the vines really hit their stride. After harvest, fruit destined for the Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon will spend an additional two years in barrel before bottle aging in our cellar prior to release. At best, it’s six solid years of farming, winemaking and cellaring before we can pull that first cork. That type of commitment requires a fundamental belief in ourselves, our work and our mission. We have to believe that going the extra mile, pushing a little harder and accounting for every small detail is not only worth it, but will be appreciated years from now. Moreover, we have to be curious, creative and daring for the future of each wine and the land we steward. In short, we have to believe that the future will be better and we cherish our small contribution. Årgangens vejr (producentens tekst, engelsk): Late spring rains and abundant sunshine spurred significant vine growth—meaning big canopies, big clusters and big berries. The vines soaked up the Calistoga warmth through August and as expected, yields were high as harvest began. Patience is even more important in years such as 2019 since flavor, color and texture tend to take longer to develop. Consequently, the level of precision in deciding what to harvest and when to do so drives quality and wine potential even more than normal. Accordingly, harvest proceeded in fits and starts as we chased balance, finesse and concentration in the vineyard through September and into October.