by JC (NC) » Mon Feb 17, 2014 4:00 pm
Two California Cabernet Sauvignon wines from 1999:'
1999 Chateau Montelena The Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, CA. 13.9% abv. From a 375 ml. bottle. I didn't decant this but let the first glass aerate for about 30 minutes in the glass after the first sip. Dark purple color with light brownish rim; opaque. The nose seems "sweet" with cassis, blackberries, and cocoa. Cassis, mint, and vanilla are expressed on the palate with an intense and long finish. On the final glass, I was picking up some raspberry notes as well but predominantly dark fruits and cocoa. Smooth, integrated, balanced, and ready to go. Some fine sediment. I enjoyed this with sirloin tips and strips of bell pepper and onion.
1999 Arrowood Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County Reserve Special, CA. 14.3% abv. Aged 24 months in small French and American oak cooperage, lots selected and blended and returned to French and American oak barrels for several months additional aging. Sipping this side-by-side with the above wine, the Montelena was deeper and darker on the palate and more minty. The Arrowood is viscous, forming tears on the side of the glass and may be revealing some signatures of a mature wine. Enjoyable in its own right with sirloin tips and bell pepper strips and baked potato. This seems to have red fruit notes, red currants maybe, along with some earthiness. Any oak influence has integrated.
I will be sampling two more Cabernets Feb. 22 at a wine tasting fundraiser.
Last edited by JC (NC) on Mon Feb 24, 2014 12:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.