2017 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon Estate

99% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc. Aged for 22 months in 100% French oak (40% new). Pretty deep crimson with a slightly evolved rim. Savoury but not that intense aroma. Really mouth-filling and complete with the fruit covering the ripe tannins well. Opulent. Sweeter than some. Long. California? (JR)

The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate shows the racier, more voluptuous side of the vintage. A burst of super-ripe red cherry fruit, spice, mint, tobacco and cedar gives the wine an extra kick of exoticism that is a signature of the year, and a bit out of character for Montelena. Even so, the wine retains its super-classic sense of structure. Today, the 2017 is clearly still recovering from its recent bottling a few months ago, but it has so much to offer.

Tasted from a core blend, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate has the potential to develop into a gorgeous wine. Actually, it already is. Juicy and plump, with no hard edges, the 2017 has a lot to offer. Soft contours work well to bring out the wine's racy, supple dark cherry, plum, chocolate, cedar and licorice flavors. This is an especially forward, inviting young Cabernet from Montelena. The 2017 is already impeccably balanced for such a big wine.