Today's Wine Review
2021 Chateau Montelena Zinfandel "Estate"
Winery: Chateau Montelena
Vintage: 2021
Wine Name/Vineyard: "Estate"
Wine Category: Zinfandel
Grape blend: 100% Zinfandel
Bottle size: 750 ml
Region: St. Helena
State or country: CA
Price: $50
Cases produced: unknown
KWG Score: 93 (based on 1 review)
Ken's Wine Rating: Very Good+ (93)
Review date: March 15, 2025
Wine Review: This very dark ruby colored Zinfandel from Chateau Montelena opens with a brambleberry and black cherry bouquet with hints of cinnamon and cedar. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied with medium plus acidity. The mouthfeel is balanced, very smooth, and seamless. The flavor profile is stone dust and black cherry blend with notes of black pepper and oak. I also detected hints of mild plum and mocha. The finish is dry, and its flavors, acidity, and refined dusty tannins stick around for quite some time. I would decant this Zin for a little while as it benefits from some aeration. Then I would pair it with a porterhouse steak. Enjoy - Ken
Winemaker Notes: Nose: The wine opens with fresh cherries, black pepper and tea leaves. It's perfume-like and intoxicating. The varietal character is quite evident right now: forest floor, briar, and roasted mushroom. That earthiness, which is part of the sense of place, is an excellent counterpoint to the dynamic fresh fruit, which leans red at first but quickly transitions to dark and dried aromas over time.
Palate: Bright, candy-like fruit on the palate layers into refined but slightly angular tannin adding tension and chewiness. Far from being fully refined, this wine still has some edges, which add spiciness and hint at its future development. The acid beautifully cuts through the tension, imparting the freshness and liveliness one would expect from a young Montelena Zinfandel. That acid should recede and integrate over time, bolstering complexity and helping to maintain food-friendliness.
Finish: The wine closes with dark chocolate and mint. The tannins here are leathery and there's a hint of graphite from the barrel toast. Above all, it’s mouthwatering, teasing with grape candy and kirsch.
Buy it: Use 1000 Corks to find stores that sell Chateau Montelena 2021 Zinfandel.
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