Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

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 superclassic 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. Drinking window: 2022-2042. Score – 93+. (Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, Jan. 10, 2020)