Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 is a 750mL Estate Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley — a library release from the 2005 vintage at the legendary Calistoga estate — available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
Chateau Montelena is one of Napa Valley's founding estates — the winery behind the 1976 Judgment of Paris, where its Chardonnay stunned the wine world. The Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is its flagship red, and 2005 was a strong Napa vintage for the house: this bottle earned 95 points from Wine Advocate and 95 from Vinous, with the Advocate calling it "beautifully elegant" with a "very long, berry-laced finish." The style is classic Montelena — old-world structure with ripe California fruit, built on estate-grown Cabernet with the acid and tannin to age. At twenty years on, this is a library wine entering its mature drinking window: decant it, give it an hour, and it shows the deep garnet plum and cassis of a well-kept Napa Cabernet.
Tasting notes (Wine Advocate and Vinous 95-pt reviews): deep garnet color; notes of crushed blackberries, black cherries and Bing cherries with hints of raspberry leaves, bay leaves, underbrush and pencil shavings; bright red-ruby with cassis, violet, graphite and bitter chocolate; pure and silky on the palate with dark fruits, minerals and soil tones; seamless, integrated tannins and a long berry-laced finish.
Why buy: A genuine 95-point library Cabernet from one of Napa's landmark estates — the kind of bottle that anchors a cellar or marks an occasion. Pair with grilled beef, lamb, or aged hard cheeses; decant an hour before serving. Explore more Chateau Montelena, browse more wine, or find more cocktail pairings at Del Mesa Liquor.
FAQ — people also ask:
Q: What scores did the 2005 Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon receive?
A: 95 points from both Wine Advocate and Vinous, and 90 from Wine Enthusiast (Cellar Selection).
Q: What is Chateau Montelena known for?
A: The Calistoga, Napa Valley estate famously behind the 1976 Judgment of Paris — its 1973 Chardonnay won the Paris tasting. The Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is its flagship red.
Q: Is the 2005 Chateau Montelena Cabernet ready to drink?
A: As a twenty-year-old library vintage it is in its mature drinking window — recent drinkers report resolved tannins and deep, seamless fruit. Decant an hour before serving.
Q: What food pairs with Chateau Montelena 2005 Cabernet?
A: Grilled beef, lamb, or aged hard cheeses — the wine's classic structure and resolved tannins pair with rich, savory dishes. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.