2005 Chateau Montelena Zinfandel Estate
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Tasting notes
Good full red. Brambly red berries, cola and chocolate on the nose, plus a suggestion of roasted fruits. Supple, sweet and creamy, with just enough acidity and soft tannins to frame its fat fruit. Perfect for early consumption.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2005 Zinfandel is a success in this very challenging year for this varietal (not enough heat, which Zinfandel must have to ripen fully). The wine has good fruit, a leaner style, and a more elegant personality. Perhaps readers who never liked Zinfandel because of its powerful briery blast of fruit may take a liking to these more down-scaled, lighter 2005s. Tel. (707) 942-5105; Fax (707) 942-4221
Good deep red. Blacker aromas of cassis, licorice and mint, with a suggestion of dried fruits. Juicy, leanish and tight, with briary berry flavors complicated by licorice and tar. Here the tannins are a bit rougher but this couldn't be anything but zinfandel. (The more elegant 2004, rated 89 in Issue 126, was distinctly more claret-like.)
About the producer
Chateau Montelena is a historic Napa Valley estate that rose to global fame after its 1973 Chardonnay won the 1976 Judgment of Paris. Renowned for both its Chardonnay and Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, the winery continues to produce elegant, age-worthy wines with a legacy of excellence.