Mark Vincent of The Metro-West Daily in Massachusetts has a fantastic column up on the glories of Chateau Montelena. Vincent tastes through the current releases, including the “quite tasty” Potter Valley Riesling and four vintages of the Estate Cabernet (“Conventional wisdom holds that California’s weather is nearly ideal for wine every year…If you think that means each vintage tastes the same, attending this kind of vertical tasting will prove otherwise.”). The star of the show, though, is the 2006 Estate Zinfandel.
“The surprise of the tasting was Montelena 2006 Calistoga Estate Zinfandel. Who’d ever think a Zin could possess the light color of pinot noir as well as delicate, light fruit flavors instead of the usual fruit bomb? Made the way zins were 30 years ago, this wine is a real winner you should try.”