1 | Wine | New Arrivals, 91 to 95, 2009

"Montelena’s 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate wraps around the palate with serious depth. Even with all of its intensity, the 2009 has a silkiness that makes it incredibly delicious at this early stage. Red berries, flowers, tobacco and sweet herbs all flesh out on the generous, radiant finish. While many 2009s are a bit tight today, Montelena’s 2009 Estate is showing very nicely, although it is keeping some cards close to the vest. I imagine the 2009 will start to enter its prime drinking window around age 8-10 and drink well for at least another decade beyond that."

"The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon flows from the glass with plums, black cherries, graphite, grilled herbs and smoke. This fleshy, up-front Cabernet Sauvignon shows fabulous overall balance and harmony in a style best enjoyed over the next decade or so."

"Aromas of toasty oak, graphite, balsamic, incense, and black fruits are followed by a dense, powerful Tempranillo from the great 2009 vintage. Rich, savory, and pleasure bent, it is a great value."

"Fresh boysenberry and purple plum are garlanded with bitter-sweet flowers; tinged with brown spices; underlain with clean red meatiness; and suffused with saliva-liberating salinity in a Pinot of refined tannins and outstanding persistence."

"Elegant personality but with a firm structure. Elements of savory black fruits intermingled with floral notes and exotic spices lead to a layered, spicy palate that expands nicely in the glass".

"Even sexier than the 2008, the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon comes across as considerably sweeter and rounder than its older sibling. Layers of expressive fruit linger on the radiant, juicy finish. This is an especially open and expressive Cabernet Sauvignon. The sweet tannins should allow it to drink beautifully upon release."

"Notions of pain grille, mineral, Asian spices, lavender, and black cherry lead to an elegant, impeccably balanced wine with outstanding volume and length".

"Its name is derived from the ancient caves under San Vicente de la Sonsierra castle where the old cellar is located. It has a seductive bouquet with beautifully defined, precise, graphite-tinged black and blueberry fruit that unfolds with passing moments. The palate has immense purity and sense of symmetry and gently grips the mouth on the long, elegant finish. If you cannot afford Contador, well, this sure as hell comes close!"

"It is reticent at first and takes time to open up. It retains a pleasing sense of aloofness, which one would want from this South African icon. Patience is required, for it eventually rewards you with blackberry, briary, fresh tobacco, cedar and mint...not a million miles away from Pauillac! The palate is medium-bodied with fine, supple tannins: blackberry, raspberry and graphite all perfectly delineated with great refinement married with intensity on the finish. You would be hard pressed to find another wine that delivers such class at this price."