772 | Wine | Cabernet Sauvignon, 2004

"Shows hints of maturity, with chocolate mint, cherry and currant flavors that are intense yet elegant, balanced and stylish. Full-bodied, firm and focused, this is complex and concentrated without being heavy, offering the wine's classic style and personality."

"This is a dense, ruby/purple-tinged wine with full body, and despite the softness of the general vintage, Montelena has plenty of structure...The wine has sweet tannin in a broad, flavorful, concentrated style with plenty of black currant, licorice, and spice. The wine is beautifully textured, slightly more forward than most Montelena Cabernets tend to be. It is another beauty from probably the most consistent winery for Cabernet Sauvignon over the last three decades." Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"Smoky cherry and cassis aromas are complicated by wilted rose, cured meat, licorice and sexy oak spices. Lush and creamy in texture, offering well-delineated red- and blackcurrant flavors, good dusty tannic grip, and a sweet, expansive finish. Impressively deep and chewy, but good mineral lift keeps everything in check."

"Weaves together a complex array of ripe, rich currant, anise, smoky oak and black cherry. Dense, concentrated and persistent, with great depth and focus. Ends with an amazingly long, richly flavored finish."

"Musky aromas of cassis, licorice, game, tobacco leaf and subtle brown spices. Velvety-sweet and deep, with hints of tobacco leaf, mint and herbs giving definition to the middle palate. Nicely bright but youthfully tight wine, finishing with broad tannins." Reviewed by Stephen Tanzer.

"This is a dense, ruby/purple-tinged wine with full body, and despite the softness of the general vintage, Montelena has plenty of structure...The wine has sweet tannin in a broad, flavorful, concentrated style with plenty of black currant, licorice, and spice. The wine is beautifully textured, slightly more forward than most Montelena Cabernets tend to be. It is another beauty from probably the most consistent winery for Cabernet Sauvignon over the last three decades." Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"A big, ripe, intense style. Potent, with rich currant, mint and cedary oak flavors that fan out on the palate and then clamp down on the finish."

"The 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Madrona Ranch, which is usually about 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Cabernet Franc with a touch of Petit Verdot, displays a black/purple color to the rim and an extraordinarily beautiful nose of lead pencil shavings, blue and black fruits, licorice, subtle oak, and some acacia flowers. The wine has fabulous stuffing, a rich, full-bodied mouthfeel, tremendous opulence, but plenty of tannin lurking below the surface." Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"Inky ruby. Strong tobacco- and herb-accented cassis and cherry aromas, with an underpinning of graphite. Elegant and spicy in the mouth, with energetic red and dark berry flavors and firm, youthful tannins. This possesses impressive power but there's also a sense of restraint, suggesting that it will repay cellaring." Reviewed by Stephen Tanzer.

"Aromas of spice, dried currant and zesty berry offer hints of mineral, sage and cedary oak. Leans toward dryness on the finish, where the tannins firm up. Finishes with a nice burst of red fruit."