Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Nose: The nose is loaded with rich aromas of black fruits and spices. Notes of blackberry solicit memories of hot summer afternoons while clove, allspice, vanilla, and hints of cocoa tease with thoughts of baked goodies.
Palate: A core of brandied cherries, light oak and a hint of anise, building to a full, fleshy mid palate that evolves seamlessly into a rich, spicy finish.
Finish: There are loads of fine grain tannins that give mass to the wine without being aggressively astringent, hinting at the delicacy and suppleness that will come with time in the cellar.

The 2010 growing season was persistently cool—summer never really showed up—all the way until the third week of August when a scorcher of a heat wave moved through. But the overall cool season provided for a lot of time on the vine and the great flavor development that comes with it. Alcohol: 14.2%