On Jun 10, 11:25*am, Ed Rasimus > wrote:
> On Fri, 10 Jun 2011 07:40:50 -0700 (PDT), "Bi!!" >
> wrote:
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> >I opened a double magnum last night of 1994 Chateau Montelena Estate
> >Cabernet. *We had a fairly large group of neighbors put together an ad
> >hoc get together of food and wine. *Lots of fun. *I started with a
> >glass of Nino Franco "Rustico" Prosecco NV. *Fairly golden in the
> >glass, nice nose of yeasty berries. *Nice fruity profile on the
> >palate.
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> >I opened the 1994 Double Mag of Chateau Montelena Estate Napa Cabernet
> >about an hour before drilnking and decanted into three decanters. *The
> >wine was dark purple with a brickish cast to it certainly showing some
> >age. *FWIW, the cork was really quite short on one side as if it never
> >expanded on that dise when it was inserted however it was still tight
> >and intact. *The nose showed a lot of cedar and lead pencil with a
> >fair amount of cassis. *Still firm and rich on the palate reminding me
> >of Bordeaux. *Lots of blackberry, black currant, tobacco and leather
> >on the palate. "B+"
>
> Inquiring minds want to know, how did you acquire a double magnum?
> Purchased at the winery? Bought at auction?
>
> Ch. Montelena has long been a favorite of mine, but surprisingly I
> don't see it on many wine lists anymore. Ten or twelve years ago it
> was fairly common at my haunts in Santa Fe, Taos and Colorado.

I bought it at the winery on release during a trip to Napa. I think
that the cork taint issue beginning with the 2001 vintage has really
had an impact on the wine from a sales and marketing perspective and
perhpas some internal issues have fundamentally changed the quality or
style of the wine.