On Oct 12, 9:00*am, "Bi!!" > wrote:
> We grilled lamb chops last night so I opened a bottle of 2002 Chateau
> Montelena that I found in my orphan bin. *I stopped buying Montelena
> when the winery was alledgedly hit with TCA issues. *The cost and risk
> just didn't work for me. *I suspect the bottle was a gift from a
> dinner guest. *The wine was still quite dark and dense in the glass.
> Effusive nose of cassis, black plum and Napa dusty notes. *Still quite
> youthful on the palate with very ripe blackberry, cassis and plum a
> fair amount of anise a slight smokey note and plush smooth tannins.
> There is a nice balance to this wine and like most Montelena wines I
> suspect it can last up to 25 years. *Quite nice 'A-"

Never had problems with Montelena and still buy it.