AJ McClellan
Above, from left: D’lynn Proctor, Bo Barrett, Dave Stearns (partner/owner Graileys), and Simon Roberts (partner/owner Graileys),
Another day and another superstar winemaker for Graileys: today’s superstar is legendary winemaker Bo Barrett. Portrayed by Chris Pine in the movie Bottle Shock, Chateau Montelena put California on the map in the wine world winning the best in show for their 1973 Chardonnay in 1976.
Chateau Montelena was founded in 1882 at the base of Mount Saint Helena by Alfred Tubbs. After building his Chateau he named it after the location Mount-Helena. James Barrett took over and produced his first wine in 1972. A year later we went to win in the Judgment of Paris and the rest is history.
2007 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay – Papaya, pear, and tropical melons on the nose with a slight butter and white peaches on the palate. There was a nice schist minerality on the palate and a crisp acidity that reminded me of a nice Meursault.
2006 Chateau Montelena Estate Zinfandel – Big black pepper with wisps of smoke and big black fruit. There was a slight green stemmy quality and a hard finish.
2006 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon – Tobacco on the nose with leather and cigar box; again there was a slight green stem quality but it added to complexity rather than sticking out like a sore thumb. There was some wood spice, as well as a touch of clove and cinnamon. Great little everyday drinker.
2006 Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon – Ripe black berry and big black tobacco with a backing of damp earth and cobblestone road after a heavy rain. Big hard tannins that need another couple of years of bottle age, and a finish of tar and tobacco. All in all a great little wine but it needs some age on it.
2005 Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon – Massive tannins again, but with the benefit of an additional year of bottle age the tannins have softened and smoothed out, making for a more pleasant mouth feel. Jammy black fruit and boysenberry on the nose with a cinnamon / clove spice on the back end. The palate was excellent with a nice dusty minerality and a back of cedar and tobacco.
2001 Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon – This was my favorite wine of the night. Jammy raspberries on the nose with a hint of red liquorish and fennel. The palate was stunning with soft silk tannins, and ballerina-like finesse finishing with black currant and cocoa butter.
2000 Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon – Big tobacco, tar, and leather on the nose with a slight astringency on the back. There was a pleasant fruit bouquet on the palate with plums, cherries, blueberries, and black currants. Wine finishes with liquorish and damp earth.
1999 Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon – Jammy red fruit up front with stone cherry and sweet plum, big spice and tobacco on the back with red flowers and dirt and tar. Soft well developed tannins we red currants, cassis, and anise on the finish.