Chateau Montelena Calistoga Zinfandel 2016. I have to admit like Pinot Noir that Zinfandel was never really on my wine radar but boy was I missing out. Zinfandel is used to make both Rosés ( white Zinfandel ) and red wines. California is the home of Zinfandel, and the wines are normally big, bold, and fruit-forward, with lots of jammy strawberry, plum, and blackberry with hints of cinnamon, vanilla, and spice. So that ticks a lot of boxes for me.
The Italian name for the grape is Primitivo which means ‘ first to ripen ‘. In fact, the bunches of grapes ripen very unevenly and need to be left on the vine longer. This often results in very high sugar levels and high levels of alcohol. This can create amazingly complex wines. Zinfandel pairs exceedingly well with another Californian classic, barbecued meats, and salty cheeses. It also is a good match for rich dark chocolate mousse.
Chateau Montelena
Chateau Montelena is an iconic name amongst wine lovers. In 1976 there was a wine tasting, that became known as the Judgement of Paris, in which a group of wine professionals compared the best wines from California against their French counterparts. It was believed until that date that the French wines were superior however a Californian red and white wine beat their French rivals. The winning white wine was a Chateau Montelena Chardonnay. The result changed people’s perceptions of wine around the world and firmly put Chateau Montelena on the wine-making map.
The winery was founded in 1882. The modern era began in 1972 after Jim Barrett bought the business, and it has now been owned by his family for over fifty years. They have invested in the property overhauling the vineyards, buying equipment, and using new techniques. The family makes superlative wines that are designed to improve with age including Reisling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and the famous Chardonnay.
Chateau Montelena is situated in the northern Napa Valley in the Calistoga Wine Area. The area is famous for big full-bodied wines. The area is over a hundred meters higher than the rest of the valley, and this means there is a big variation between day and nighttime temperatures. This ensures maximum sugar and alcohol, but also balancing acidity that helps make great wines. Chateau Montelena was instrumental in establishing the Calistoga AVA which was established in 2009.
Chateau Montelena Calistoga Zinfandel 2016 is a bit of a showstopper, it’s a totally lush wine and has beautiful aromas of cherries and red fruits, cinnamon, and a hint of tobacco. Fermented in stainless steel the wine undergoes further malolactic fermentation in barrels before aging for sixteen months in a mix of French, American, and Irish oak.
The wine is packed with explosive sweet bramble jam and liquorice flavours with a touch of vanilla, pepper, and star anise spice from the oak. There is sufficient tannin to add depth and length complementing the old vine fruit flavours and the aging in oak. This really is an eye-opener if you have never tried Zinfandel from a world-class vineyard. Serve with some sticky barbecued ribs or with a dark chocolate dessert.
Grape variety Zinfandel
Country of origin USA
Region Calistoga, Napa Valley
Vintage 2016
Alcohol 14%
Notes
Chateau Montelena follows organic production techniques and is vegan-friendly.
The Caskaway 
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