Opened, decanted and tasted right away. It was ruby, muddy, with the expected residual bits from the bottle. It had the dusty slightly porty scent of an older Cabernet. It had flavors of raisin and prune. The wine was slightly bitter/acidic. Usually those tastes have softened by this time in a California cab, twenty years in the bottle. The fruit was mostly gone. All in all not a special experience. I suspect ten years ago this would have been great. (See the notes on the Far Niente 1995 which I had at the same time, a completely different experience.)
Chateau Montelena is an absolutely gorgeous wineery. If you are in Napa Valley and you have not been it is highly recommended.
A link to their winemakers notes for the 1987 year release.
Back in awhile.
leh
