1996 Chateau Montelena Calistoga Cuvee

Chateau Montelena is one of Napa Valley’s oldest estate vineyards, having been purchased in 1882 by a San Francisco entrepreneur who built an impressive, European-looking chateau and hired a French winemaker. Nearly a century later, in 1969, an attorney named Jim Barrett led a group of investors who bought the winery with the notion of replanting vineyards that had been allowed to go fallow. In 1976 the winery won international fame when its 1973 Chardonnay took first place in the blind tasting in Paris that has since inspired books and movies. The winery is now owned by the Barrett family, with son Bo Barrett working as master winemaker. Chateau Montelena today makes renowned Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as Chardonnay and limited amounts of Zinfandel and Riesling. The estate includes 125 acres of vineyards and produces about 40,000 cases of wine annually.

Calistoga AVA is one of Napa Valley’s newer appellations, having been given appellation status in 2010. It is notable for its volcanic soil, which is unusual in the Napa Valley. Calistoga also experiences the greatest average 24-hour temperature swing of any Napa Valley AVAs, which Calistoga grape growers insist give the grapes time to “cool down” at night, making for better balanced wines. The 1,500 Calistoga vineyard acres are planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Syrah and Petite Sirah, along with smaller amounts of other varietals. Calistoga is at the northern end of Napa Valley, northwest of the Diamond District and St. Helena AVAs. Longtime winemaker Bo Barrett of Chateau Montelena, which is located in the Calistoga AVA, proposed the creation of the appellation.

One of the most widely grown grape varieties, it can be found in nearly every wine growing region. A cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. It’s a hardy vine that produces a full-bodied wine with high tannins and great aging potential.