The Honest Pour with John Lenart

Chateau Montelena will forever hold a special place in Napa Valley wine history after famously winning Steven Spurrier’s 1976 Paris tasting. In 2014 Matt Crafton was named winemaker there and today he maintains the heritage of this iconic producer. With a strong belief in sustainability Crafton is paving the way to the future while staying true to the legacy of Chateau Montelena. We sat down to discuss this and also to taste some delicious wine.

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Matt Crafton, Winemaker, Chateau Montelena

2011 Chateau Montelena Estate Napa Valley Chardonnay

Aromas of golden apple honeysuckle and lemon zest. Precision and depth describe this delicious, mature wine. A full weight yet still possessing lots of finesse and mouthwatering acidity. Still years left in this tasty wine from an often overlooked vintage.

SRP:  $67

2016 Chateau Montelena Estate Napa Valley Chardonnay

Aromas of green apple, lemon, crushed rock and floral notes. Rich texture and complex flavors are balanced by bright acidity. Obviously made to age for a decade or more but drinking beautifully now. A stunner.

SRP:  $58

2015 Chateau Montelena Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Fresh aromas of mixed red fruit and blossoming violets. This elegant wine shows a ton of restraint and elegance. Complex flavors play harmoniously with the texture and acidity of this youthful wine. A classic which will age for decades.

SRP:  $175

2005 Chateau Montelena Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Tons of floral perfume earthiness back up lovely integrated fruit. Bold tannins and still fresh acidity back up and give balance to this lovely mature wine. Drink now with a great meal and friends.

SRP:  $225

Cool climate pinot noir is a widely used buzz phrase today. But in the late 80’s Marty Bannister was one of the pioneers of the segment. She made these wines for over a decade when health concerns forced her to let the family label go dormant. In the early 2000’s her son Brook decided to revive the brand and continue working with these cool climate wines, maintaining his mother’s legacy.  So many of the stories told through wine are about, place, history, or farming. This episode is about a son’s love of his mother and his dedication to making sure her place in wine history is maintained.

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Brook Bannister, Bannister Wines

2018, Bannister Riesling

This skin dry riesling was fermented on the skins adding intriguing aromatic and savory notes. Aromas of tart apple, lemon zest, and cumin are followed by flavors of apple, quince and exotic spices.

SRP:  $28

2015 Bannister Campbell Ranch Pinot Noir

Aromas of dark cherry and earth mingle with floral notes of this pinot from a classic vintage. Flavors of light berries are balanced by fine tannins and mouth watering acidity. This wine is all about finesse. Cellar of 3 to 5 years or more.

SRP:  $55

2017 Bannister Saini Ranch Zinfandel

Zinfandel made with the soul of pinot noir. Arpomas of mixed berries, mushroom, and tobacco. On the palate flavors of fresh raspberry, dutch cocoa, tobacco and white pepper mingle in this fresh, playful zin.

SRP:  $36