In a valley that is only thirty miles long by five miles wide, it is incredible just how many soil types and microclimates exist from one end to the other. There are more than 100 soil variations, elevations ranging from sea level to more than 3,000 feet, and vast fluctuations in temperature. At the northern end of this world-renowned region, lies the appellation of Calistoga—home to Chateau Montelena and its beautiful estate grounds. Tucked beneath an oak-wooded forest, the magnificent stone winery and tasting room glisten in the sun rays that shine between the thick, gnarly branches of ancient oak trees. The nearby Jade Lake provides an outdoor sanctuary for visiting guests. To say that Chateau Montelena is a slice of heaven in Napa Valley is an understatement; if you live in California and can visit this estate, consider yourself lucky.

Though Chateau Montelena and their estate vineyards are located in the Calistoga appellation, the fruit for the 2012 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a variety of appellations throughout the valley. They do make an Estate Cabernet Sauvignon which fetches a much higher price tag of about $150 a bottle, but the 2012 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon we are offering today is a steal at this price and perfect to stock up on. You’ll want to drink some now and cellar a good amount away, because Chateau Montelena is known for producing distinct Cabs with serious agability.  The astounding breadth of terroir across the valley allows for many different styles of this varietal and in this 2012 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, there is a sense of wholeness and place. The fruit used to produce this wine comes from various acclaimed vineyard sites in the valley and the final blend is majority Cabernet Sauvignon, with a small amount of Merlot, followed by Cabernet Franc. The fruit is sourced from growers with which Chateau Montelena has had longstanding relationships; in fact, their viticultural team works closely with the growers to ensure that the health of their vineyards is impeccable. They insist on using highly sustainable farming practices and many organic techniques, such as cover cropping and releasing ladybugs amongst the vines to combat pests, rather than spray. All of the vineyards for this Cabernet Sauvignon produce low yields, so as to retain intensity of flavor, complexity and agability in the finished wine. Of course, like any proud estate, Chateau Montelena picks the grapes by hand (in the middle of the night to retain the flavor of the grapes), crushes and de-stems the grapes, and then gently presses them before fermentation in temperature-controlled steel tanks. After fermentation, the wine is transferred to oak barrels—both French and Eastern European, with roughly 25% new.