H. Montanile's A Winery Review - In The Cellar

In The Cellar

The following are a list of red wines that are moderately priced and a sure compliment to your Cellar.  These red wines retail for approximately $55.00 or less. We have generally selected only new releases that are easier to locate and purchase.  The wines listed In The Cellar have been rated 90 and above by some of the most popular wine critics (i.e. Robert Parker, Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, Stephen Tanzer, James Suckling, James Halliday, Vinous & Wine & Spirits).

(Wines denoted by *are priced over $55.00 however, they have been on our In The Cellar List for 18 years and will remain, vintages have been updated for your buying and tasting pleasure)

A.

Anderson Conn Valley Right Proprietary Red Napa 2008

Arrowood Cabernet 2004

B.

*Barnett Cabernet

BR Cohn Sonoma Valley Olive Hill Estate Vineyards Cabernet 2009

BV Rutherford 2013

BV Tapestry 2010, 2012

Benziger Sonoma County Reserve Cabernet 2006, 2007, 2010

*Berringer Alluvium 1994 (consistently rated over 90)

Berringer Knight’s Valley 2013

Buehler Napa Valley Estate Cabernet 2010, 2012, 2014

Burgess Cabernet, Napa Valley Vintage Selection 1999, 2012

C.

Chappellet Cabernet Napa Valley Signature 2014

Charles Krug Generations Cabernet 2013

Chateau Montelena Cabernet, Napa Valley 2013

*Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cepages 1999

*Chimney Rock Cabernet, Napa Valley 2012

Clos Pegase Cabernet, Napa Valley 2007

*Corison Cabernet, Napa Valley 1997, 2006, 2012,2013

*Cornerstone Cabernet - 1996 

D.

Dry Creek Cabernet, Dry Creek Valley 2010, 2012

*Dunn Napa Valley Cabernet 2012, 2013

Dunn Howell Mountain Cabernet 2012

E.

Etude Cabernet, Napa Valley 2012

F.

Ferrari-Carano Cabernet, Alexander Valley Vineyards of Tre Monte 1997

Flora Springs Trilogy, Napa Valley 2007 (*2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)

Foppiano Vineyards Estate Bottle Petite Sirah Russian River 2012

Forman Cabernets - Any Vintage in your price range

Franciscan Estate Magnificat Meritage Napa Valley 2012

Frank Family Cabernet 2012, 2013

Freemark Abbey Cabernet, Napa Valley '97

Frog’s Leap Merlot 2013

G.

Girard Cabernet '97

Grigich Hills Merlot Napa 2012

Groth Cabernet, Napa Valley 2012/Reserve Cabernet 2012*

*Guenoc Cabernet, Napa Valley Beckstoffer IV Vineyard reserve '97

H.

Heitz Cellar Cabernet, Napa Valley 2012 (not rated)

*Heitz Cellar “Martha’s Vineyard” Napa Valley Cabernet 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010

Paul Hobbs ‘Crossbarn” Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

*Paul Hobbs Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Honig Cabernet, Napa Valley 2013

I.

Iron Horse Cabernet, Alexander Valley T-T 1997, 2001, 2003

J.

Justin Cabernet, Paso Robles 2014 (not rated)

*Justin Isosceles reserve, Paso Robles 2008

L.

Lang & Reed Cabernet Franc ‘Two-Fourteen’ Napa Valley 2009

Lang & Reed Cabernet Franc ‘Right Bank’ Napa Valley 2007

Larkmead Cabernet, Napa Valley '97

M.

Merry Edwards Pinot Noir Russian River 2013

Merryvale Cabernet Napa Valley 2010 (not rated)

*Merryvale “Profile” Napa Valley Bourdeaux Blend 1997, 2012

*Mondavi Reserve Cabernet, Napa Valley 2009

Mondavi Cabernet, Oakville 2013

*Mondavi Cabernet, Stags Leap District 2005, 2009

Mount Veeder Winery Napa Valley Cabernet 1994

Murphy-Goode Liar’s Dice Zinfandel 2012

N.

*Napanook (Dominus) Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend 2012, 2013

Ninety-Plus Cabernet Lot 94 Collector Series Rutherford 2014

P.

Robert Pecota Cabernet, Kara's Vineyard '97

*Rodney Strong Rockaway Single Vineyard Cabernet 2012

Peju Cabernet, Napa Valley 2012

*Peju Reserve Cabernet Franc (napa Valley) 2011

Joseph Phelps, Napa Valley Cabernet 2003, 2008, 2011 (*2002, *2010, *2013)

*Joseph Phelps Insignia 2011, 2013

Pine Ridge Estate Vineyards Cabernet 2010

*Pine Ridge Cabernet, Stags leap District 2010, 2012

*Pine Ridge Cabernet, Howell Mountain 2010, 2012

*Plumpjack Cabernet, Oakville 1995, 1999, 2000, 2001

Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet 2000

Pride Mountain Vineyards Merlot 2003, 2004

Pride Mountain Vineyards Syrah 2001, 2005

Pride Mountain Vineyards Syrah, Sonoma County 2003, 2005

R.

A. Rafanelli Cabernet, Dry Creek Valley 2011, 2013

*Raymond Generations 2009, 2012

Raymond Reserve Select Napa Valley Cabernet 2013

*Robert Craig Howell Mountain Cabernet 2013

*Robert Craig Mount Veeder Cabernet 2010

Rombauer Cabernet, Napa Valley 2013

S.

Saddleback Cabernet, Napa Valley 1997, 2009

St. Clement Cabernet Napa Valley 2010

St. Clement Oroppas Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

*Schweiger Cabernet, Spring Mountain District 2005

*Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet 1994

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars “Artemis” Cabernet 2013

Stag’s Leap Napa Valley Cabernet 2013

Stonegate Cabernet, Napa Valley 1997

*Swanson Cabernet, Alex’s Oakville Napa Valley 1997, 2005

T.

Titus Cabernet, Napa Valley 2013

*Trinchero Signature Cabernet, Napa Valley 2008

*Trinchero Haystack Vineyard Cabernet “Atlas Peak Valley” 2010

V.

Viader Proprietary Red 1999, 2000

*Viader Proprietary Red 1995, 1998, 1989, 1991, 1995, 2004

Von Strasser Cabernet, Diamond Mountain District 2012

WhiteHall Lane Cabernet, Napa Valley 2012

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Pairing The Best Wine With Your Holiday Cookies

If you're spending your Holidays cooking, cleaning, and exchanging presents with loved ones, a glass (or two) of wine and some Christmas cookies may be exactly what you need. Here is a list of what wines to pair with Holiday cookies.

Gingerbread Cookies & Sherry - Since it's able to pair so well with numerous foods and has a relaxed honey flavor, it pairs wonderfully with soft, chewy gingerbread cookies.

Peanut Butter Cookies & Port - Port, having a higher residual sugar, is a classic dessert wine. This is increased by the salt in the peanut butter, creating the perfect pair.

Sugar Cookies & Riesling - With it's sharp acidity, Riesling adds a pleasant lemony accent to buttery sugar cookies. It adds to the sweetness of the cookie since it's also on the sweeter side.

Candy Cane Kiss Cookies & Cabernet Sauvignon - Being a full-bodied red, Cabernet Sauvignon is wonderful with peppermint, which can be a little overpowering.

Snickerdoodles & Sauvignon Blanc - Using cream of tarter and cinnamon, Snickerdoodles have a sweet and spicy taste. To enhance the cookie flavors, pair it with a Sauvignon Blanc that shares in the same tangy notes.

Oatmeal Cookies & Zinfandel - Since Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies are so rich in texture, a husky Zinfandel is the perfect wine to compliment it's variety of flavors. Containing oats and cinnamon, these cookies go well with this full red wine.

Jam Thumbprint Cookies & Pinot Nior - A red wine that is light to medium bodied, Pinot Nior absorbs the red fruit flavors in Jam Thumbprint Cookies well. Containing vanilla tones from the oak barrels, it also goes well with the plainer cookie base.

Wine Shop at Home

Wine Art

Our Wine Art product is perfect for hanging on the wall or using as a serving platform for wine, cheese, etc. Each hand-made Wine Art board is printed at high-definition on a special, clear glossy or matte finished vinyl material providing depth, clarity and beauty. Mounted to an 18" wide by 12" tall black, matte finished board makes the product perfect for hanging on a wall without the need for framing, presented in a modern look and feel.

Wine Flasks

Our Wine Flasks are premium stainless steel flask that hold 8 ounces of your favorite wine and are sized to 5 3/4" x 3 5/8" for large pocket or purses. Wrapped in a deep, high-resolution, glossy work of art by hand and lovingly packaged ready for immediate use or gifting.

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The Health Benefits Of Red Wine

From dry to sweet, there is a large variety of red wines that are delicious. But did you know that red wine can also be beneficial to your health? Of course, anything that is good for you is only good in moderation. To get maximum health benefits from red wine women should consume no more than one drink (5 oz.) and men no more than two drinks per day. Keeping that in mind, here are some health benefits of red wine:

Lowers your risk of heart disease and stroke.

Red wine tannins give it the color red and contain procyanidins which protect against heart disease. Resveratrol, found in the skin of red grapes, aids in removing the chemicals responsible for causing blood clots, lessening your risk of coronary disease. Drinking a glass or two of red wine daily can cut blood clot related stroke rates in half.

Imitates gym time.

Also known for better physical performance and muscle strength, resvertarol mimics cardiovascular improvements similar to exercise.

Protects you from Alzheimer’s Disease.

Another benefit of resveratrol is that is defends you against cell damage which can prevent mental decline due to age.

Aids in the treatment of cancer.

An active antioxidant known as quercetin, which is found in red wine, can work against cancer cells (according to the American Cancer Society). Quercetin can stimulate natural cell death in certain kinds of cancers.

Supports a long life.

A 29 year long study was conducted that showed a 34% lower mortality rate for red wine drinkers over beer or vodka drinkers. The polyphenol that may be responsible for this is...resveratrol.

So there's no need to feel anything but positive about having that glass of red wine daily. Just remember to drink in moderation and don't drink and drive.

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What To Do With Your Extra Wine Corks

If you love wine like we do at AWineryReview.com, chances are you have a collection of wine corks. You may be saving them for...something that you're not even sure of! Well, here are some ideas of awesome things you can make with your corks which also make great, home-made gifts for the Holidays.

• A heat stand - You probably already have some heat stands to put pots on that just came off the stove. Now you can make a completely unique, beautiful heat stand that is sure to be one-of-a-kind.

• A jewelry organizer - It's super easy to create this awesome jewelry holder with a fun frame, wine corks, and some pins. It's a creative way to organize and display your earrings, necklaces, and other jewelry items.

• Key rings - Not only are these key rings a wonderful way to use your corks, they'd also make thoughtful gifts for loved ones.

• A photo frame - This wine cork photo frame would be the perfect place to display your wine tasting trip photo.

• Coasters - There's better place to set your wine glass than on a cork coaster. This is a great way to use your wine corks and keep rings off your tables.

Let us know what other creative items you've made out of wine corks!

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The Proper Way to Taste Wine

Tasting wine is a little more complicated than you may think. There is a certain way to get the full effect of the wine. With these four basic steps you'll get the full wine tasting experience:

1. Look - The first and easiest step is to look at the wine. Observe the color, transparency, and consistency of the wine. The appearance of a wine can tell a lot about how it looks.

2. Smell - The next step is to smell the wine. Through this step you can find out a little more about what flavors a wine contains. You can smell if there may be citrus fruits, or tropical fruits. A lot of our taste comes from the scent of what we are consuming so this is a good way to appreciate the wine.

3. Taste - Tasting the wine is the most important step. However, it is not as simple as you may think. A lot of wines have a different taste while in your mouth compared to once you swallow due to receiving them retro-nasally. While tasting, notice if the wine is sweet, salty, or bitter. Due to the acid in grapes, most wines will have some sour to them. You should also notice the texture of the wine. We perceive some wines as higher in texture because of it's age. Also take note of the length of a wine. What it tastes like in the beginning, middle (known as "mid-palate"), and end (known as "finish") of the taste often changes. Different wines leave you sooner than others, as well. (View our post on The Language of Wine.)

4. Conclude - The last step is to come to a conclusion. Did you like the wine? Did it contain flavors you enjoyed? Was it balanced or did you think it was too acidic or alcoholic? There are so many different wines to choose from so it's important to take note of which ones you like and don't like.

Featured Business Listings...

At H. Montanile™ we provide our visitors with winery reviews, area lodging, restaurants and tools to help them schedule their vacations or tours of various wine regions.

We list related businesses for our visitors with a summary listing by the type of business (winery, lodging, restaurants, etc.), their address, phone number, website link and more.

We also offer for the promotion of these businesses a "Featured Business Listing" where your business can claim your listing, provide us with additional information, images, videos and other content to enhance your listing page, attract visitors and entice customers to visit your location during their vacation or tour.

We offer this service not as an "edit your page" style tool, but a professionally edited page update include graphic editing, content proofing, spell checking in order to promote your business to our visitors in a professional and effect manner.

Our Featured Business Listing service is a hands-on and customized offering where our website design company will discuss your needs and business goals to provide you with the right combination of listing content, keyword research and location based demographic targeting. Once we determine your requirements, we will provide you with a quote for building your Featured Business Listing page and once complete, a monthly maintenance fee.  Typically an initial, one-time listing design will be quoted at $250.00 to $500.00 depending upon the amount of work required and your selection of features. You will then pay a monthly maintenance fee of approximately $100.00 for server and domain expenses, backup of your data, security and anti-virus / anti-hacking services.

Please click here to submit your business information.  One of our listing professionals will contact you and work with you to build your beautiful listing page, fill it with appropriate images and videos and get your business active and available to our visitors and the world!  If you have any questions...please feel free to contact us!

The Language Of Wine

Learning the language of wine will enable you to communicate your own perceptions of the wine that you are tasting while understanding the impressions of those who are participating in a similar experience. While wine tasting is a very personal experience, discovering the aromas and flavors is only half of the pleasure. Full satisfaction is derived from being able to share your perceptions, knowledge and delights while understanding the wine discoveries of other tasters alike. Learning the art of the wine language enables you to share the wine and communicate its’ wonders. Swirl, Sniff, Sip, Share and remember, wine tasting is your own personal pleasure. Enjoy!

Acid

A natural preservative of the wine that contributes to its flavor.

Aeration

The art of allowing a wine to breathe. Mainly with red wines, it allows the wine to "open" and the true flavor to emerge.

Aggressive

An unpleasant wine that tends to be highly acidic and heavily tannic. Often a wine before its time.

Alcohol

Alcohol is derived from the fermentation process when yeast is added and converts sugar to alcohol. When grapes are allowed to ripen longer ("late Harvest") on the vine, the grape develops a higher sugar content and will often result in a high residual sugar in the wine. Hence, in a sweeter wine this is a desirable effect such as in popular dessert wines and Rieslings, but not necessarily in Cabernet's and other reds.

American Oak

Barrels made form American oak used for the aging of primarily red wines.

Appearance

Just that. (e.g. cloudy, clear, deep purple). Cabernet's tend to have a deep rich color while a Cabernet Franc may have a lighter, transparent appearance.

Appellation

An appellation in the United States is defined by the FDA and the Department of Agriculture as an American Viticultural area. This is a designated Region for growing grapes. For example, both Napa Valley and Sonoma County are comprised of number Appellations such as, the Russian River Valley, The Alexander Valley, Howell Mountain and the Stag's Leap district to name a few. To claim that a wine is from a particular appellation, 85 percent of the grapes used to make the wine must be grown in that region.

Astringent

The feeling and taste your mouth will experience from an aggressive wine.

Backbone

A well balanced, full-bodied wine.

Blanc De Blancs

White wines ("White from White") made of all white grapes. Many sparkling wines, including French champagnes are made from white grapes.

Blanc De Noirs

White wines made from red grapes ("White from Black") The wines retains a pale or rose color because it is not fermented with the skin of the grape. The skin gives red wine its ruby color.

Body

The structure and complexity of the wine on the palette.

Bouquet

The aroma of the wine, which develops with age.

Buttery

A smooth texture and buttery flavor often found in Chardonnay.

Cedary

Taste derived from casks used in the aging process of red wines.

Chewy

Full-bodied, heavily tanned wines.

Cloudiness

Cloudiness can be an attribute of both older and Young wines. In older wines it is most likely from the Sediment while in younger wines it could be a sign of a poor wine.

Corked

A bad cork or an improperly corked bottle can turn a good wine bad often leaving a dry and bitter aftertaste.

Cuvee

A blend of a variety of grapes.

Decanting

Slowly pouring the wine from the bottle into a Decanter so to separate the wine from its sediments.

Delicate

A lighter bodied wine that is softer on the palette yet, delightful. Try Clos Pegase's Claret and Lang & Reed's Cabernet Franc.

Demi-Sac

Moderately sweet champagne or sparkling wine.

Depth

Describes the array of flavors, fullness and body of the wine. More commonly referred to as the complexity of the wine.

Dry

A dry wine has trace amounts of residual sugar not noticeable to the palette.

Earthy

Flavors that the grapes derive from the minerals in the soil. Often pleasant and aromatic.

Elegant

A spectacular, well balanced wine.

Estate-Grown

Grapes grown from vineyards in the same appellation That are owned by the estate.

Finish

The completion and lingering flavor left on your palette. The longer the finish the more sophisticated the wine.

Floral

More commonly characteristic of Whites, a flavor and a roma reminiscent of flowers.

French Oak

The traditional wood for wine barrels.

Fresh

A bold, crisp, fruity wine found in most younger wines.

Grapey

A simpler, less complex flavor.

Grassy

A grassy earth tone found in some Whites that Enriches the wine when delicately balanced.

Hearty

A robust red wine full of flavor.

Heady

Higher alcohol content.

Herbaciois

An herbal quality of both taste and smell. More often found in Whites where it is most desirable.

Late Harvest

Grapes that are left to ripen on the vine harvested later than the regular crop to produce a sweeter style wine such as dessert wines.

Lean

A wine lacking flavor and depth.

Meritage

A term coined for blends of California red and white wines.

Nose

Refers to the aroma of the wine.

Oaky

There are a variety of "oaky" flavors derived from the aging process of the wine in wood casks. The oak flavor can overpower a good wine or it can provide a more subtle, elegant flavor.

Off-Dry

A wine that is somewhat sweeter than a dry wine.

Perfumed

Characteristic of floral, aromatic white wines.

Residual Sugar

The sugar content that remains after fermentation.

Rich

A full-bodied, deep and complex wine.

Round

A smooth more balanced wine that has the feeling of rolling on your tongue.

Soft

A wine that is soft to the taste with less minerals and acid.

Spicy

A quality often found in red zinfandels and other more Complex wines. Hints of spice are noticeable to the taste. A good wine with food.

Tannin

Tannin is a mineral found in the skin of the grape or derived from wood casks during aging. Tannins are usually found in the finish of the wine and evens the flavor. Tannins also help to mature the wine.

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H. Montanile's Winery Review - Who We Are

Welcome...

As you can see, we are working day and night updating our website including new features, reviews, information and everything else you would expect from a modern, winery review website.  Please feel free to follow our updates over the next few weeks...and beyond, as we transform AWineryReview.com into the best winery review website on the internet!

In the mean-time, feel free to visit our old site by clicking here.

About Us...

When Leslie and Joseph Montanile met in April 1997 little did they know that marrying in Carmel, California and honeymooning in Napa and Sonoma would forever change their lives.

In August of 1997 Leslie and Joseph were married overlooking the Pacific ocean on the spectacular coast of Carmel, California. They honeymooned in wine country and fell deeper in love with each other and the countryside of both Napa and Sonoma. Always wine lovers, Leslie and Joseph set out to learn as much as they could about California Wines and wines in general.

In August of 1999 Leslie and Joseph returned to the coast of Sonoma and the Napa Valley to celebrate their second wedding anniversary. While on their trip, armed with maps and books published about wine country, they realized that visiting Napa and Sonoma was not as simple as it had once seemed; Reservations for tastings and tours had become common place, hours and days of operation varied, and restaurants and hotels were booked, not to mention over 400 hundred wineries to choose from. Wine country was buzzing with an abundance of tourists and after being turned away from several wineries, it was at that moment, that H. Montanile™ was born.

Our Goal...

Leslie and Joseph set out to create a complete guide for visiting wine country focusing on Napa and Sonoma wineries.  

H. Montanile™ is the wine lovers choice. From winery reviews, wine education and selection, places to stay, fun things to do and sample itineraries

H. Montanile™ brings you the complete wine country experience in one living site. We at H. Montanile™ can fulfill all of your wine country, gourmet food and fine wine needs.

Happy Tastings,

Leslie & Joseph Montanile

Welcome...

We are just getting our new Winery Review website up and running.  Check back for more information, visit our current site at AWineryReview.com or check on the progress of our new site by clicking HERE.