Chateau Montelena
2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
"Apollo"
Calistoga AVA
Auction 28 | Lot No. 103
Vintage: 2022
Chateau Montelena
Cabernet Sauvignon
Calistoga
5 cases produced
Highlights
- 100% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from the premier growing site of the Montelena estate
- Featuring 35-year-old vines, this wine represents the potential of a historic replant
- This Heritage clone was planted in Hambright rock outcropping, amongst ancient volcanic lava flows
- Aging for at least 24 months in 100% French oak
Description
Chateau Montelena is in the midst of the largest vineyard replant in its modern history. This Cabernet Sauvignon is a preview of the future of Montelena featuring a premier hillside of the estate.
Wine Facts
- Single vineyard wine
- Sustainably produced
- Wine is 100% estate grown and bottled
Matt Crafton
Winemaker, Chateau Montelena
Matt Crafton leads the production team as Winemaker at Chateau Montelena. He not only oversees all production and operations, but also plays a critical role in strategy, education, and technology at the winery.
With a sense of determinate optimism and the need to further engage his right brain, Matt leaned away from a career in finance after earning a degree in Economics from the University of Virginia in 2003 and
instead was drawn to winemaking. Starting at the very bottom in the cellar, Matt internalized the words from his father, “Smart people in the world are a dime a dozen. All you can do is control how hard you work.”
Years later, after methodically building his toolbelt in wineries and vineyards on the east coast, Napa and Sonoma, Matt was hired as Enologist at Montelena upon finishing his degree in Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis in 2008. He was promoted to Winemaker in 2014.
The dynamic atmosphere of Montelena inspires Matt to run with new ideas, striving toward perfection with every project. In addition to overseeing the largest vineyard replant of the last 40 years, Matt also plays an instrumental role in the winery’s advancement beyond the traditional winemaker responsibilities such as leading brand and communications strategy, operational resilience, sustainability investments, and water rights projects. He believes in the importance of education, and facilitates collaborative learning at the winery
through internal seminars and mentorships.
When it comes to winemaking, Matt’s approach follows no template. Instead, he works towards creating terroir-driven wines that embrace the unique expression of the vineyard and vintage. “The vineyard produces this raw material with so much potential. My job is to take this humble ingredient and not only make something delicious but also inspiring.”
Country born: United States
Years in the wine industry: 20-30 years
Chan's Wine World
4010 Commons Drive West Suite 112
Destin FL 32541
850-645-7466
Other Premiere Napa Valley Wines available from Chan's Wine World:
| Winery | Vintage | Variety | Appellation | Fanciful | Auction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antinori Napa Valley | 2022 | Cabernet Franc | Atlas Peak | A27 The Next Generation of Antinori | 28 (2024) |
| Chateau Montelena | 2022 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Calistoga | Apollo | 28 (2024) |
| Clos Du Val | 2018 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | 24 (2020) | |
| CADE Estate Winery | 2017 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Howell Mountain | 13th Vineyard | 23 (2019) |
| Tres Sabores | 2016 | Zinfandel | Rutherford | 22 (2018) | |
| Bougetz Cellars | 2014 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Spring Mountain District | 20 (2016) | |
| Twomey Cellars | 2014 | Malbec | Napa Valley | 20 (2016) | |
| Bougetz Cellars | 2013 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 19 (2015) | |
| Emblem Wines | 2012 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Oso Vineyard Barrel Selection | 18 (2014) |
| Gabrielle Collection | 2005 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | Silver Stallion Cask One | 11 (2007) |
| Mount Veeder Winery | 2005 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Mount Veeder | Rosenquist Block 5 | 11 (2007) |
| Sterling Vineyards | 2005 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Calistoga | Bear Flats | 11 (2007) |
| Cuvaison Estate Wines | 2004 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Mount Veeder | Tango | 10 (2006) |
| Terra Valentine | 2003 | Cabernet Sauvignon 85% Merlot 15% | Spring Mountain District | THE PHOENIX | 10 (2006) |
Winery Distribution
Chateau Montelena is distributed in the following markets. Please contact the winery directly for the most up-to-date distribution information and to explore commercial opportunities.
Domestic:
- Alabama (International Wines)
- Alaska (Specialty Imports)
- Arizona (Quail)
- Arkansas (Glazers)
- California (RNDC)
- Colorado (Grand Vin)
- Connecticut (Slocum/Touton)
- Delaware (Touton)
- Florida (Breakthru)
- Georgia (Empire)
- Hawaii (RNDC)
- Idaho (Hayden Bev)
- Illinois (Heritage)
- Indiana (Carroll Company)
- Iowa (Johnson Bros)
- Kansas (Standard Bev)
- Kentucky (Cutting Edge)
- Louisiana (Wines Unlimited)
- Maine (Central Distributing)
- Maryland (Touton)
- Massachusetts (Classic Wines)
- Michigan (Imperial Bev)
- Minnesota (The Wine Company)
- Mississippi (ABC)
- Missouri (Pinnacle Imports)
- Montana (George's)
- Nebraska (RNDC)
- Nevada (Breakthru)
- New Hampshire (Martignetti)
- New Jersey (Allied Bev)
- New Mexico (Southern Glazer)
- New York (VNY)
- North Carolina (Tryon)
- North Dakota (RNDC)
- Ohio (Cutting Edge)
- Oklahoma (Dynamic Brands)
- Oregon (RNDC)
- Pennsylvania (Capital Wine & Spirits)
- Rhode Island (RI Distributing)
- South Carolina (Aleph Wines)
- South Dakota (Cask & Cork)
- Tennessee (Lipman Empire)
- Texas (RNDC)
- Utah (Utah Dep of ABC)
- Vermont (Farrell Dist)
- Virginia (Touton)
- Washington (RNDC)
- West Virginia (Can AM)
- Wisconsin (Winebow)
- Wyoming (Sate of Wyoming Liquor)
International:
- Australia (West Coast Wine Cellars)
- Bermuda (Gosling Brothers Limited)
- Canada - Alberta (Renaissance Wine Merchant)
- Canada - British Columbia (Clarus)
- Canada - New Brunswick (New Brunswick Liquor Corp)
- Canada - Ontario (Rogers & Co)
- Canada - Quebec (La Celeste)
- Caribbean (Service Innovations)
- Colombia (JE Rueda)
- Costa Rica (Gourmet imports)
- Czech Republic (California Wines A.S.)
- Denmark (Sommwine ApS)
- Dominican Republic (El Catador, SA)
- Germany (Alpina)
- Hong Kong (Ponti Trading co)
- India (Brindco)
- Ireland (Tindal Wine Merchants)
- Japan (Hotei Wines KK)
- Mexico (ECM De Cepas)
- Norway (LaMarc Wines AS)
- Panama, Republic of (Felipe Motta)
- Peru (Cosmos Wine SAC)
- Philippines (Happy Living)
- South Korea (Nara Cellars)
- Sweden (Terrific Wines)
- Switzerland (Kaufmann Wine)
- Taiwan (Atherton Wine Imports)
- Thailand (California Pacific Wines, LLC)
- United Kingdom (Bancroft Wines)
- United Kingdom (Bancroft)