91 pts - Wine Advocate
Montelena’s backward, elegant, complex 2001 Estate reveals a dense ruby/purple color along with foresty, earthy notes intermixed with black currant characteristics as well as sweet tannin. Always a less ripe outlier (although it contains 14% natural alcohol), it will benefit from 2-3 more years of cellaring and should keep for at least 20 more years based on the extraordinary longevity Montelena Cabernet Sauvignons possess. - Robert Parker (6/2011)
69 pts - Wine Spectator
Hard-edged dill and cedary oak precede this green, lean, herbal wine with gritty, chalky tannins. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 7,800 cases made. — JL (11/2004)
93 pts - Vinous
IWC 93+ (6/2004): Saturated, deep ruby-red. Quintessential cabernet aromas of blackcurrant, black cherry, dark chocolate, licorice, black olive, mint and earth, sweetened by some roasted oak tones. Dense, supple and seamless; much more concentrated than the basic Napa Valley bottling but also more pliant from the outset, even if it will need a good six to eight years of cellaring. Old-style, classic Napa cabernet with a powerful, building finish.