Azienda Agricola Ca' Del Monte

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2000

Opened the evening prior at 7pm and double-decanted; the bottle was left at room temp with the cork pressed lightly back into the neck until service. The 2000 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core and a slightly water rim; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous and showing some real power with a compelling combination of ripe and desiccated fruit: dark brambles, cassis, leather, dill, olives, spiced meat, tobacco and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and whoa is it ever delicious. This has to be one of the wines of the vintage. Drink now through 2040. — 6 days ago

Hermes, Ira and 13 others liked this

La Ca' Nova

Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2014

Beautifully aging nebbiolo. My first example from this producer. Everything I like in this kind of wine. Sour red cherry, mint, rose, sweet tobacco. Finish goes on and on. Tannins well integrated and still plenty of acid. Classically made with no heavy oak as far as I can tell. — 24 days ago

Tommaso Bussola

Ca' del Laito Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore Corvina Blend 2018

AEL
9.0

So pretty outstanding for the $22 I paid. Clocking in at Napa-level 15.5% ABV, you can nonetheless discern the soil and fig notes. Beefy, satisfying wine at great CBR. From Lower Falls WS. — a month ago

Suavia

Monte Carbonare Garganega 2020

Lemonade earth. — 8 days ago

Ira liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Chardonnay

Delightfully complicated California Chard masquerading as a White Burgundy. French nose and French finish. Minerals, flint, stone and fruit—apple, pear, peach and nectarine, with an obvious but restrained layer of oak. Not overly fruity or oaky; no pineapple or butterscotch here. Paired well with the Seafood Tower, Swordfish and Black Cod at the Water Grill Santa Monica. This was a juvenile 2021 vintage, tasted in 2024. Eager to try this gem after another half decade. — a month ago

Ridge Vineyards

Estate Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

Promising red fruit on the nose but a bit too tannic—decanting was de rigueur. After 45 minutes it was better but still tight. It took a full two hours to open up fully and show interesting notes of tobacco, earth and pencil shavings to balance the fruit and acid. Tells me that I should wait another five years before opening my remaining bottles. Enjoyed the 2021 vintage with prime ribeye cap steak from Costco, chicken liver pate and Taleggio cheese, with visiting family (William, Teresa, Xander and Samantha). — 21 days ago

Scott@Mister liked this

Ca' La Bionda

Casal Vegri Valpolicella Classico Superiore Corvina Blend 2015

With homemade meatballs and marinara tagliatelle 🍝 — 5 days ago

Bodegas Riojanas

Monte Real Gran Reserva Rioja Tempranillo 2009

Crazy to say but…too young! Balanced and dark but has yet to develop the spice rack subtleness and tannins can still evolve further — 2 months ago

Tom, LM and 2 others liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

John Howard
9.4

So good. Leaner vintage. — 2 months ago

Scott@Mister, Raul and 11 others liked this