Jay Kline

9.5

Opened about 90min prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2001 Monte Bello pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with lovely notes of black currants, blackberries, plum, tobacco, purple flowers, an intoxicating mix of exotic Eastern spices, some cocoa, inorganic earth and minerals. On the palate? The wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is long and impeccably balanced. To my palate, this bottle has reached the age when Monte Bello starts to really become interesting. What a delight! Drink now with some air, through 2051. — 10 days ago

Larry Mik

9.0

Carmelized sugar, sweet finish, balance, low tannin — 5 months ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.6

One of my absolute favorite California wines. The California Latour. ‘97 is superb—vividly detailed and complex with both power and elegance. A masterful balance of fruit, tertiary character and cooling acidity with a silky palate and melting tannins. Hard to beat for a Wagyu pairing. — 6 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and no obvious signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of ripe and some dried fruits: bramble berries, slightly stewed black cherry, dried herbs, stony earth, baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. The alcohol is high.

Initial conclusions: this could be a Grenache-based blend, Corvina-based blend or Sangiovese-based blend from France or Italy. I felt the combination of slightly stewed cherry and spices ruled out what I would want from a Sangiovese blend. Which, left me to decide between Southern Rhône or Valpolicella. I liked this wine…the oak treatment was interesting. I was getting a French barrique. Hmmm…

So, for my final conclusion: I’m calling this a Grenache-based blend, from France, from Southern Rhône, from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, 2017, from a more modern leaning producer using a good portion of barrique. I’ll be damned! I don’t hate my call but I gotta get better at distinguishing these wines from Southern Rhône. I probably just need to drink more of both, lol. Tasty stuff! Drink now through 2039. — 9 months ago

Chris McClellan

9.0

Big tropical fruits, lemon curd, luscious, yet retains acid in the end…maybe too much vanilla cream (oak) for me, but overall delicious after dinner and segway to whiskey around the fire…. — 5 years ago

with Michael and Ryan

Sam Friedland

9.2

Took sometime to open. Still some fruit， tannins. Half a bottle 1992. — 8 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

8.9

100% Pinot Grigio from Abruzzo. Light straw color. Aromas of orchard fruit, citrus, white flowers and fresh herbs. Bold green apple flavor with additional notes of lemon/lime, pear, green melon and those fresh herbs. Hints of saline and minerals on the medium-plus and slightly (pleasantly) bitter finish. Quite fruit forward but still very dry. Mouth watering acidity and quite bright, clean and fresh. 12.5% ABV. Quite refreshing on a summer day. Thank you for sharing, Mark S! — a month ago

Vinny Brooklyn

9.4

Second & last of my bottles. Wonderful, while ready to drink still has plenty of years ahead of it. — 5 months ago

Sean Burke

9.1

Black cherry away, zeno — 5 months ago

Gilbert Van Hassel

9.4

Despite a 17 pct alcohol level this wine is perfectly in balance. Blood sausage, long afterburn rather sweet. — 8 months ago

Colleen Tomasello

9.4

Excellent cab! Always great from Ridge, this one is full bodied, nicely aged (still has room to age more, but wonderful right now!, wish i had a couple more) — 9 months ago

Carrie Bowden

9.2

Really opened up 30 minutes in — 4 years ago

Julia Reinstein

9.2

making ragu with Paolo — 6 years ago

Amanda Thomas

9.4

Absolutely fantastic with ratatouille with thyme. Cuts through everything and melds beautifully. Need another bottle to form more thoughts. — 2 months ago

with Tim

Bruce Leboff

9.2

A big and bold Cali cab- a bit bold bordering on over the top power. A bit of California sweetness but fun to drink. Has many years left - saving the next bottle for a big juicy steak meal — 3 months ago

with Michael

Brian Lenich

9.0

JSN recommendation — 6 months ago

joy horn

9.9

Bought at Pine Orchard 11/25 $70 after tasting at Ridge in 10/25. Less expensive here. The 2023 is rated at 100 pts. Absolutely delicious. Floral aromas, lightly crisp, subtle oak, smooth finish. — 9 months ago

carmen jeffery

10

incredible aroma like a resinous perfume - great tannins - dry and luxurious — 10 months ago

Joan Ziegler

9.4

Something spec. Try it — 4 years ago

Lance Williams

9.2

Tasted at March 2019 Montebello Collector event — 7 years ago