Tom Garland

9.4

Decant and pour. Nose: enticing perfumed dark fruit, mint, pine, floral, pencil shavings. Taste: creamy, balanced, savory wine with blackberry, milk chocolate, earth, leather, graphite, and a lingering long finish with some slightly grippy tannins. YUM!! No hurry, time to go. — 2 days ago

with Brenda

Adam Bryant

8.9

Really enjoyed this. For the money really can’t beat it. Dark fruits, not overly tannic. My go to when I am tired of dropping to much money on wine. — 2 months ago

Jay Kline

9.7

Of all the American red wines that participated in the Judgement of Paris, it could be argued that Monte Bello has shown the greatest propensity to age. In fact, I would go as far as it requires lengthy cellaring to extract its best. I’ve had the good fortune to drink a number of tremendous vintages of Monte Bello over the last several years and this one has got to be at or near the top of the lot.

Opened and poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service and enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 1991 Monte Bello pours a deep ruby/purple color with an opaque core moving out towards a light ruby rim; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing (still!) with gorgeous notes of ripe and tart black currants, mixed bramble fruit, tobacco, some purple flowers, dill, mint, leather, earth, vanilla and associated baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. The structure remains tremendous which again, seems to indicate youth. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is super long and immensely satisfying. This is one of those wines that will outlive most humans. Drinking well now with a short decant but this has the gas to see 2061 with ease. — 7 months ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

The sleeper vintage, one at this time I bet to be even more showy than the illustrious 2000. It’s simply just ready to go after a short decant wafting from the glass with layers of cassis, black truffle, violets and licorice. This is a wine of texture and elegance, as Margaux should be—It’s liquid cashmere in the mouth with melting tannins and a black truffle and mineral inflicted finale that keeps on going. Superb showing tonight, with still a long life ahead. — 2 days ago

Nagib Nasr

9.0

Can’t go wrong with Ridge — a month ago

with Tripp

WC Fields

9.1

On target and in the window. What I have drank of Pauillac this was lighter in its feet but the blackberry tobacco cigar wrapper with some nice tannins and acid. This could probably go longer but glad I opened it. — 4 months ago

Adam Kincaid

9.0

Drinking a 3L from 2013 in late ‘24. Love the big format bottles and aging potential. This could go a lot longer I think but is also fine to drink now.

Standard Caymus flavors and aromas that made the brand known. Dark inky crimson color. Blueberries and blackberry fruit mixed with vanilla alongside the tell-tale signs of wet band-aid. Great tannins, medium-to-big acidity, good long finish. Really nice. — 8 months ago

with Jillian

Pooneet K

9.2

Not sure I’ve had any other 2006 Bordeaux but decided to pull this to give it a go at nearly 20 years of age. Nice wine but perhaps not one that justifies the price point. At first quite tight, but after a 5 hour decant this really comes into its own. Lots of leather and dark blue and black fruit. Oak is really only apparent in structure now. Great acid. 13% which is nicely balanced. — 14 days ago

Peter Heyboer

9.0

Berry forward, complex, full bodied with just a hint of chocolate and oak. Easy drinking but stands up to whatever you're pairing it with. Was the go-to wine for my late grandmother and I see why. I would absolutely drink this again and raise a glass to her. — 3 months ago

with Matthew, Ethan and 2 others

Carol Tait Olson

9.2

My go to Sauvignon Blanc — 7 months ago