Tom Garland

9.2

1 hour decant(decent sediment). A striking purplish crimson red color. On the nose: Seductive perfumed notes of red fruit, herbaceous, leather, mint, milk chocolate, cedar. Taste: silky, rich, wine with dark cherry/blackberry, minerals, graphite, chocolate espresso, earth, and a smokey spiced slightly astringent tar long lingering finish with some still there tannic kick. — 2 days ago

with Brenda

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. — 9 days ago

Steve Bridge

9.5

Easily my favorite visit to SMV and every other one was a 10 out of 10. All the 2023s we tasted on the trip were outstanding. This was right up there with any of them. — 11 days ago

Shriya Patnam

9.1

2016 opened at the right time — 13 days ago

Brian Montgomery

9.1

Fruit forward with super clean finish — 5 hours ago

with Jessica

Tom Garland

9.3

Decant for sediment(minimal) and pour. An amazing still deep dark purplish magenta with a little bricking. On the nose: Intoxicating perfumed notes of dark fruit, herbaceous, sandalwood, menthol, forest floor, smokey cedar. Taste: silky, classic, delicious wine with blackberry, dusty earth, charcoal, saline, and a spiced vanilla cedar long finish. YUM!! It's what's you want in a aged Napa cab with time to go. — a month ago

with Brenda

Jay Kline

9.2

Opened about two hours prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 1985 pours a deep garnet color with an orange rim and a slightly hazy, near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of dried, desiccated blackberries, pipe tobacco, leather, organic earth and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin (integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. A lovely, mature wine that should be enjoyed over the next several years. Drink now through 2030. — 2 days ago

Timothy Eustis

Wine Director, Red Lion Inn

9.2

2022. Full bodied. Great but not too opulent nose. Lovely acidity and balanced. Macadamia nuts, lemon and something else I can’t name. Love. — 17 days ago

Todd Anderson

9.2

Drinking very nicely but a delicate wine. Need to swish it to get to taste the fruit and earth. Drink now - unclear benefits to aging further. — 9 days ago

Joe Fischer

9.2

Dark ruby with aromas of dark red stewed fruits, blackberries, baking spices, and red currants. On the bud, it’s smooth and delicious with more stewed fruits and spices. Excellent with our aged ribeye and baked potato. — 22 days ago

James K

9.5

From a magnum. Best Elivette I’ve had. Great vintage, drinking perfect right now. — 18 days ago

KA

9.5

Eleven Madison Park NYC — 3 days ago

Christian Fischer

9.6

So we are tasting the 2005 side by side with the 2007. Both decanted and both are singing. This is a difficult call and I am giving both a 9.6 rating, not willing to rank one above the other. Deep and complex flavor profile. Incredibly smooth. Fantastic wine. — a month ago

Eric Urbani

9.6

Laid this down in 2020 and opened for the occasion of my new great nephew Julian Rhys ! Drinking perfectly with the richness of almost a decade of age. Forgot how good this can be. — 3 days ago

Tom Garland

9.2

3rd vintage from the Kronos vineyard.

Decant for sediment(decent chunky sediment) and pour. A beautiful medium ruby red color with bricking. On the nose: Captivating notes of sweet red fruit, forest floor, floral, menthol, cigar, charcuterie. Taste: silky, layered, still alive and delicious wine with dried blueberry/cherry, damp earth, leather, loamy soil, minerals, and a licorice espresso medium plus dry finish. YUM! What a treat to drink tonight. — 14 days ago

with Brenda

Ming L

9.3

The nose bursts with aromas of blackberry, cassis, violet, cocoa, dry herbs, a distinct iron-like minerality. The palate is rich and composed, with a vibrant streak of acidity. Velvety tannins frame the fruit without heaviness. The finish lingers long with subtle spices.

A powerful Rutherford cab with lots of finesses. Long life ahead. — a month ago

Stephen Osgood

9.0

delicious biodynamic Sta Rita pinot. tons of salinity and characteristic terroir. — 8 hours ago

Brandon Boesch

9.4

Really nice, good fruit and acidity. Strawberries, herbal quality, other good fruits. — 21 days ago

Brandon Boesch

9.4

So solid. Had it at a steakhouse in Estes park. Great fruit and tannin and balance. — 15 days ago

Brian Kostreba

9.0

Very good wine just not for me, I normally drink a lot of Napa valley wine and French wine. I’m not saying it’s a bad wine I’m just saying I guess I have a profile I enjoy more. I held the wine for 10 years, chilled and decanted for 1 hr, 1.5 hr, and then 2 hrs. I never experienced the normal oak, cigar, leather. You know all the taste profiles the pros mention. I enjoyed it but was still disappointed. I have one more bottle 2015 that I will drink in 2030. Maybe I’ll love it. I drank a younger bottle and really enjoyed it. It was almost overwhelming and hard to finish of course I was in las Vegas at a hotel enjoying the view from my hotel of the Bellagio fountains which made this spectacular both the wine and the view. Which was years ago but a special wine and a memory goes a long way. Especially when you get up in age. — a month ago