Tom Garland

9.4

1 hour decant(lots chunky/fine sediment). A gorgeous inky purplish garnet color. On the nose: dark fruit, forest floor, smoked meat, floral, cigar wrapper, pencil lead. Taste: smooth, rich, creamy mouthcoating wine with blackberry/dark cherry, dark chocolate, earth, tobacco, baking spice, and a cedar/graphite medium plus finish with some slight dusty tannins. Had this 2 years ago, and it's improved. In the beginning of its drink window at 18 years? Wow — 20 hours ago

with Brenda

Ron Siegel

9.3

This was rich, ripe, round with dark, berry almost plum like showing good balance that is not your typical Montrose — 5 days ago

Anthony James Marr

9.2

From a pristine bottle - cork did its job, but was on the softer side and fell apart after extraction. This leans very herbal with notes of green pepper and green tobacco immediately perceptible on the nose. After that there are notes of earth. There was little to no perceptible fruit left at this stage, but it was a lovely, silk like experience and texture in the mouth with tertiary flavors such as leather, cedar, and some spice. This seemed like it was perhaps on the very early part of its downhill and was beginning to come apart, but should still have another few years left in the tank from properly stored bottles — 14 days ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

1996 vintage. Really nice specimen. Opened (not decanted) and tasted after two hours. Unified earthy, funky, lived in BDX nose paired with medium body. Surprisingly, still a splash of baby fat evident on the cheeks along with a blue fruit accent. Ripe plum, cassis and leather followed. Drinking great currently with extensive follow-through on the finish and should hold as such till 2030. 02.28.25. — 9 days ago

GaryWEdwards

9.5

Big lush, dark fruit that has not reached its peak window yet. But she ain’t far away. I was able to obtain a vertical of 01,02,03,& 04. My first foray into that vertical. No rush on this one but very impressed. Leather, pepper, if not cigar leaf here . Suffice it to say, there is a lot going on here and my lack of Cali knowledge has new intrigue — 7 days ago

Alexandre Pagliano

9.2

Dar rubi robe, nose of blackcurrant, anise and limestone. Very cabernet in the mouth with the peppery register, rounded up by the ripe Merlot. Great acidity and balance, an excellent bottle just lacking a bit of complexity which is typical of the 2000 bordeaux. — 22 days ago

with Jose, veronique and 1 other

Freddy R. Troya

9.6

An exceptional wine that shows its age ability to endure and improve over time. The 2009 vintage has 76% Cab Sauv, 18% Merlot, 4% Cab Fran and 2% Petit Verdot and was aged for 15 months in French Oak barrels. Extremely opulent and luscious, though tannins were already falling, but its elegance and finesse was compelling. All ripe red fruits with a persistent perfumed aromas. Elongated finish with some fig notes as a bit of baked raisins. It can continue aging for another 15 years without compromising its elegance and complexity. This is a show stopper!! — 2 days ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.4

Opus One second wine. A beauty! Extremely giving already and pure velvet in the mouth — a day ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2011 vintage. Opened but not decanted. Tasted 2.5 hours and 3.5 hours after opening. Medium-heavy body. Some powerful chunkiness afoot but wouldn't categorize the wine as rustic. Balanced mix of fruit, earth and mineral. No rush to crush. 02.22.25. — 15 days ago

Elena Moroz

9.1

Great wine, subtle, more like a European wine. Great. — 12 days ago