Monte Rio Cellars

Produttori del Barbaresco

Riserva Rio Sordo Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2017

This is at a really good place right now, definitely within its drinking window. Long-aged balsamic with a harmonious blend of spices like clove and anise coming through on the nose with some woodsy herbs as well. Mix of plum, dark cherry, balsamic, and spice on the palate. Smooth mouthfeel gives way to a bit of astringency on finish, which is evened out by nice acidity along with balsamic and spice. Paired wonderfully with duck breast and balsamic, red wine reduction with cherries. — 5 months ago

Neil, Sagee and 7 others liked this

Bodegas Riojanas

Monte Real Reserva Rioja Tempranillo 2016

Buen rioja, aunque no creo que esta cosecha nos de esta textura y bouquet. — 6 months ago

Romano Dal Forno

Monte Lodoletta Amarone della Valpolicella Corvina Blend 2017

Despite a 17 pct alcohol level this wine is perfectly in balance. Blood sausage, long afterburn rather sweet. — 6 months ago

Andrew, Brecht and 1 other liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Estate Monte Bello Vineyard Chardonnay 2023

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. — 6 months ago

Bodegas Riojanas

Monte Real Gran Reserva Rioja Tempranillo 2005

Cedar, fruit in the background, coconut?. Mature and delicious — 7 months ago

Cascina delle Rose

Rio Sordo Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2020

Ruby in color with light intensity and a wide reddish rim.

Fruity nose of red currants, cherries, earth, black coffee, chocolates, chalk and light oak.

Medium bodied with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with red fruits, earth, light wood, spices, coffee, dark chocolates, vegetables, herbs and black tea.

Medium finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very tasty Barbaresco. Easy drinking and elegant, but not as smooth as I expected it to be.

This 5 year old feels like it needs more time in the bottle to mature properly. Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years. Would be nice to revisit it in 5 years.

This Single Vineyard Nebbiolo is complex and interesting. Good by itself and better with food.

100% Nebbiolo grapes were aged for 2 years in large oak barrels. A small production of only 3,500 bottles.

14% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$80.
— a year ago

Jay, Daniel and 14 others liked this
Daniel Martinez Cardenas

Daniel Martinez Cardenas

@"Odedi" What it means Odedi? It’s just a nickname?
Daniel Martinez Cardenas

Daniel Martinez Cardenas

@"Odedi" I googled it, it’s a bird with a high-pitched whistle “O-de-di” 🐦 😆😉

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Chardonnay 2020

Pretty good after a few mins of air contact and paired with avocado — a year ago

Jean-Philip and Andrew liked this

Monte Antico

Supremus Toscana SuperTuscan Blend 2020

Nice winter super Tuscan. 2020 that was a bit dry at the every end, but quite nice - especially on half price wine night. $70/$35. — 5 months ago

Morgan Gress
with Morgan

Ridge Vineyards

Estate Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2016

Last had 4 years ago and was excited to check in - this didn’t disappoint. That perfect ridge mix of old world sensibility and composition with new world fruit and character. 13.8%. Finish is long with nice acid. Great pairing with steaks. Nice wine.

Happy New Year!
— 6 months ago

Jay, Ira and 7 others liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

An icon for a reason. Exactly what you want from a California Cab. Balanced yet bold, powerful yet refined. Amazing. — 6 months ago

Marc, Andrew and 10 others liked this
Pinotman /// Andreas

Pinotman /// Andreas

Unlike most other Cabs they use American Oak

Ridge Vineyards

Estate Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot Blend 2018

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) — 7 months ago

Monte Bernardi

Sa'etta Chianti Classico Riserva Sangiovese Blend 2016

Beautifully made, fresh and highly drinkable but plenty of complexity — 8 months ago

Pooneet, Tom and 5 others liked this

Tormaresca

Bocca Di Lupo Castel del Monte Aglianico 2013

I love Aglianico and this was amazing. Red and black fruit, terroir tobacco and notes of old books. Smooth tannins - enjoy. — a year ago

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Chardonnay

Vanilla nose with some acid and minerality. Lemon and citrus flavors paired well with salmon. — a year ago

Cristian MendozaLou Ann MowryAmelia Mowry, CSW
with Cristian, Lou and 1 other
Tom liked this

Louis M. Martini

Monte Rosso Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Oak, chocolate, and leather. Big, rich, and full. — 5 months ago

Monte Xanic

Gran Ricardo Valle de Guadalupe Red Blend

Massive wine, huge flavor, judicious oak. Usually wines like this would be goopy but this is not. — 5 months ago

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2014

Yes—exactly that kind of wine: timeless, composed, and quietly authoritative.

It smells so good on first pour. Damp pine forest floor and clean mountain air register immediately. Everything else unravels from there; but that initial pop-and-pour sniff is pure magic.

On the palate, blackcurrant, cedar, graphite, and dried herbs unfold with control, carried by freshness and finely etched tannins in a medium body.

So classic, so intellectual, and deeply mesmerizing. Drink now or age.
— 6 months ago

Ted, Sagee and 9 others liked this

Romano Dal Forno

Vigneto Monte Lodoletta Valpolicella Superiore Corvina Blend 2013

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.
— 6 months ago

Mark, Douglas and 6 others liked this
Zach D

Zach D

That’s a super tough blind tasting. Good deductive reasoning. Cheers

Monte Bernardi

Retromarcia Chianti Classico Sangiovese 2022

Nice. Old school not very funky but nice — 9 months ago

The Calling Wines

Rio Lago Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

All day baby greenbrier — a year ago

Katie VestaLynn Sergent-GantonKris Beth
with Katie, Lynn and 22 others
Jose, Dave and 5 others liked this