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. — 2 days ago

Gilbert Van Hassel

9.5

Very outstanding trio, bit of a shame to drink them together. 2011 amarone, 2017 la turque, 2020 cepparello — 3 months ago

Pooneet K

9.0

Quite ready to go. No decant, opened 3 hours before. Nice seamless fruit, tannins very integrated. Could use a bit more acid, but still appreciate it esp at a nice restrained 13.4%. — 3 months ago

Joe DAscoli

9.1

This was more elegant and less flavorful than expected

Very light fruit and minimal oak

Paired with giant 12oz lobster tails. Happy Armenian Christmas!

Crazy thing happened with the pairing. This wine tasted like a fresh shucked raw oyster. Dead on after a bite of lobster, like eating an oyster chaser. Wild. — 15 days ago

Vasanth Balakrishnan

9.4

So glad our impressions from the tasting at the Lytton Springs tasting room was borne out over a year later. You probably haven’t had a #chardonnay like this. This vintage has a distinctive green curry leaf (Bergera koenigii) aroma, backed by dried pineapple, toasted almonds. There’s some weight on the palate, stone fruit, pear and hints of vanilla. Beautifully complex and paired wonderfully with heirloom Mexican corn tortilla tacos. #ridgevineyards — 3 months ago

Vino Joe

9.5

Perfectly ripe. This wine is peak. Mature fruit in balance with everything. This was ready to go from the pour. Well rounded and deep. Gorgeous color. Likely to start receding soon. So drink up! — 3 months ago

Rich Bluth

9.2

drinking perfectly now. enjoy! — 25 days ago

Ron R

9.3

Honeydew melon and pineapple everywhere.. broad and expansive on the mid-palate. Moderate and honied sweetness is tucked in with complementary acidity. A beauty. — 2 months ago

with Anne-marie

Gilbert Van Hassel

9.7

Sweet tannins almost port like with very balanced tannins. 17 pct alcohol but accessible. Great but not quintarella which is still a level higher. — 3 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Very dense and black in colour. These wines always remind me of Fruit and Nut milk chocolate. The colour makes you think full bodied but it’s actually light to medium bodied. A luscious mouth filling palate with the savoury milk chocolate together with notes of raisin and date. Supple yet persistent tannins. Reminiscent of a Priorat Garnacha in some respects. — 4 months ago