Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2020 vintage. A fave CA chard and producer. Medium-medium heavy body. Tasting slightly more tropical and advanced with less acidity than usual. Still absolutely delicious tho. Would like to retaste and reevaluate in 5-6 months tho. Based on 30 vintages of tasting this particular wine, betting it reconciles any tawdry, fleeting concerns that occupy my compromised palate and right quick. 01.22.25. — 10 days ago

Brit Young

8.9

I loved this more in SB. Did I have rose-colored glasses, or was it because I left this out in a 90 degree car for a day. We’ll never know!
This did take a turn for the better after 30 mins. Rich, medium bodied, yum yum. — a month ago

Marc Melser

9.5

We had the 2015 Vintage on 1/3-5/25. Medium bodied. An excellent Pinot Noir. Nice mouthfeel. Black cherry blackberry and Asian spice. Really good — a month ago

A-Aron

9.1

Dry, light acidity, berries and dark fruit. Rich and with some depth for a Pinot Noir. — a month ago

Vasanth Balakrishnan

9.3

I used an Ah-So which ended up being merely a precaution since the top of the cork looked a bit dry. Turns out it was fine. Acidity was stunning at 15 years, some dried fruit on top of cherry compote with ethereal traces of tannins at the end. Delicious SRH Pinot Noir. Miles Raymond would definitely approve! 😉 — a month ago

Jerry Raphael

9.0

Very nice and smooth start to finish. Dark fruits mainly and fully integrated. Last bottle of 2017 — 20 days ago

Jody Wycech

9.4

Really tasty. Perhaps the first Cali Pinot noir that I’ve enjoyed, also probably because it drinks more like a zin. Dark opaque red. Slightly smokey. Full bodied. Bought it on sale for $35. Would love to have again. Had with apps on New Year’s Eve, but would be great with food and could even hold up to a heartier meal (steak, etc). — a month ago

with Ethan, Peter and 1 other

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. — 14 days ago

S.S. Mandani

9.4

Tropical aromatics, slightly buttery, perfumed jasmine.

Grapey, sunshine, minerals, California breeze. Nice chalky chew.

Papaya and melon fruits combine with minerality and a soft acidity that produces a super well balanced Chablis like Chardonnay that still holds on to its grippy California terroir — a month ago

C.C. Fridlin

9.1

Received as gift. Excellent Brunello. — 13 days ago