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. — 7 days ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.3

Another excellent vintage of “Second Label Sassacaia.” Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%) and Merlot (40%). Aromas of black fruit, baking spices and cedar wood. Flavors of black cherries and currants, woody herbs, black licorice and those sweet baking spices. Long finish highlighted by beautiful freshness. Well softened tannins, bright acidity and a silky texture. Simply elegant and at its peak. Part of a June 2026 KZ Tasting. — 3 months ago

Neil Valenzuela

9.2

Deep purple color. Aromas of cassis, blackberry, earthy tones and herbs. Blackberry on the palate, earth and a hint of vegetation. Very tasty cab.

🍇 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec

🏅94 Points - Robert Parker
🏅94 Points - Wine Enthusiast
🏅91 Pints - Wine Advocate — 4 months ago

katarina ammann

9.2

Heavy tobacco, smoke, and earthy tones on top of dark fruits. Opens up very dynamically because of its vintage. — 5 months ago

Angelo Casagrande

8.9

Lot of dark fruit: blackberries, blueberries, and a tinge of spice. Dark, the wine smells like it tastes. Good value. — 6 months ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.3

Bright ruby color with garnet highlights. Aromas of ripe red and black fruit, Asian spices, wet soil, garrigue and wood ash. Flavors of cranberry, red cherries, red plums, tobacco, Earl Grey tea, dark chocolate, grilled herbs and baking spices. Long and lingering finish. Dusty tannins, firm structure and bright acidity. Lovely concentration and mouth coating texture. Bring on the grilled meat. Great choice, Keith S! — 9 months 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. — 2 days ago

Rick Phillips

9.4

Couldn’t get enough of the 2013 so opened this split of 22. Has years to grow with its floral raspberry & hint of the boldness it will achieve. Just hope Im still around to still taste it in 10 years! — a month ago

with Letha

Jim Stehli

9.4

I just kind of want to live down the road and grab one daily. Absolutely perfect Sonoma Pinot. Dark cherry and berries with a balanced full mouth. Can’t have enough imho. Doctor, doctor… pls! — 4 months ago

Vinny Brooklyn

9.4

Second & last of my bottles. Wonderful, while ready to drink still has plenty of years ahead of it. — 5 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2020 Estate pours a bright, yellow/green color with medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of bright tropical fruit: pineapple, passion fruit, star fruit, lemon curd, almonds, toasted marshmallow, warm spices and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is medium+. Lovely stuff. Drink now through 2035+. Bottle No. 9032/12960 — 5 months ago

Jeremiah Diaz

9.6

Clear, medium ruby in color; on the nose, it's clean with pronounced primary and secondary aromas of cherries, roasted tomatoes, and black pepper; on the palate, it's dry with high acidity, high tannins, medium alcohol, medium body, and pronounced primary and secondary flavors of strawberries, black cherries, and clay pots with a long finish. This wine is complex and intense. Overall, I rate this wine as outstanding. — 7 months ago

with Nellie

Anne Richardson

9.1

Mmmm - delicious! Quite full bodied with a deep ruby red color. Enjoyed with red meat and all by itself. Flavors of blackberry, plum and dark cherry. — 9 months ago

Zach D

9.1

Pours a purple hue with some fading at the rim; aromas of black and red fruit; raspberry, blackberry, some dark cherry, and cassis; palate with good acidity, congruent with the nose; there is a bit of vanilla clove baking spice oak on the palate. Alcohol is moderate at 13.5; I like the wine, and I don’t drink a whole lot of American wines. The oak influence should be more delicate in my opinion, as the fruit is pretty elegant. It overwhelms a bit, and holds it back. I have doubts that this aspect will improve with bottle age, but I have another couple bottles and will leave in the cellar as an experiment. — 25 days ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2021 vintage. Vacillates/alternates between polished and rambunctious. Lots to like on both sides. Acoustic or electric guitar? You get both. A tremendous length of finish. Was going to pick up a case of the 2015 vintage of this (9.3) but this is drinking even better. Decision time...4.27.26. — 4 months ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 2024 CCC pours a deep, ruby/purple color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity, with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with attractive, fresh notes of crunchy blackberries, black plum, lavender pastilles, Kiwi fruit, black pepper, crushed rock and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and mineral laden. So fresh and easy to love. Drink now through 2034. — 5 months ago

Kyle B

9.2

Best wine of the tasting in Italy! — 5 months ago

with Terry

Michael Dierberg

9.5

This one had signs of seepage on it so I opened it planning on throwing it out. What an amazing wine and so fresh! Maybe another bottle seeped on to this one? — 6 months ago

Marisa Sullivan

9.2

Christmas Eve pre-dinner wine (there will be more). Loved it for a lighter evening warm up wine. 🎅 🎄 — 8 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.4

Quite deep garnet , just a hint of ruby and a wide garnet , terracotta rim. Touches of chestnut , dark fruits , earthy liquorice , dry spice and black tea . On the palate this is very classically styled , with dark liquorice tinged blackberry, raspberry , spiced black tea and menthol tinged good long length finish . Balanced acaidity and quite high , grippy tannins. With time this is beginning to show quite well , but will not doubt improve over the next 5 perhaps 10 years and last well a further 10 . Really quite classic and imposing in style , but detailed and complex. — 9 months ago