Freddy R. Troya

9.2

This is one of the softest Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa floor I tested in a very long time. Extremely elegant, and beautifully structured, warm and delicious. The wine dances in your palate. The balance is striking and the finish is so delicate and crisp that takes you to a whole different level. Crazy delicious! — 2 days ago

Ashish Pant

9.4

Fantastic, had one in Fuengirola with fantastic Iberico feather. Soft is the word that comes to mind. Berries and tobacco. The 2018 can grow with age. — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Honeysuckle, Apricot and a musky note on the nose. On the palate initially a sweet mandarin fleshy note with apricot. With time a plethora of fruits - tropical, stone fruit and citrus even ripe banana. There is a saline streak in the overall minerality. Medium minus acid. Medium plus to profound intensity. This wine has it all. Look up the word delicious in the Dictionary and you will see a photo of this CdP Blanc from Beaucastel!! A blend of 80% Roussanne; 15% Grenache Blanc and 5 % of a few other varieties including Clairette. Lucky to have 1 more bottle. — 4 years ago

Joanna

9.2

Delicious. There’s probably a $5 premium for the word Napa on the bottle, but it’s a delicious example of California Chardonnay. — 4 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2012 vintage. Medium body. Subdued nose with just some slightly tart, dark cherry afoot. Some frontal spice box married to that tart, dark cherry and a light muddiness (¿word?). Back end/finishing richness makes an appearance for a spell. Nicely made. Not overwhelming (nor underwhelming) for CA but should go forth and prosper for another 5-7 years at this level. 02.09.25. — 10 days ago

Carter Pelham

9.7

Shared with close friends - everyone’s first Monte Bello, and a great one at that.

Took this bottle out to share at a local fine dining establishment, to pour it blind for our friends. Wrapped neatly in foil. We get seated and explain to our waiter. “The bottle MAY be a little bit older so take care with the cork,” I said, not wanting to give away the age to our friends. He proceeds to break the cork about halfway down, right through. No big deal. He’s a younger guy and I think a little flustered, he goes off to get assistance.

Comes back with another server. As the guy walks back up, I say “Thanks for helping us with our mystery bottle”, clueing him in on the idea that there’s a reason that we have it wrapped in foil. “Would have been nice to know it was an older vintage wine,” he replied brusquely. Ok… Server 2 digs around for a bit with an ah-so before punching the cork into the drink. Oh well. None of us are really phased by this, it happens.

They grab a strainer from the bar. Server 2 starts pouring at a decanter and immediately the first glass or so just goes everywhere on the table. I start to die inside. He remains silent. Gets on target with the rest of the bottle, finishing pouring, and says “Your 2004 Ridge Cabernet”, purposefully ruining the blind tasting, I guess. Walks away without another word, leaving his mortified coworker to clean up his mess and apologize.

This actually happened. On to the wine:

Beautiful medium opacity ruby with no browning.

Smells like a Pauillac on the nose. Blackcurrants, blackberry, black licorice, slight graphite, and damp tobacco. As the night goes on it reveals dill, vanilla, buttered toast, and slight dry woodsy notes.

The wine is surprisingly light in body, very much a claret. The tannins are silky, finely woven, and extremely integrated. The main thing we notice on the palate is that the wine is so perfectly integrated it is a little difficult to pull individual notes out of it. Expansive over the palate without being weighty. The finish is forever.

A memorable evening. — 4 years ago

with Linh and Sarah

Jan de Weerd

9.6

If I could use just one word? Intense! Still tight but the layers of dark fruit are starting to shine through the angular, lead pencil soaked tannins. Everything is super balanced and leads you to a grippy, lingering finish. Drinking it right here in the Idaho Mountains! What a life. Oh, talking about Idaho. It finally got on the map of Wine Folly! Do you want to personally visit some of the best Idaho wineries and try their outstanding wines? Go to www.spokenwines.com 😁. And while you are there signup for our monthly newsletter. Every month you will get intimately introduced to a new winery we visited somewhere in the world with exceptional wines and captivating stories. Cheers! 🍷🥂 — 8 months ago

with Tammy

PS Michaels

9.1

Burgundian in the best sense of the word. Very good juice. — 4 years ago

Matthew Bull

9.2

Don’t stop now....my word. Parker was right. It drinks beautifully early. Wow. — 4 years ago

Ryan Vento

9.4

One word: sexy. An absolutely explosive nose of dried violet and assorted flower petals, Asian five spice, sweet licorice, succulent strawberries, rhubarb, smoke/flint. Even though Russell is my favorite winemaker I still, up until this point, had not tried any of his Pinots, nor had any pre-conceived notions as to how his Pinots should drink. As such, I kept my expectations comfortably in check. But wow...this is full-throttle, deep, suave, and downright sensual. Freakin’ love it. — 4 years ago

with Krystal