Ameilia Douglas

9.6

2014 vintage. Lovely nose with cherry and plum full body. 14.5% alcohol content is visible but well woven into the structure. Lingering beautifully a minute after tasting. Strong tannin structure, 5+ years to go. Three hour decanting to fully experience the bouquet. — 2 months ago

David Kline

9.3

Tons to unwind here. Black and green olives, clay and uncooked peat, multi grain bread, pecan, black sesame, mushroom fricassee, grilled filet with beurre blanc and jus. Sage, mint, and tarragon. All cohesively woven together; immaculate. That’s just the nose. Graphite and oak pencil the initial signature, which delineates the oeuvre. The cherry life cycle, from underripe to dried expressed in black and red; still-grainy tannins supporting. Raspberry tart, briary berrries. Rooibos tea, cinnamon and clove. Impeccable.



#chateaulafonrochet #lafonrochet #saintestephe #grandcruclasséde1855 #2001bordeaux #bordeauxrouge #leftbank #misenbouteilleauchateau — 2 years ago

Josh Morgenthau

9.6

Wow. I’m speechless. Comes charging out of the gates and doesn't let up. Melange of tropical fruit as well as cool climate fruit on the nose, exotic yet essential. Palate is so poised, beautifully balanced, with an amazing line of acid. Oak is elegantly woven through.

Precise sweetness and tartness drill into your palate. Remarkable juice! — 3 years ago

Lauren Golanty

9.1

The 2011, absurdly good, the structure was woven and perfect, and the combination of red fruit and richness and earthiness was absolutely heaven.  — 3 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Solid classically styled Bordeaux. Dark currents, some mid fruits, stones, dry topsoil, dark rich earth, lead pencil shavings, tobacco, leather, soft spice, light baking spices, withering dark flowers, round acidity, nicely woven with good evolution and integration making for well balanced and smooth finish. Nice producer from this region that prices good value. Fine pair with the brisket. — a year ago

Roger Ray

8.9

This Australian Shiraz is vibrant with fruits of plum and dark cherry, woven between soft spice and soft supple tannins. An enjoyable Barossa wine sold through Stone House Vintners of the Hill country of Texas — 3 years ago

Jason Soloway

9.2

Nothing obvious here. Patience required, patience rewarded. Tightly woven, black cherry, mint and a waft of smoke wrapped around a spine of acid. Compact, yet rewarding. More giving on night two. — 4 years ago

Daniel veit

9.8

Hauntingly beautiful, skillfully woven together. — 10 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

The follow up to the 03 Brane-Cantenac. So good but still youthful now as I mentioned this 97 still is in @Paul T- Huntington Beach recent post of his 2013.

The tannins are round, softened but still meaty & somewhat tarry.

The nose is still brooding. Ripe lush, ruby, fruits of, blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries, baked to poached strawberries. Dark, rich, sweet forest floor, mix of Indian & Asian spice with palate piercing heat, notes of Cognac, steeped tea, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, black licorice, tarry notes, day crushed rocks, limestone minerals, grey volcanic minerals, light tobacco with ash, used leather, sandalwood, bright, fresh; dark, red, blue florals with violets.

The palate is ripe, lush, juicy & floral fruits of; blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries, baked to poached strawberries, raspberry highlights & pomegranate. Dark, rich, sweet forest floor, mix of Indian & Asian spice, notes of Cognac, steeped tea, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, black licorice, tarry notes, day crushed rocks, limestone minerals, grey volcanic minerals/ash, moist, grey clay, light tobacco with ash, used leather, sandalwood, bright, fresh; dark, red, blue florals with violets, insane, waterfall acidity, woven, layered, structured, nicely tensioned with great length and a incredibly balanced, well polished finish that goes on for two to three minutes.

If you are 15-20 years plus patient w/ these bottling’s, they are one of the very best values in Napa Valley. — a year 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. — 3 years ago

with Linh and Sarah