Tasted single blind in 1972-1992 vertical. Good aromatics of floral, cedar and some dark cherry and currant. Flavors of black cherry and background mushrooms. Good spice on finish. not powerful, but elegant balanced and almost lacy. I preferred this to most others in the group tonight.

Corked, which was too bad because this showed great underlying fruit but the moldy cardboard smell just kept gaining stronger and stronger.

Tasted single blind in 1972-1992 flight. Big fruit with some background spice, much of it from oak. Everything centered on Good (but simple) ripe black fruit and oak spice, this seemed far less interesting than most other vintages tasted tonight, with less balance or nuance.

Tasted single blind in 1972-1992 flight. Quite austere with too much acid for the fruit and other flavor elements. Tannins dominate on finish.

Tasted single blind in 1972-1992 flight. Nose of black cherry, black current, mint and tobacco, with a floral hint. Similar flavor profile with dense and pwerful fruit balanced with broad tannins and very good acidity. This is incredibly balanced, aging nicely with lots of go-forward potential. Big fruit, but not at all overwhelming, giving it a bit more of Bordeaux character and texture than most California Cabernet blends. My Wine of the Flight, I preferred this to most others in the group tonight. Fascinated contrast with the 1991 in the next glass.

Tasted single blind in 1972-1992 flight. Aromas of black cherry, plum, cedar and green pepper. Ripe, fat fruit on palate, very opulent and rich, far more what you expect from a top California Cabernet-based wine than the 1990 in the next glass (which seemed almost more Bordeaux-like). Good textures and flavors from start-to-finish, I just found the fruit fatter and more flabby than this wine in other more balanced vintages. Group Wine of the Flight, but in the middle of 7 wines for me.

Tasted single blind in 1972-1992 flight. Black cherry and blackberry on nose. Same fruit on palate, very big, ripe, and primary, well situated in front of powerful and bold tannins. overall well structured for a long-term cellar hold.

Tasted single blind in 1993-2003 flight. Big dark fruit with some interesting earthy and green pepper notes. Similar flavor profile with lots of acidity and tannins, perhaps obscuring the fruit a bit today. I preferred this well structured wine to others in the group tonight.

Tasted single blind in 1993-2003 flight.Great aromas of spice, black cherry, kirsch and cedar. Nice fruit from beginning-to-end with great structure in excellent balance with the fruit. Just trace hints of secondary character starting to emerge, this seemed like a wine with significant potential. My Wine of the Flight, the group's wine of the flight.

Tasted single blind in 1993-2003 flight. Big fruit, showed a more rsutic character on nose than most other vintages.Lots of structure throughout, mostly tannin. Showed more of its Petit Verdot than other vintages. Needs time to soften.

Tasted single blind in 1993-2003 flight. Lots of oak, chocolate, vanilla and ripe fruit coming through on nose. started seeming more "modern" styled than the older vintages, making it easier for some people to enjoy, less interesting to me. black fruit and oak are very nice and enjoyable, providing easy pleasure, but little nuance or depth tonight.

Tasted single blind in 1993-2003 flight. Simple black fruit and spice. Moderate length, just moderately interesting.

Powerful blackberry, black cherry, red cherry on nose with some mint and cassis, then spice in background. Lush and dense fruit on palate with powerful, elegant tannins and vibrant acidity. Just one step behind the 1994 in this flight, but perhaps with greater long-term potential, this is another vintage of Monte Bello hat has something for everybody. I would expect this to reach its full potential somewhere between 2020 and 2035.

Tasted single blind in 1993-2003 flight. Jammy on nose and palate, tough to find this interesting in the company of these other wonderful, more elegant vintages.