My daughter turns 40 today (that's when you know you're getting old 😁). To celebrate, we opened a couple of '83s last night.
This SCM is the declassified Monte Bello from '83. The color is still deep with no lightening at the edges. A beast in it's youth, the tannins are fully resolved now. There's not a lot of fruit remaining, but some plum and currant show through along with some pleasant cedary flavors. The finish is quite nice, silky smooth over the palate and long lasting.
I still have a few more bottles of this, including a 5 liter that should make it to her 50th!
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OK, this isn’t Monte Bello, but this is showing just lovely for 34. Red fruits, spice and bright acids, resolved tannins, fragrant nose with cedar and forest floor. I’ve had this for years and “almost” opened several times, glad I finally did, overachiever. A-
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Mature Ridge among friends (North Square, NYC): Up against a tough crowd of '85 & '96 Ridge Monte Bello, this sure held its own while easily showing its under-card position. A nose of pretty red fruits and spring flowers, palate shows red currants and plum. Perfectly matured and maybe just a nitch below on the lively fruit especially againstthe '85 Monte Bello, this was no slouch. More feminine and along on its apparent road of maturity. Fully resolved tannins and very nice balance with some notes of cedar, mushroom and earth present. While not as 'wow',, quite admirable in its own right.
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Medium-bricked, still had a hint of sour cherry fruit flavor. Mostly earth, moss, dirt and a little charcoal. Clearly well past its prime but not vinegar yet!
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As noted on the back label, this was a declassified Monte Bello. Nose - green bamboo stalk and smooth black currant. Gritty, char, mature cedar, fully mature cherry-ish fruit, hint of tobacco. Fairly simple, but quite nice.
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7/9/2023 - scottj Likes this wine:
My daughter turns 40 today (that's when you know you're getting old 😁). To celebrate, we opened a couple of '83s last night.
This SCM is the declassified Monte Bello from '83. The color is still deep with no lightening at the edges. A beast in it's youth, the tannins are fully resolved now. There's not a lot of fruit remaining, but some plum and currant show through along with some pleasant cedary flavors. The finish is quite nice, silky smooth over the palate and long lasting.
I still have a few more bottles of this, including a 5 liter that should make it to her 50th!
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7/30/2017 - DaleW wrote:
OK, this isn’t Monte Bello, but this is showing just lovely for 34. Red fruits, spice and bright acids, resolved tannins, fragrant nose with cedar and forest floor. I’ve had this for years and “almost” opened several times, glad I finally did, overachiever. A-
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8/1/2016 - King Cab wrote: 91 Points
Mature Ridge among friends (North Square, NYC): Up against a tough crowd of '85 & '96 Ridge Monte Bello, this sure held its own while easily showing its under-card position.
A nose of pretty red fruits and spring flowers, palate shows red currants and plum. Perfectly matured and maybe just a nitch below on the lively fruit especially againstthe '85 Monte Bello, this was no slouch. More feminine and along on its apparent road of maturity. Fully resolved tannins and very nice balance with some notes of cedar, mushroom and earth present. While not as 'wow',, quite admirable in its own right.
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4/16/2014 - aaronfeigin wrote:
Medium-bricked, still had a hint of sour cherry fruit flavor. Mostly earth, moss, dirt and a little charcoal. Clearly well past its prime but not vinegar yet!
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6/20/2010 - yhn wrote: 90 Points
As noted on the back label, this was a declassified Monte Bello.
Nose - green bamboo stalk and smooth black currant.
Gritty, char, mature cedar, fully mature cherry-ish fruit, hint of tobacco. Fairly simple, but quite nice.
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