Deep purple/ruby color. Great nose with concentrated black fruit, blackberries, plums and black currants, with licorice and notes of chocolate, leather and floral. Rich, concentrated fruit in the flavor, black cherries and blackberries with some chocolate and hints of minerality in the finish. The 2009 Monte Bello definitely outshined the 2002 Verite La Muse drunk side by side. Nice structure and acidity, complex, great depth, very well balanced, full bodied and a long lingering finish. Delicious! Many years left in this bottle.
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Brought this to a family gathering and it was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Decanted for about an hour. Wonderful texture, drinking well now or of course could go longer
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(Ridge Monte Bello) Barrel sample, 1st assemblage - dark purple violet color; lovely berry, cassis, dill (American oak) nose; tight but hinting at plushness to come, cassis, tart berry, currant palate with depth; long finish 92-94 pts. (67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot; 13.1% alcohol) Components: Barrel sample - Cabernet Sauvignon from south slope, La Cuesta - opaque purple violet color; elegant cassis, menthol nose; American oak, tart cassis, cedar palate with firm tannins; medium-plus finish 92-94 pts. Barrel sample - Merlot from Avenue Block - dark purple violet color; reduction, rich berry, plum, toasty oak nose; quite lovely, tasty, tart plum, black fruit palate; medium finish 91-93+ pts. (so nice, I'm hopeful they'll bottle some by itself) Barrel sample - Petit Verdot from Olivos and Levassuer parcels - opaque purple violet color; lovely, herbaceous, pencil lead, asphalt nose; tight, concentrated, tart currant, red plum, pencil lead palate; medium-plus finish 91-93 pts. Barrel sample - Cabernet Franc (not in 1st assemblage for Monte Bello) - opaque dark scarlet color; ripe red berry, herbal, cherry, 80% cocoa dark chocolate nose; tart cassis, herbal palate with medium acidity; medium finish 89-91 pts.
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4/22/2024 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
Wines Before / At / After a Passover Seder (The Krengels - Bannockburn IL): Small glass from 375 ml bottle. Rich and ripe with plenty of black fruit. Very tasty, lacking the dimensions of the 2006 tasted next.
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2/9/2024 - mlawren1 wrote: 94 Points
Long and smooth with currants, blueberries, and strawberries. Finish is long and earthy.
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1/17/2024 - buckeye76 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Deep purple/ruby color. Great nose with concentrated black fruit, blackberries, plums and black currants, with licorice and notes of chocolate, leather and floral. Rich, concentrated fruit in the flavor, black cherries and blackberries with some chocolate and hints of minerality in the finish. The 2009 Monte Bello definitely outshined the 2002 Verite La Muse drunk side by side. Nice structure and acidity, complex, great depth, very well balanced, full bodied and a long lingering finish. Delicious! Many years left in this bottle.
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12/27/2023 - WineJ2019 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Brought this to a family gathering and it was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Decanted for about an hour. Wonderful texture, drinking well now or of course could go longer
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12/23/2023 - Norcal5 wrote:
Auction
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