1/13/2020 - djreistr Likes this wine:

This was excellent. I’d say 93+. Still loads of fruit. Tannins mellow. A really nice cab. It is drinking great right now, but no hurry to drink. Very fresh and feels like years left.

11/25/2018 - djreistr Likes this wine:

Smooth, balanced, fruity. No alcohol heat. Medium long finish. Plenty of life left.

10/4/2018 - djreistr wrote:

Dark ruby. Big legs. Attractive nose of dark fruits, peppery spices. Taste matched. Nice texture. Mellow tannins. Decent length. Very nice.

12/10/2017 - djreistr Likes this wine:

I have liked this wine since I discovered it due to the 2007 being misdelivered to me on an internet order. Having this 2011 with pizza (alone, sadly), I popped and poured. When opened it had a fantastic nose of rich fruit and minerals. On the palette, it was initially starkly smoky / ashy. When that burned off, it was attractively earthy fruit - grapes, red berry, even leathery - with nice structure and a little length. This is one of the best bottles of Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva I have had.

5/27/2016 - djreistr Likes this wine:

This wine is improving w age. Strong fruity bouquet and it triggers a palette of tastes throughout your mouth. The finish hangs there forever. Really good.

1/4/2016 - djreistr wrote:

I've had two bottles of this wine, (one remaining) and I can't align my tastes with the reviews. I find the wine sharply alcoholic with thin fruit on both the nose and the palette. It is saved only by having, despite its major flaws, the mineral, flinty, identifiable taste of a CDP, which even the mere suggestion of can make me happy.

1/1/2016 - djreistr wrote:

This was our last bottle purchased from the winery in 2007, which we were waiting to drink. Our other bottles were very good, and previously we liked the Reverie Cab Francs better than their Cab Suavs in general. This wine looked fine in the glass, but had something a little off in the nose. (a touch corked?) The palette, while still showing plenty of fruit, had a hint of vegetable green notes, that didn't disappear while we drank the bottle. Tannins were very light or gone, and added no interest. If this bottle was not subtlely defective, this wine is past its prime and on the downside.

1/1/2016 - djreistr wrote:

We drink infinitely more reds than whites. But bought this chard when wine retailer I respect recommended it. Light, teal tinged color with a high energy nose, almost sparkling, but without alcohol overtones. No oak I could smell or taste. A nice, balanced, fruit and mineral, kind of 'see-thru' pastel pallette. You'll like this wine.

1/1/2016 - djreistr wrote:

I am a sucker for powerful, straight-down-the-middle cabernets like this one. Dark purple, completely opaque. Nice fruit and woody aromas, with a punch in the nose palette bursting with fruit, earthy notes and tannins. A nice lingering finish. I like where this could go if it improves in the bottle, as expected.

12/29/2015 - djreistr wrote:

Better than CT reviews led me to expect. Color was lighter, more translucent than I wanted. But the aroma had plenty of fruit, and the taste had enough heft to be attractive. Weak tannins, and short finish, leave this wine as simply middling, but not unpleasant.

1/10/2016 - djreistr Likes this wine:

Our first 2010 Brunello. Couldn't wait any longer. Deep ruby in the glass. Decanted about 1/2 hr. Nose moved from minty to fruity to earthy. Palette was decidedly dark fruit, but with warm notes. Something a little sweet - but very attractive - in the long finish. A beautiful wine.

11/25/2015 - djreistr wrote:

This wine has been a terrific qpr for many recent vintages. 2014 is no exception. Pungent nose full of dark fruit that matches the palette. Nicely balanced, smooth, with decent length.

8/20/2015 - djreistr Likes this wine:

This wine is in its prime. No signs of aging as others have suggested. Gentle tannins for a cab. Luscious nose with the corresponding payoff on the palette. Tasty, long and smooth.

2/22/2013 - djreistr wrote:

flinty, terroir filled wine. Smoothed out and lost some of its sharp edges in the past year. Very enjoyable wine. My favorite Chateauneuf to date.

1/23/2013 - djreistr wrote:

Drank and served this as our "house wine" in 2009, and this was our last bottle. As with most previous, the color was medium to dark, the nose was fruity and pleasant. The taste was nicely balanced with dark fruit, pepper, spices, minerals and light tannins. Thoroughly enjoyable wine.

2/1/2013 - djreistr wrote:

Nice nose on opening. Fruity, yet balanced first sip. Wine deteriorated over the 1-1/2 hours we drank the bottle. Unpleasant edges of greens and earth developed and left me disappointed.

12/28/2012 - djreistr Likes this wine:

Decanted about 1 hour. Intense color. Heavy, dark, brooding nose, but with fruit. On drinking, tastes of dark fruit, leather and mellow spices echo through the mouth. Nice tannins and a decently long finish. A terrific wine. I bought a few more bottles after drinking our first.

12/3/2012 - djreistr wrote:

inviting nose. Dark fruit, leather on the palette. Smooth. medium length. IMHO, better than other higher rated vintages.

11/14/2012 - djreistr wrote:

Nice ruby color with an inviting, fruity nose. Taste of plums, red berries. Somewhat hollow on the palette. Little structure and little length. Much different than our last bottle 9 months ago.

11/7/2012 - djreistr wrote:

Dark, smooth, balanced, enjoyable.

8/7/2012 - djreistr wrote:

Immediately attractive aromas of plum, cinnamon, and damp forest. Less full bodied than many bordeaux, but nicely balanced taste with substantail tannins. Medium length finish. Enjoyable.

8/7/2012 - djreistr wrote:

opened about 1 hr before drinking. Initial nose was sharp. Settled into tones of spice, mulch and minerals. Medium bodied wine tasted of dark fruit but flinty, with an abbreviated finish.

6/20/2012 - djreistr wrote:

Showed well against a nice Napa cab (Clos du Val) we also had with our roast beef dinner. Light, balanced, smooth.

6/20/2012 - djreistr wrote:

last bottle. Really enjoyed this wine. Fresh aromas of fruit immediately upon pouring. Nicely balanced.

6/20/2012 - djreistr wrote:

Had to try one early. Rich aromas of spice and leather. A little let down on the palette. Sufficiently smooth with a finish just long enough to avoid disappointment. Not sorry I bought these. Good bordeaux value.

6/20/2012 - djreistr wrote:

I resisted opening my first bottle for some time now. Decanted for about an hour. This wine shouts "terroir". Nose and palette dominated by smoke and minerals. Looks and smells like the wine will challenge your mouth, but surprisingly smooth and pleasant to drink. A good amount of fruit and a long finish.

4/15/2012 - djreistr wrote:

This wine is still in its prime. Attractive spicy nose that fulfills its promise on tasting. Lush, fruity wine that nicely rounds the alcohol hit.

2/28/2012 - djreistr wrote:

Lush nose with fruit and earth. well balanced taste with a nice finish. Stood up nicely to a roast beef and spiced potato dinner. This wine is in its prime right now.

11/22/2011 - djreistr wrote:

Mot sure how to rate. I had a half case of these that we drank over the last 6 months. I bought for value and an initial impression that I could get along with NDA. This was astringent with way too many rough edges. Each bottle was less enjoyable than the prior, and I am glad we drank our last a few days ago. Not to indict this particular wine...I guess I just don't like Nero D'avola

11/15/2011 - djreistr wrote:

smooth for a chianti.

11/12/2011 - djreistr wrote:

Have enjoyed this wine more each of the 3 times I have tasted it.

11/28/2011 - djreistr wrote:

Opened and drank with dinner on impulse. Nose was immediately appealing and deep. Taste was fruity but not too bright, with a nice long finish. Glad I have a bottle remaining. Worthy of an occassion.

10/25/2011 - djreistr wrote:

Blind tasted with Robert Foley 08, O'shaughnessy MV 07, and Ladera 07. This was the least appreciated. Opened 1-1/2 hours before sampling. Initial nose was astringent and tight. Loosened up a little over dinner. Taste was fruity and complex, but alchohol and tannins leave wine too sharp at this point. Needs lots of time.

10/25/2011 - djreistr wrote:

initial burst of fruit, mint and spice htis you right after the pour, mellows over the next hour. spices dominate the taste. A surprisingly resilient mouthfeel, with a decently long finish. A very nice regular wine at under $15

10/25/2011 - djreistr wrote:

Tasted this wine in two separate blind tastings alongside highly rated napa cabs. I was hopeful, but it didn't stand up at all. It smelled of green vegetables and tasted similar. When we tasted what remained alongside a bottle of the 2008 they were comparable. We will finish the (2) bottles we have left, but that is it for Louis this year.......

10/25/2011 - djreistr wrote:

Lacking the strength and complexity I expect from an Amarone, but not unpleasant.

10/25/2011 - djreistr wrote:

Used two bottles of this wine in separate blind cab tastings we had recently. Both times it was well received. nose and taste were pleasant, but not bold. Quite smooth, but lacking a little in the finish.

10/25/2011 - djreistr wrote:

ezpected more with the Parker rating, but this was an excellent bottle, that dominated 3 other cabs in a blind tasting we arranged. Bright bouquet that kept changing on multiple approaches. Beautiful mouthfeel, but perhaps a bit too much oak and vanilla, which seemed to dominate and give it a bit of an "artificisal" taste. long finish. Glad I have another bottle; will wait a few years to resample.

10/25/2011 - djreistr wrote:

opened about 2 hours before tasted, but not decanted. nose was exceptional and balanced between fruit and earth tones. Taste was smooth, complex and long. this was the favorite at a 4-bottle cab tasting.