February 8, 2023 - Napa 2023: the quieter version; 2/6/2023-2/11/2023 (Napa/Sonoma California): Again this is more plushy in the style. Interestingly enough there’s a bit of green and a bit less ripe in style. Oldest vines at the highest section of the Monte Bello vineyard. Mostly this goes into the Monte Bello blend itself but sometimes a bit gets bottled separately. Planted in ‘75. Less of the new oak here which is interesting.
September 9, 2021 - Over oaked and acid plus, yet good quite together and solid wine.
January 2, 2021 - This wine is best as a food wine, for its vibrant acidity. Paired well both with a NY strip and a Turkish muhammara.
Garnet red. Smells of figs, kumquat, and cumin. Tastes of blackberry and spice. Lovely, and likely at its peak now.
March 8, 2020 - Tapped the bottle with Coravin, a bottle brought back from the winery some 5-6 years ago. Soft red raspberry notes , a fair amount of oak. Soft fine tannin with fruit and good acidity to balance. Still, a lot of oak on the palate , a touch too much maybe. A tad linear but in a very good drinking window now. Dry but not drying impression on the finish. 89-90p
November 3, 2019 - A standout while tasting at the Lytton Springs location. To me this was better than the 2016 Klein and Estate cabs that were poured. Elegant, restrained, beautifully textured with medium leathery tannin, excellent acid, pure cedar for days, and sitting right on the boundary of what should be a long maturity. No rush, but this is drinking beautifully now. $75.
September 22, 2019 - Enjoyed the nose, but finish was was too short.
September 5, 2019 - Intensely aromatic with typical Montebello character. Flit, smoke, and hint of dill all there. Palate is red fruited, leaning towards rhubarb and a bit tart. Bitter and lean on the finish. I suspect this will continue to improve. Enjoyable now but still need to open and fan out a bit on the palate.
January 28, 2019 - Pnp through a Vinturi aerator...could have used a bit of a decant to give it more air. Still opened up fairly well with swirling as its jamminess became more exposed. Not as deep in color as I would have expected for a merlot. A bit thin on the palate as well. The finish was good, not great. Not getting some of the high reviews here. Not as unctuous as I would have expected but a nice quaff none the less.
October 22, 2018 - Beautiful Monte Bello nose of dark berries and brambles. Boysenberry, plums and vanilla on palate. Tannins very balanced at this point. Great with baked ziti! California merlot at its best!
February 14, 2018 - For valentine dinner - a pre-prepared meal.
Nice wine, decanted 30 minutes before serving - and it probably needed more time than that.
Jane had a filet for her meal, and felt the wine worked well with it.
I had duck breast ramen, and wasn't happy with the wine pairing, which was disappointing but the pairing may be my fault more than the wine's.