April 6, 2024 - 13.3% ABV, 72% cab, 28% Merlot.
Summer bing cherries, cinnamon, mushroom. Complex and intense, shapeshifting on each sip. Some rose florals, then thyme savoriness, then a kick of cherry acidity, and on it goes. There is weight in the palate and a delicious umami factor to the wine. 4 hours open, it had a nearly candied cherry finish which wasn’t my favorite. Revisiting 12 hours in, it’s gone more tertiary on the finish and very enjoyable. Still needs time I expect or a long decant.
Bought off auction, brought back to Monte Bello to enjoy it where it was grown & made.
February 12, 2024 - Deep ruby color. Nose of blackberry syrup, floral notes, and a touch of mountain herb. Medium bodied on the palate with very good presence and length.
December 3, 2023 - Obviously very young; will it develop into a more classically-styled Monte Bello with age? Oaky, jammy now - unlike the others on show.
December 2, 2023 - As a long time MB collector and fanatic, I confess this was not one of my favorite bottles and vintages. It featured more California-typical cassis than normal, and less MB-typical green, lean, eucalyptus. It's a good wine for sure, but not a great MB. Fans of Napa cab might actually prefer this vintage.
November 23, 2023 - Thanksgiving Wimps 2023 - Alfred Stieglitz Table (La Trompette): Yum. More ready to drink than the 10 served alongside it, more earthy notes, but still so much substance and class to it. No rush to drink but if you've got them you should feel pretty good about that.
October 8, 2023 - Double decanted about 3 hours before drinking. At age 15 this still has a long way to go. Tasted blind with regular wine group, a couple guessed BdM. There was a slight funk/brett - just enough to throw you off. Terrific wine.
September 3, 2023 - Terrific but still very tight and young. Nose still shows the American oak with a stroll dill notes mixed with typical nack SCM fruits. Palate is delicious, fine, with black fruits and toacco notes. Though tannins are in check oak influence still sticks out. Lengthy finish. Great stuff. Just not quite ready yet.
June 30, 2023 - A Ridge Tahoe Weekend; 6/29/2023-7/2/2023 (Edgewood Resort): One of my favorite years for Cali cabs and this fit right in with that. It is of course very young. Lots of blackberries and brambles. There’s a flavor that I can’t quite place that’s like some type of wild grass maybe. This was double decanted before pouring and it was maybe more open than either of the others right in the beginning but it hasn’t had time to evolve quite the same way the ‘99 has and it surpassed it.
June 18, 2023 - PnP. Medium deep red. Initially this had a green olive and weedy nose and was rather narrow on the palate. However, after an hour or so of air the fruit just took over and the wine softened dramatically and integrated the tannins and herbal character in a seamless manner. I expect will be even better tomorrow.
June 18, 2023 - Expressive nose with lifted notes of green olive and tea leaves. Blue fruit, volcanic ash, mouth filling with moderate tannin and hints of cedar wood. Still plenty of acidity. Really great right now.