April 20, 2024 - Rather disappointing. It has peaked some years ago. Drink very soon. Probably a bad bottle?
March 19, 2024 - Super young, even too tight for my tastes on day 2. Hold
December 3, 2023 - Characterful, similar in profile to the 1992 Monte Bello with black and red fruit, coffee, a little American oak which adds rather than detracts to its style. Fullish, good acid - well built. Drinking well now with a long life ahead. 94/95
November 12, 2023 - Great wine. Decanted 3 hours. Similar to my last tasting with notes of raspberry, cherry, mocha, spice, nicely balanced with firm tannins. Long satisfying finish. Paired with grilled veal chops.
September 22, 2023 - wow wow wow!!... on a fishing trip, right after having an stellar bottle of 1999 Calera Reed Vineyard pinot, this came next (with basically only 20 minutes of decanting)... and tho I gave the Calera a 94 pt rating, this topped it by a hair... to my friend (who had been amazed by the pinot) this topped it easily... this had boldness but with good lift, it felt like it would be at peak in like ten years and yet it wasn't over the top in any way... felt like i absorbed it into the flesh in my mouth rather than drank it down, nice fruit, some umami (went well w/our small loin lamb chops), moderate acidity, and a hint of spice (cinnamon'ish?)... WOW
September 5, 2023 - From magnum. Decanted 2hr.
Last time I tried this one was 5years ago.
Very deep crimson color. Doesn’t show age.
Very Intense wonderful nose. Cassis liqueur, blue Berry, cedar, cigar aromas.
Full body, still quite tannic, acidity still prominent. Still very young. Very fruity flavours similar to the nose with some licorice.
Very nice wine, still very young for my taste.
Would be perfect in 10 years.
June 24, 2023 - This definitely has the typical Monte Bello character. Would not have wanted to wait any longer. Still had fruit (more cooked than fresh). Tannins have dissipated, acid has softened. Enjoyable ( primarily because of our association w/ MB) but not an outstanding bottle. We finished, the next night, what little was left. Consistent experience.
April 20, 2023 - Tasted double blind from a small capped bottle (full bottles split for a zoom tasting). By the time I got to this others had already figured out that this was Monte Bello. With some air this is finally coming around. Was dumb for a while when poured. Very dark and wild and somewhat Brutish, like the 02 Martha’s. Dark and jammy and wild and brambly - spicy and berried a bit savage with hints of meat and blood. Palate enters a bit dilute compared to the 2020 - dark and murky. Mid palate is a bit coarse and blockish - Gets very spicy with more grip into the finish. A good but not great MB. Nose: 5-5.5/6, Palate - 4.5/6, Finish - 5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1/2 = 15.5-16/20.
Day 2: Dark dusty and brutish. This really reminds me of 02 Martha’s
February 9, 2023 - This wine continues to drink well and is a bit less austere than my last tasting in 2019. Notes of raspberry, mocha, nicely balanced with firm tannins. I expect continued evolution over the nexts 10+ years.
December 10, 2022 - Very disappointing. Paid 586 cad for this. Bitter finish with little fruit. i’ve had so many wonderful experiences of this wine aged. This one did not live up to that at all. Maybe a poor vintage?