Blair Campomizzi

9.3

A favorite of mine. Fruit forward with easy going plum, black cherry and blueberry supported with the standard Caymus vanilla back. — 5 years ago

with Marilea and Arthur

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

After a long week of heavy Napa & Bordeaux Cabernet tastings, I need my, baby back...baby back, BSR 375ml! Ahhhh! 🍾🥂 — 7 years ago

Cameron Etezadi

9.5

Just beginning to get to the drinkable age with tannins starting to soften and mellow. The wine is still quite rigid though the balance has come back into play. BlackBerry and plums finish with green bell peppers and spicy peppercorns. Five more years and it’ll be great. — 7 years ago

with Eric

Rupesh Parikh

9.2

What a great cab; structured yet fruity; minimum tanins in the back end; loved it — 8 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.3

This wine had some tobacco and earth FUNK after it was opened up. The herbaceous and tobacco ash note on the nose was almost identical to the 1980 Beringer State Lane cab. This did blow off after an hour, but the wine was less fruit than I thought it would have been. Lots of dark figgy jam. Tobacco and cigar box. I'm sure the fruit came back after I left, but this would have been 2 hours after opening and just didn't have the time to see this one though, hence the "NR" rating. Impressed by this wine, and probably one of the older Monte Bello wines I've been able to drink. — 8 years ago

with Benjamin

Patrick Derdeyn

9.3

I kept coming back to this wine. Usually stands out in a lineup like this because it's a BDB, but tonight it fits right in and is drinking beautifully. The best Comtes I've had to date, I need to find some of these with more age. — 9 years ago

Kyle Doucet-Walter

9.1

After 2 hour decant still kind of smelled like a bag of balloons. Put it back in the bottle and on day 2 it's singing. Woodsy black cherry, black tea, baking spices and some of that classic tar thing. — 10 years ago

Michael Mathews

9.1

At Redstone w/Shelly. Just back from Orlando w/Rettke. #pro — 10 years ago

with Rick, Jeff and 2 others

Tom Riley

9.2

Twelve years in and this wine is so damn perky. Let me get back to you in another hour. Maybe it will be a tad less exuberant and a bit more relaxed. No matter what happens it's still gonna be delicious. These folks are so delightfully reliable. 13.0 abv — 11 years ago

Cathrine Todd

10

2000 Cheval Blanc with a blend of almost 50:50 Merlot & Cabernet Franc, even though some reports say 53:47 dominate Merlot (not all CB are dominate CF). Tasted with 03, 05, 05 and I had this vintage a few years back, and I must say the tannins have come a long way- lush, almost melts into the wine. Explosion of blueberry and cassis with tarragon, smoked meats, and bark. Even though it is such a pleasure now I have a feeling it has a lot more to give. — 11 years ago

Steven

9.1

After a long day at the mall with the wifey I deserve a nice,jammy, fruit forward wine with notes that take you back to the Napa vineyards. Not to mention more 1on1 time with my queen. I’m truly blessed. Oh yeah, this wine is a winner. Definitely will add to the list of favs. — 6 years ago

Bill Bender

9.6

3 hour Audoze followed by a 2 hour decant and poured back in the bottle for dinner. This was extraordinary! Every bit as impressive as the ‘01 and ‘02. Robust blackberries, graphite, a smooth yet substantial mouthfeel and a sensational lingering finish. I recall reading a review of the Shafer HSS that descried the wine as “an elegant sledgehammer”....a perfectly succinct and apt description — 7 years ago

Geoff Troup

Sales Eder Brothers, Cellar Fine Wines

9.0

The most generously fruity of Ridge Zins. Black berry and stewed fruit in the front, young and opulent at first compared to their other wines. More resolved and firm in the back with a near perfect juxtaposition of acidity and tannin. White pepper in the finish. A bit hot and jumpy at this time. Great potential but needs some softening time still. — 8 years ago

Michael Mcdermott

9.6

Opened 1998when power went back on in Sonoma! Wow this was solid. Well kept with mid neck ullage, dark plum no brick colors of oxidation. As you would expect a earthy woody old Bordeaux nose, soft tannins but still strong 19 years on. After an hour open and decanted this was wonderful. — 8 years ago

Carl Fischer

9.4

Back upstate and starting with a quick split and caviar to get things back on track. The softest bubbles, brioche, yeasty, toasted almonds. Yum. Great balance to the brine. Christmas Carols have switched to George Michael. Can this year please end already?!?!? — 9 years ago

Charlie Tapp

9.7

Where to begin. We ordered a bottle of 1982 Heitz Bella Oaks, which was corked. It was also their only bottle. We went back to the well and decided on this '83 Dunn HM, and we're not disappointed. All of the red fruit and cedar you expect, but tons of mint and cocoa as well. Really solid bottle. One of my top 5. — 9 years ago

Allison Muma

9.2

Loved this Zin. Hubby and I drank the bottle in one sitting. — 10 years ago

Matthew Denci

9.3

Lovely, reserved wine. blackberry and dark fruit nose, and then nice and round in the mouth with great acidity. Graphite and minerals in the back of the throat smooth on the way down. Elegant. — 10 years ago

Francis Plante

9.4

Wow - you know I had my biggest wine disappointment with a 1998 Beaucastel and this 2005 brings me back on why i pay so much for Grenache. It was an amazing experience and it is still so very young. I unfortunately broke my decanter with this wine but it was worth it. I am glad i still have 2 in my cellar. See you in 6 years brother. — 11 years ago

Austin Ferrari

Wine Director Hillside Supper Club

9.6

Real wine! Lapierre takes me back to the chez days! — 11 years ago

with Aran

Stuart Scheff

9.1

Interesting with a bitter back end — 6 years ago

Ron Lear

9.1

Spectacular fruity back finish with lovely tannins. Soft and velvety throughout! — 7 years ago

MaJ CappS

8.9

¡Feliz día de los muertos!
Time to scare the dead back to the beyond.
A wine from gnarled Vince’s should do the trick.
Smells of gun powder tea.
decanted for 4 hours, and the fruit is lush with dark ripened berries, and heavy handed spices. the burn will not blow off so one must integrate it into the tasting. High octane.
Expensive for a Zin, yet so well crafted, as we know Turley does.
The lingering acids seething with the alcohol burn. Enjoyable still.
— 7 years ago

Steve Haro

9.5

Hints of menthol and eucalyptus on the nose. Loads of anise and black tea flavors with portobello and grilled game. Fruit flavors taking a back seat to earth but wow, does it have life. Forrest floor and tobacco on the finish. — 8 years ago

James Cahill

9.7

15 Vintages of Montrose dinner. Herve Bertrand flew in from the Chateau for this dinner and all wines came directly from the Chateau cellar except the 1989. A phenomenal dinner with some great back stories about the various vintages by Mr. Bertrand. Served in 5 flights: '12, '08, '95 / '10, '09, '03 / '05, '90, '89, '76, / '00, '86, '85 / '98, '82, and ''70. Food and service at Ripple was off the charts good. If you enjoy Bordeaux from the Medoc, St. Estephe then Chateau Montrose deserves a spot on your cellar. — 9 years ago

Katherine Morris

8.9

Strong acidity but excellent body. Complex notes off the palate. Cherry off the back of the tongue. Great with steak. — 9 years ago

Nate Baker

9.1

Damn good. Heavy, sweet on the back end. Pretty awesome. — 10 years ago

Thomas Hughes

9.5

I was disappointed with my last Caymus Special Selection vintage, but this beauty brought me back to a bottle that won Wine Spectator's #1 Wine of the Year ... Twice!! Incredible fruit and balance. This can be cellared and enjoyed for years to come. Cheers!! — 11 years ago

Chris Danner

9.0

loving the tapas at this place. we feel like we are back in madrid. the shafer is solid. — 11 years ago

with Cortney

Jon Simpson

9.2

Great tastes of plum, cherry, and spice! — 12 years ago