Peter Heyboer

9.7

This wine is exactly what I wanted. I knew it would be good after touring the winery and hearing the history but this wine delivers. Citrus/lychee/ floral aroma and flavor. Everybody should drink this wine even if they're not the biggest chardonnay fans. — 7 months ago

with Matthew, Ethan and 2 others

Andrea Watt

9.0

honeydew, lime, kiwi, and white peach. Light and tropical with good acidity. My husband liked this one too, which usually translates to crowd pleasing. — a year ago

Shay A

9.4

One of the better older Bordeaux I’ve had in quite some time. Absolutely at peak with so many layers. It outshined an ‘03 Grand Puy Lacoste (which showed thin), ‘03 Montelena (sadly corked), and an ‘03 BV Georges de LaTour (rich/sweet).

Absolutely on fire from pop, this 20yr old left bank Bordeaux showed none of the overripe/too hot characteristics of the vintage. Deep purple/black in the glass with no bricking. Full-bodied. Mocha, truffle, roasted blackberries and raspberries, graphite on the nose. Ripe (but not overly so) dark berries, plum, cassis with vanilla pipe tobacco and even some iron. Still a good bit of tannin on the finish. This shows as a “modern” style due to the warmth, but balanced. Wish I had more. Pop the corks and enjoy! — 2 years ago

Shengli Hu

9.0

Fresh plum, juicy raspberry and strawberry, licorice, and red flowers. A hint of sweet spices from neutral oak. Moderate plus acid, medium (minus) smooth tannins, full body. — 7 years ago

Laura Purdy

9.2

Needed a good hour plus decant. Big oaky flavor with a bit of vanilla on the finish.

Happy NYE! — 7 years ago

James Webb

9.0

Dark fruit. Sour cherry. Brackish water. Forest floor. Maduro wrapper. Blistered shishito. Palette of dark and sour cherry. Strong acid that guides you to the heavy tannic structure that awaits. Fruit is still holding on to provide some balance. But slightly off kilter (past prime?) to be considered a truly great Montelena. — 8 years ago

Jyoti Kataria

9.9

It was perfect as an after dinner drink. Paired it with Flan. The 1994 vintage blew us away. — 8 years ago

Conrad Green

9.6

Plush and plummy. Dark fruit. Rich and lucid with hints of iodine and dried herbs. Gorgeous stuff. Very pure — 8 months ago

with BOT, Jean-Francois and 2 others

Shay A

9.2

One of the bottles I provided for a co-hosting with Mark at the City Club wine group.

Always a treat to open a birth year wine. I had this last year and this bottle seemed to have more stuffing. It was less muddled/clay driven and more distinctly black fruit and spice heavy. Next to a ‘79 Montelena, it wasn’t as full-bodied, but it certainly had more tannin. The tannic finish was quite pronounced and bolstered throughout the lunch. Mid-palate was herbal and black currant with faint tart red fruit and tobacco. Fun to drink. — 2 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.4

Still dark and opaque. Rich fruit nose. Notes of black cherry, mocha, mahogany and a hint of espresso. Rich and silky in the mouth. Long finish. A nice contrast to the Montelena Cab. My last bottle unfortunately. — 5 years ago

Rick Riddle

9.4

They didn’t rest on their laurels after the Judgement of Paris! Chateau Montelena’s Calistoga Zinfandel is overloaded with notes of Red Cherries with an aged bourbon finish. Light bodied, garnet red with minimal tannins, excellent alone or with a bit of truffle salted mozzarella. — 7 years ago

with Meagan

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Saw an ‘06 on a wine list and grabbed this 12 year-old beauty. Mike Grgich 1st gained international recognition at the celebrated "Paris Tasting" of '76 where a panel of eminent French judges were shocked they chose Mike’s '73 Montelena Chard as the finest white wine in the world! Elegant, rich berry fruit aromas, licorice notes. On the palate blackberry & cherry, bits of cacao and cinnamon, soft fine tannins. Lingering finish ending with soft oaky notes. Opened quickly and drank beautifully. — 7 years ago

B

10

Magnum 1997 Harlan CS. Dinner at Fstead. Drank after the '91 Chateau Montelena out of magnum. — 8 years ago

Monique Gillioen

9.1

Old Head with Charles & Helena — 9 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2019 vintage. From a 375 ml format. Amongst what passes for the ne plus ultra in Napa cabbage these days. Rich. Overtly sumptuous. Modicum of umami on the finish. Restrained/polite company version of a fruit bomb. Too extracted/manipulated without representative tannins for this old-school Dunn/Diamond Creek/Mayacamas/Montelena guy but still verry nice for this style. Dunno where this settles in twenty years but that's someone else's problem down the road. 7.7.24. — 10 months ago

Sara Hallihan

9.0

12 year anniversary, delightful with steak, I’m sure would last 12 more years. — 4 years ago

Martin Sher

9.2

Excellent - slightly brooding — 6 years ago

Laura Purdy

9.3

This is the most tropical Riesling ever. So. Much. Pineapple. Wow! — 7 years ago

Joe Kaiser

9.2

Starting line up this evening. Just beginning to decant. All 2002's Araujo Eisele Vineyard, Bryant Family Vineyard, Chateau Montelena Cab, Diamond Creek, Grace Family Vineyard, Ramey Jericho Canyon & Rubicon Estate & maybe a surprise — 8 years ago

with bill

Young Choi

9.1

wow what a big zin! even at 13 years! lovely notes of berries and strong pepperiness. would love to try this again in 5 years! — 8 years ago