Geoffrey Green

9.6

Pristine cork, decanted for 5 hours: still balanced, complex, and harmonious as a 20 year old in a challenging vintage. Fruit still lively, with mellow tannins—this still has a few years left. Came out best for me in an evening of great old wines: ‘98 Corison, ‘98 Montelena Estate, plus de la Tour ‘99. Never underestimate the consistency of a great estate, year after year. Glad I have another bottle or two. — 5 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 — 7 years ago

with bill

Chuy Galvan

Sommelier & Educator Titan Wines

9.0

Tastes like aged Montelena, hot Vintage which shows in the cherry reduction character, little mint and chocolate. Solid. — 7 years ago

Anthony Biagi

Winemaker Hourglass, Owner Patria

9.4

Wow In a flight of chateau montelena and caymus 85s this drop kicked them out of the room. Hints of Brett but adds to the complexity of black olive, camphor, Dried fruits and herbs. Patrick Campbell made so many great wines and does not get enough credit this wine sings, bravo. — 8 years ago

Skip Smyser

9.4

Having lunch at Chateau Montelena . They surprised us with this treasure🍷🍷🍷 — 8 years ago

Jennifer Chambers

9.0

Serve cold pool-side with favorite friends. Do not waste on sub-par acquaintance. — 8 years ago

Richard Toscan

9.8

This '12 is reminiscent of those fine Cal Chardonnays from the early '80s (Ch. Montelena among them), distinctly French in style. — 9 years ago

Andrew Berge

9.0

One and only. A 15 min wine. — 9 years ago

Vinny Eng

10

'96 Chateau Montelena 'St. Vincent' - primitivo, zin, sangiovese @StVincentSF courtesy of @daniel_petroski. Blessed are we, Cali. — 10 years ago

with David, Jasmine and 3 others

Collin-Peter Casey

Northern California Sales Manager Weygandt-Metzler Importing

9.1

It's the "Silverado" bottling. This is the 89, 90 and 91 vintages. It's good. — 10 years ago

Patrice Conxicoeur

9.5

Magnum of 2009. Round, almost sweet, still lots of fruits. Long and extremely good. Loved it. — 6 years ago

Dawn E.

9.0

Why is it snowing in Iowa? I have a Robin at my Bird feeder! I have rated this previously...love this Chardonnay...Grgich the name behind Chateau Montelena' s Judgement of Paris win! Cheers everyone and once again I love my Sunday night (Post weekend to work) wine! — 6 years ago

Nick Apone

9.0

1983 vintage. — 7 years ago

David L

9.5

13' Edge Hill Bacigalupi Chardonnay. @Martin G Rivard Thank you for this must have bottle of wine. This 4 acres made up 40% of the Château Montelena 1973 chard. Decant this for 1 hour and enjoy. Wait patiently for 2/3 years. — 8 years ago

Cory Fierro

9.1

Gifted a taste by a friend. Trying this immediately after the Chateau Montelena shows the differences between Calistoga and Oak Knoll, with this being more vegetal and "harder" on the nose. There's less sweetness and more of a ripe character, and that transfers onto the palate as well, with a juicy bell pepper and underripe raspberry quality showing forth. It's a beautiful wine made in a masculine cabernet style. — 8 years ago

with Liz

Mar

9.0

Hard to track down. Smokey and soft. — 9 years ago

Jeffrey Lew

9.5

Wow. Cork went pewf on exit like a grenade. Initial nose of stewed cherry, and camphor gave way to a wonderful taste of dark fruit, charcoal and some tertiary flavors. Citrus, lead and some tar...candied nuts... Awesome stuff. Looks 20yrs younger. Beat out the Lynch Bages tonight. — 9 years ago

Aaron Means

9.1

Focused and balanced fruit to oak treatment. Decent length but lacking compared to the Montelena tasted beside it. — 10 years ago

Mike Mighetto Hoefling

9.0

Reminds me of Montelena Chard — 10 years ago

with Rebecca

Jay Hamilton

10

I wish they came in bigger bottles. Good to pull out at parties — 11 years ago

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. — 6 years ago

Ethan Sufian

9.5

Cork broke. Fruit forward then grew tart over an hour then long and smooth — 7 years ago

B

10

Magnum 1997 Harlan CS. Dinner at Fstead. Drank after the '91 Chateau Montelena out of magnum. — 7 years ago

Robert Cunningham

Wine Educator DeVinimus, Wine Workshop

9.1

Lovely spicy classic Zin. — 8 years ago

Lyn Farmer

9.2

The true commemorative bottling, 2013 was 40 years after the 1973 Chateau Montelena made by Mike Grgich that swept the "Judgement of Paris".this wine has great balance with just enough tropical fruit to be interesting. Lots of Meursault-like character here — 8 years ago

Christopher McCurdy

9.8

The wine of the night! Head to head with five other high end 2005 Cabernet Sauvignons! Absolutely beautiful expression of CS. Went with everything we ate and was the clear winner in a blind tasting with Chateau Montelena, Robert Mondavi Oakville (finished second), Regusci Angelo's Vineyard, Beringer Private Reserve, and Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste. Not too often that a group can taste this many wines blind and choose a clear winner! Way to go David Ramey, again!! — 8 years ago

Charles Antin

Senior Wine Specialist/Auctioneer Zachys

9.3

Also fun--this vineyard goes into Montelena Chardonnay, tasted a few days ago. Always fun to see different expressions of same grapes. — 9 years ago

Monica Egozi

9.1

Love the wine, love the movie — 9 years ago

Nola Pirruccello

9.1

Summer delish! — 10 years ago

Bill Bender

9.1

3 years since my last bottle and some time has transformed this wine from an impenetrable black beast in to a refined beauty. A eucalyptus nose like an older Montelena and a juicy Beyoncé backside. — 10 years ago