Lewis Chester

9.6

Ridge Monte Bello 1991 vintage. Amazing nose - spicy, menthol note, crushed rock minerality, stewed plum, cedar and leather. Very complex. On the palate, medium body, medium acidity, medium minus chewy tannins. Good concentration and long, fine finish. Superb. Alongside the 2001, the best Monte Bello I have had. 25 years young. Will be good for at least another 10 years although clearly drinking at or near its peak now. — 10 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.4

1999 vintage. Medium garnet. Bright and clear. Medium plus intensity of aromas. Black fruits - blueberry and blackberry, mainly fresh. Hints of wood smoke and cinnamon from the oak. Some game and leather development. Hints of chocolate. On the palate, the wine has medium plus acidity, medium alcohol and medium fine-grained tannins, almost plush. The flavour intensity is on the medium plus side. Fruit flavours of blackberry, black currant and herbal savoury notes. Leather, tobacco and smoke. There's less depth of flavours than on the '07, and the finish is a tad shorter too. Very elegant. Less power than the '07. Very good, but lacks the concentration of some other Sass vintages. NB: after 2 hrs, this wine has changed. It's gained weight, roundness and complexity. It's now ahead of the 07. It's got a sweet long finish. Herbs and a medicinal note to the fore. — 11 years ago

Jeffrey Lew

9.9

Amazing concentration, deep dark and beautiful. Worth all the points it received. — 11 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.4

2004 vintage. Lunch with Gerard Basset at Hotel TerraVina. 1 hour decant. Dark ruby hue. Wonderful nose of leather, sweet spices, roasted meats, mulberry and blackberry, dark chocolate and licorice. Although developing still very fresh and youthful despite the obvious complexity of aromas. On the palette, the tannins hit you hard - grippy; high acidity that starts off quite searing but with air becomes rounder and attractive. Medium plus body and full concentration. Long finish. Gerard loved it and so did I! — 10 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.7

1986 Vintage. Butteaux. Dark lemon in colour. Very mature. Mushroom. Oxidative. Lanolin. Earthy undergrowth. Crushed nuts. Ripe baked apple and tarte tatin. Botrytis here. Minerality strong as wine develops in the glass. Dry with sweet impression. Like an old Chenin or Viura Rioja or old Riesling. Waxy and honey and savoury. Huge concentration. Full body. Great acidity keeps this wine powering on. Long finish. — 11 years ago

Adam Jesberger

9.8

Excellent bottle. The 01 is supposedly a better vintage but im not sure when it comes to this producer. Clear, day bright, garnet and orange brick like color, medium - concentration, orange/peach rim variation, slight sediment, low viscosity. Nose: sound, moderate intensity, stewed cherries/strawberries/raspberries, floral, spicy and lots of dill pickle and slight game. A mushroom note as well. Palate: dry, med- body, stewed plums over ripe cherries/strawberries, lilies, dill, vinegar, leather, button mushrooms, game, mulch with some cedar and coconut. Very complex. Med- tannins, medium alcohol, high acid, long finish. Between the 01 and the 98 its a tough choice of which one to put in the wine cooler to store. — 11 years ago

Philippe Dauguet

9.1

Joli caractère fumé en plus d'une belle acidité et d'une belle concentration — 10 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.5

2006 vintage. Deep ruby hue. This is a big wine. Pronounced aroma intensity. Roasted berries, smoke, ripe oak, vanilla. The wine is developing nicely. Full bodied and ripe plush tannins. Ripe plum, sweet spice, leather and some roasted meats. Some garrigue and herb. Alcohol is on medium plus side. Long complex finish. Very good concentration and depth of flavour. A really lovely wine and a star of the vintage for me. — 11 years ago

Swii Yii Lim

9.5

Like an older version of the 2004 I tried in April. Concentrated coffee, milk chocolate and smoky fruit, with hints of struck match minerality. Good concentration and tannic grip; could still keep. Tried blind, and guessed it was a Pauillac or Leoville Las-Cases. — 11 years ago

Ian Burrows

Sommelier Atelier Crenn

9.6

Ripe & semi-mature VP. Lots to like, including structure being fully integrated. tannin, fruit concentration and spirit nicely balanced. — 12 years ago