Jane Nuss

9.0

Deep ruby with medium intensity. Black cherry, blackberry, blueberry, ripe black plum, black pepper, licorice, vanilla, leather. Full-bodied with high tannins and vibrant acidity. Opens beautifully with an hour or longer decant. Long finish with lingering spice. Overall good, and I’m sure this wine will improve with time.
— 4 months ago

Jay Kline

10

A physically pristine example from a well established cellar, the cork pulled clean and without so much as a hint of compromise. It was subsequently double decanted several hours in advance. The 2000 Margaux pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. The nose: developing and simply stunning. A cornucopia of cassis, black bramble fruit, purple flowers, tobacco, new leather, cocoa, fine woody notes, dry gravelly earth and gorgeous baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid; the structure acting like the flying buttresses of Notre Dame. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is forever long and impossibly silky. Sensationally balanced.

To my palate, this falls into the very small category of wines that require no additional inquest. It is utterly complete. And, when I consider the company and circumstances, perfect. Drink now with a healthy decant and through 2100. — 5 months ago

Conrad Green

9.4

A slightly austere and blocky front to the nose., graphite and ink. Very savory and deep. Salinity and iron. Surprising. Very good. I think, atypical — 6 months ago

with David

Jay Kline

9.4

Opened several hours prior and decanted off sediment and a portion of the cork that had broke and crumbled before returning to the bottle. The 2007 “Howell Mountain” pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core and very slight rim variation. On the nose, the wine is developing with gorgeous notes of dark fruit: black currants, blackberries, tobacco, leather, earth and gentle spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and savory. This is firing on all cylinders right now and the structure suggests the power of the 2007 vintage is not slowing down anytime soon. Drink now with a decant and through 2037 with ease. — 7 months ago

Pooneet K

9.3

Beautiful, beautiful wine. The last 96 we had was maybe a smidge more together but it’s marginal. Quite dark in the glass. Deep restrained red fruit on the nose. Tannins are slightly dusty but overall very seamless. Excellent refreshing acid. Perfect with a dry aged strip steak. — 5 years ago

Amit Srivastava

9.0

Magnum. This is one of the best Paso has to offer. Deep purple and just a delightful taste . Full, big ! — 6 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.0

Deep ruby thin rim still with a pink hue. Primary fruit still, blackberry, blackcurrant , touch of spice. In the mouth lots of ripe black fruits, ok to reasonable length. It doesn’t come across as overly complex , not many different flavour profiles , though this may come with more age. Full bodied, the tannins are sweet , acidity in balance. Cocoa and coffee notes on the finish, slight warming alcohol . Nicely made wine , showing well now though I am sure it may age further . Very little development as yet. — 7 years ago

Nick Chang

9.3

Just a nice balance of flavors... — 10 years ago

Matt Wilson

9.2

Deep concentration, dried cherries and plum. Licorice, leather and charcoal. An icon — 10 years ago

with Kyle

Jay Kline

9.7

Of all the American red wines that participated in the Judgement of Paris, it could be argued that Monte Bello has shown the greatest propensity to age. In fact, I would go as far as it requires lengthy cellaring to extract its best. I’ve had the good fortune to drink a number of tremendous vintages of Monte Bello over the last several years and this one has got to be at or near the top of the lot.

Opened and poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service and enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 1991 Monte Bello pours a deep ruby/purple color with an opaque core moving out towards a light ruby rim; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing (still!) with gorgeous notes of ripe and tart black currants, mixed bramble fruit, tobacco, some purple flowers, dill, mint, leather, earth, vanilla and associated baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. The structure remains tremendous which again, seems to indicate youth. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is super long and immensely satisfying. This is one of those wines that will outlive most humans. Drinking well now with a short decant but this has the gas to see 2061 with ease. — 4 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Double decanted two nights before service. The 2006 pours a deep, slightly hazy garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with a mix of desiccated fruit and funky umami notes: bruised and desiccated strawberry, red rope licorice, nori, Cherry Dr. Pepper, cracked black pepper and leather. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is forever long and saline; it just hangs around forever. Initially, this came across as bit backward but it really gained power and character the more time it spent in the glass. Drink now with patience and through 2036. — 6 months ago

Abbas Zand

9.3

Medium full body, dark color
Nose: ripe cherry
Slightly sweet, coffee, cherry,cola, mocha chocolaty notes, integrated tannins — 7 months ago

Jay Kline

9.4

It was Father’s Day and I had decided on grilled rack of lamb for dinner so I selected this bottle of 2011 Chateau Musar rouge from our cellar. According to Musar’s records, the 2011 vintage was one of the most challenging since the early 1990’s. It was ultimately a late-maturing vintage with harvest taking place on October 13th, the latest since the 1983 vintage!

I decanted this bottle about eight hours prior to dinner. It should be noted that immediately upon opening, the bouquet was strikingly gorgeous with powerful aromatics that were obvious from several feet away and this trait carried through until dinner time.

In the glass, the wine presents a deep garnet color. Slightly turbid with a near opaque core. On the nose, black plums, blackberries, cassis, tobacco, organic earth, exotic spices, leather, spiced meat, and pomegranate. I detect a touch of VA as well. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the nose with an added bit of red rope licorice. Lovely, long, savory…amazing. This was a brilliant compliment to the lamb (which was served with beets and goat cheese and fattoush) and everything I wanted in a Musar tonight. Drinking well now with a hefty decant and I expect well cellared examples to drink well past 2035. — 2 years ago

Sam Agami

10

AMAZING! This is well above my price range, but was a wise choice for a splurge bottle. Deep structure, blackberry, vanilla and leather. This is a super-premium cab and worth the C note... — 5 years ago

Paul J

9.1

I just can’t get into Italian reds for some reason. This needed a lot of air and is very young. Harsh on the palate but did open up with nice, deep fruit. Overvalued in my mind. — 6 years ago

Courtney Nichols

9.0

Very full bodied/deep in color/richer than expected. Easy to drink but has more depth than a typical Pinot Noir. — 8 years ago

Pete Bartling

9.8

Very smooth — 8 years ago

Mary Lanham

9.9

Fruit forward, deep red purple color. Mouth feel is awesomely smooth all the way through the finish. This is a favorite of mine! — 10 years ago

David D

9.5

Great, inexpensive wine — 12 years ago

Jocholla

8.9

Solid Napa Cab. Good fruit, slightly thinner than I’d hoped for but would buy again. — 4 months ago

Scott Kahn

9.5

Beautiful wine - one that has improved with age! Deep and rich color with a bouquet of cedar in the glass. Dark and plentiful fruit, integrated albeit present tannins, and a long finish. This is best Estournel that I have sampled! — 4 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Double decanted two nights before service. The 2013 Insignia pours a deep garnet color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing but still quite youthful with notes of tart and ripe dark fruit: dense brambles, purple flowers, tobacco, vanilla and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. At 11 years of age, this remains tightly coiled and needs more time to open up and tell more of its story. All that being said, this is very good now…but to my palate, better after 2027 and through 2043. — 6 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Deep, dark Ruby with a big fruity nose and lots of ripe berries with oaky notes. Jammy big and bold blackberry flavors with some spice, cacao, cedar and leather notes with nice mouthfeel. Big fine tannins with berry fruit carried over to the finish with oak and sweet spice. Nice! — 6 months ago

Z. R.G.

8.9

Good on its own — 3 years ago

Nandita Bhagwat

8.9

Deep and delicious — 4 years ago

Cecil Ramirez

9.2

2013 vintage. Vibrant ruby color, med bodied, soft mouthfeel & tannins. Bright cherry, cola, plum, strawberry, vanilla notes. Nice lasting finish. — 5 years ago

Jared Silvia

8.9

Deep Purple! Lovely full bodied red wine and a great value. The blackberry and blue berry notes pair with the vanilla and hints of cocoa. Think pie with cookie dough ice cream. The taste is smooth, spicy. — 7 years ago

with Brandi

Kevin Blix

8.9

Good wine. Almost a 9 — 8 years ago

John W

9.0

2007. Deep purple coloration. On the nose cherry, plum, oak and vanilla. On the palate tobacco, oak, cherry, high tannins after 8 years. Can age much longer. Short finish strong tannins overpowering. — 9 years ago

Chris Madrid

9.6

Had the magnum. Very smooth with dark fruit, oak and deep structure. — 10 years ago