Bill Bender

9.6

This is my 1000th wine on Delectable and I wanted to post something that meant something special to me. @Steve Anderson brought this to an incredible tasting we attended last night at a beautiful cellar in the home of @Scott Kahn who graciously hosted many of our local tasting group among wives, neighbors and other friends of his. It was an exemplary night that I had to cut much shorter than I preferred because I had to pick up my teenage daughter from a friend's house. It was a perfect storm of many important elements impacting my life both past and present. First and foremost I am a Father and even though my daughter called me much earlier than I wanted on an evening of wine involving first growths, Napa giants and Burg greats....I left because I was needed. My daughter just recently started living with me and we've been through a lot in the last year. The men I was with are almost all parents who totally get the importance of my daughter in my life....they are exceptional Dad's who have raised special kids. I respect them immensely and that is why I am honored that wine brought me together with a group that I would not likely have become friends with without it. Wine does that. It bridges gaps. It creates memories. It develops community. Delectable has done that for me as well. I have never been much of a social media guy but something about this app drew me in. Yes it was the wine...but it's the people that make this "place" truly special. I've made legit friends here and I'm better for it. I spent an amazing weekend in Chicago this summer with @Roman Sukley and @DAG...those 2 couldn't have been more generous, gracious or cool. I've also developed a synergy with @Ron R @TheSkip @Martin G Rivard @David A Lentine @Kimberly Anderson and many others I've never met but I feel like I know somehow. These people know who they are.....but back to the wine. Montelena has a special place in my heart. When I passed the bar in '93 I brought a '87 Montelena to dinner that night. Just me and my Mom. She grew up on a dirt road in a small rural town in North Carolina. Not wine country. By the time we shared the Montelena she had become a pretty ardent Chardonnay fan but did not seem to take to reds. Wine was fairly new to me but I was always trying to get her engaged with my love of red wine. Unsuccessfully. That night we shared a meal and memories at the La Valencia hotel in La Jolla and enjoyed that bottle. She was proud of me and said so. Without reservation. I was the first person on either side of my family to graduate college and now I was a lawyer. The moment touched her and it has stayed with me always. She said "you're my only child and I'm so proud of the man you've become and now you're a lawyer. I can't believe it. More than that I can't believe how much I loooooove this wine. I'm actually more impressed with that!" My Mom had a sense of humor too 😉 and right there a lifetime memory was created over a bottle that now had meaning beyond the wine. When she passed suddenly in '05 I had dinner with her husband. I brought a '90 Ausone and a '91 Montelena. We toasted my Mom. I have no recollection of the $500 Ausone but the Montelena is still one of my top 10 wines of all time. Each wine is its own experience and those you share it with enhance that experience immeasurably. Cherish each glass....and @Steve Anderson thank you for granting my request by bringing that bottle. You know now why I chose it. — 8 years ago

Nick Chang

9.3

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

William Goldsmith

9.1

In laws in town vertical with @Cathy Corison. 2004. — 10 years ago

with Ryann and Harry

Jay Towslee

9.2

Bright English - very nice — 11 years ago

Adam Le

9.8

Night out on the town with Robert — 12 years ago

Michael Meyer

9.2

Ok, I know the haters are out there. But seriously in a charming restaurant in a old Wyoming frontier town, and paired with world-class elk tenderloin, this Cab rocked. Or maybe it was the Wyoming Whisky warmup talking... — 9 years ago

Veronica Israel

9.1

If I must confess, I bought this one for the label. A good red blend to have on hand. Also, I've had this in Sangria and it was great! — 9 years ago

Sandi Braun-Ziemer

10

Purchase every year when in town for rally — 9 years ago

Kit Wong

9.1

#KostaBrowne Chardonnay from Russian River. Need to breathe breathe breathe before enjoying the wines! A bold chard with interesting aroma of cooked pineapple! Balanced wine with cooked pear favour on palate.
I like the name '116' - the hwy cuts through the town of Sebastopol in the Russian River Valley sub-appellation of Green Valley. :)
— 10 years ago

William Lucius

9.2

Sometimes when your significant other opens a bottle while you're out of town that you meant to keep for another 10 years before opening, you just leave it open in the fridge for 4 nights and it starts to sing! — 10 years ago

Jennifer Ann Salyer

9.6

Town of Lagaurdia. Posada Mayor De Miguela. Barbecue Lamb with red peppers and frites. — 11 years ago

with Chris

Natale Smith

9.6

an almost perfect brown ale — 12 years ago

Martin G Rivard

9.4

Had this last night., A wine from my buddies home town in Italy. Absolutely beautiful. — 9 years ago

Phil Kessling

9.1

2014, Joseph Mellot, La Chatellenie, Sancerre, Sauvignon Blanc. We had our last lunch at Joseph Mellot's restaurant in Sancerre. Excellent meal, great wine and a great view of the town square on a beautiful summer day. This wine takes me back to that day. Classic Sancerre: grapefruit, citrus, fresh cut hay, chalk and amazing acidity. — 9 years ago

Josh Grove

9.1

Glou glou time! Taking the train to juicalicious funk-town! — 9 years ago

Justin Smith

9.0

Wild with a touch of toucan Sam. Also with this crushed earthy jam town funk. This was a song that I don't know the words to, but I'm learning. — 9 years ago

Sean m Roberts

9.5

Beautiful wine. Just finished dinner, a great find at a local winery in Ventura. I have had the privilege to visit this town and enjoy some similar local vineyards. — 10 years ago

Mark Lindzy

9.3

2007 in magnum. When you have great supplier friends in town, you break out the big boys. — 10 years ago

with John and Josefa

Sam Shepard

10

Incredible taste — 11 years ago

Kristen Boyorek

9.5

Received this as a gift in May. drank it outside on a perfect weather kind of day 2 weeks ago and it was a perfect wine for sipping on the deck. with a taste of melon and apple, this New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc with a twist top was crisp and light. Decided to pick up another today! — 13 years ago