David Kline

9.3

1997 and holding up very well. Brisket, prune and baked plum, graphite sparkles, dried red currant, crumbly rose petal, cedar sawdust and baked black currant. Rich and half dried black cherry, similar with black currant, velvety thick robe of tannin, dark chocolate with dried raspberries, violets and cinnamon, fresh raspberry, mild black pepper, coffee splash and long long graphite shine. Amazed at the quality here, and stunned by the longevity.

#chateaumontelena #1997cab #napa #napacab #themontelenaestate #chateaumontelenacab #cabernetsauvignon #estatebottled #bobarrett #newworldcab #newworldfirstgrowth #chateaumontelenaestate — 2 years ago

Mark Geylikman

9.8

Phenomenal. Bacon, violets, lavender, black cherry, dark chocolate, spice, and animal. — 5 years ago

Jordan Wardlaw

9.1

Seems to be in a good stage of development- nicely softened tannins. Juicy blackberry, game and violets. Drink this with bloody steak or by a winter fire. — 6 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.2

This was a tasty drinking Bordeaux with sweet berry fruits, cassis, violets, crushed rock , leather & tobacco. — 7 years ago

R Bl

9.1

Rather closed but still attractive. Dark fruit, but crushed violets loom. White pepper hints. — 7 years ago

Greg Gregory

10

Spectacular! Mind blowing. One of my top 10 of all time. On every serious wine lover’s bucket list, and here we had a nigh perfect bottle. While aromatically a little recalcitrant, you still got some of the Margaux violets and potpourri on the nose, hints of clove, all trying to shake off their doldrums. But on the palate, it was timelessly ravishing. The finesse, richness, balance and smoothness, with an underlying, almost flabbergasting mixture of complexity and delicacy, was just astonishing. The finish is marvelously sweet and intense, with chocolate and cassis and utterly seamless tannins. This is a miracle of wine making and an exaltation of vintage and terroir besides. Wow! And bravo! We can only pray for an encore of such a wine. — 8 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.5

Man this was sexy, displaying so many aromatics, red & black fruits, violets, bacon fat, earthy, leather and spice box. Mouline has always been my favorite of the La La's — 9 years ago

Nathaniel Jones

9.2

Delicious! Violets and berries. Hints of vanilla, intensely good — 10 years ago

Cathy Corison

Owner/Winemaker Corison Winery

9.5

Half bottle for tasting notes. Releasing 1 September. Love the long, cool season. Inky, savory, plums, cassis, minerals, violets. — 11 years ago

Josh Morgenthau

9.4

This is killer. Slow to reveal its perfume, really needs a decant or slow ox actually. But berry liqueur and violets emerge, some baking spice, then palate has supple texture, super fine and gentle tannins, really nice acid. Truly a wine of pleasure. This wine, like the best from the vintage, combines perfect ripeness with classic elegance and lift. — 4 years ago

Jeff Murray

9.0

Excellent blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Tempranillo instead of Syrah. Works very well. I saw this described as “dusty fruits” which I take to mean earthy, and just slightly subdued. Relatively smooth and opens up nicely with air time. Will keep the other bottles for a while to see how the evolve. Another good effort from ONX wines out of Pasa Robles. Cheers — 4 years ago

WC Fields

9.3

Winner! Blackberries, violets, anise, wild herbs. Nice acid and smooth tannins. Nice to have 2 left. — 5 years ago

Kristie Tacey

8.9

Lovely nose of violets, cranberry, red currant, mocha, petrichor, and charcoal. The pallet is muted comparatively, but enjoyable. — 6 years ago

.:;2):’kicndnebxhjd

9.0

8.9 but gets to 9 for the price. Black cherries, crushed violets, root beer, black licorice. My favorite note is this mix on the nose and palate of black sharpie and pen ink in the background. Big dose of black pepper.. would compare it to an old world Syrah but with balanced acid — 7 years ago

K J

9.3

Spicy Fruity. Violets. At Frenchie wine bar — 8 years ago

Gillian Robb

9.8

Oh my heavens. I could wax poetic about Vietti all day. Violets and crushed purple roses jump out of the glass, followed by tart bramble fruits, high acid, and gripping tannins. Nebbiolos smell like the Deep South in summer: wisteria and hot asphalt. — 9 years ago

Joseph C Burke

9.1

Do red w/ brick edges; nose of sweet red licorice, violets, and sweet tobacco; silky attack of dusty ripe cherry, with a drying but pretty fruit finish that lingers. — 9 years ago

Christian Broder

GM/Sommelier The Social Wine Company

9.0

Compost, pulverized stone, fresh violets, spruce, bell pepper, cranberry, black plum. Really lovely. — 9 years ago

Mike Kim

9.8

Chateau Marmont — 11 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.3

Floral nose, with apple skin, blackberry, and violets, leather adds to the palate as this is drinking really well right now with youth and maturity playing tug of war with the palate. Best Mourvèdre ever for me so far! — 11 years ago

Thomas Epps

9.7

Wonderful! — 4 years ago

with Jeannie

Ron Siegel

9.4

This needed some air to open showing lots of floral & spice with notes of red cherry, strawberry, plum, orange peel, dried herbs, leather, tobacco & violets. This will need a few more years but should be another great vintage for this wine. — 4 years ago

Diana Eng

9.6

Wild strawberries, tart red cherries, raspberries and pomegranates enveloped by fully bloomed red roses and violets. Some iron and red clay, cinnamon and nutmeg, black tea. Med plus acid, med tannin, med plus finish. So expressive. — 5 years ago

with EatSommThings

Manchester Sheldon

9.3

Violets and peppercorns on the nose, it needs some air to open up, dark wood and some earth on the background. — 6 years ago

Conrad Green

9.5

Soft and generous with violets and a very pretty midpalate. Gorgeous. Medium finish — 7 years ago

with Matt and Paul

Rebecca Fletcher

9.8

Black berries, savory, smoked meat, violets, M+ intensity. M+ acid, complexity and finish. M tannin. M+ acid. M body. A bit tart. Very fresh and elegant. Just awesome! — 8 years ago

Marla Shelton-Watts

9.3

Purchased in Bend, Oregon from local wine shop. What a surprise! Very smooth and light....not jammy at all. — 9 years ago

Ginny Eileen

9.5

Just my favorite stuff. Bell pepper, dirty, more smoky depth than some of the other cab francs I've had. Violets on finish, funky, lovely. Edit: keeps evolving, 4 hrs later getting black olives and chocolate. Fun! — 9 years ago

Paul Hogan

9.8

Mad Men of Riesling 2012 great southern Australia — 10 years ago

Karen Daenen

9.7

Violets, aroma that jumps out and grabs you — 11 years ago