Jakub Kalinowski

9.6

Perfectly evolved & peaking right now.
This is classical Bordeaux heaven!
Sous-bois, dusty wardrobe, pencil shavings, cigar box and (still!) some black currant. Surprisingly fresh on the nose and even fresher on the palate. Light medium body, the tannins completely mellowed and fully integrated, vibrant juicy acidity.
This is poised, so elegant, so drinkable and with amazing depth. And with bright freshness. What a delight!
A singing beauty!! — 2 years ago

William Goldsmith

9.7

Elegant as Bevan goes. Not quite Parker 100 but quite good, esp for 2011. I’ve raised the rating twice. — 5 years ago

with Harry and Ryann

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.5

The 1982 Chateau Léoville-Barton red wine is a stunning bottling from this famed vintage in Bordeaux. Generously shared by some friends, and needing very little time in the decanter to evolve, the 1982 Léoville-Barton opens with a captivating nose of sour red cherry, cigar box with shades of white truffle and a striking herbaceousness. There is a wonderful, seamless quality to this wine that evokes a harmonious balance on the mid-palate. A bright saline streak dashes through this incredible wine. Showing a wonderfully soft mouthfeel, the wine slowly unveils layers of sour red fruits, exotic spices, red bell pepper, anise and hints of wild blackberry that all marvelously combine with the toasty oak. While absolutely delightful now, this stunning wine will has more than a decade of life left. Drink 2019-2035- 95

— 6 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.3

This wine had some tobacco and earth FUNK after it was opened up. The herbaceous and tobacco ash note on the nose was almost identical to the 1980 Beringer State Lane cab. This did blow off after an hour, but the wine was less fruit than I thought it would have been. Lots of dark figgy jam. Tobacco and cigar box. I'm sure the fruit came back after I left, but this would have been 2 hours after opening and just didn't have the time to see this one though, hence the "NR" rating. Impressed by this wine, and probably one of the older Monte Bello wines I've been able to drink. — 8 years ago

with Benjamin

Laura Diefenderfer

9.0

Great taste. Not dry. Smooth with a hint of blackberry. Ideally paired with a medium rare steak. — 8 years ago

Weijie Shi (Jay)

9.0

Black fruits, cedar box, liquorice, cigar box, menthol. Huge structure, chewy tannin, slightly green on the palate, 30s finish. Need more time. 2012 vintage — 9 years ago

Juan Munoz-Oca

8.9

Cigar box, a bit reduced at first but opens up to lovely dry fruits — 10 years ago

Lisa Burch

9.0

Tasty and inexpensive. — 11 years ago

Red Wine Lovers

9.6

Cigar box cedar. Slate. Plum. Big tannins, lush plump fruit. Deep and complex. Finish goes forever. — 12 years ago

Tom Garland

9.3

2 hour decant(decent fine/chunky sediment). A majestic purplish dark magenta color. On the nose: bursting from the glass are notes of red and black fruit, charred wood, milk chocolate, some mint, touch of cigar box. Taste: smooth, delicate, elegant wine with red berries/plum, leather, gravel, herbaceous, mocha, and a spiced tobacco medium plus finish. YUM! Drinks well with the decant, but no hurry, time to go. — 2 years ago

with Brenda

Mattias Söderberg

9.2

Red fruit, lesthery nose!! — 5 years ago

with Andreas

Mike Saviage

9.4

From magnum. Deep reddish tawny color. Almost opaque. Nice seductive nose. Notes of blackberries, cedar box, warm blueberries, a little currant and some tobacco leaf. Really nicely balanced with tannins fully resolved and integrated. In a great place and don’t think it will get much better from here, but clearly built to last. — 6 years ago

Guillermo Camacho

9.2

Wine held up extremely well for age, maintained concentration but still complexified. Dark blue/red fruit, spice box, and chocolate on the nose. An ensemble of fruit on the palate with an amazing acidity that continued to tease out nuances. Extra .1 for showing it’s ability to age gracefully. — 7 years ago

Chad Brewer

10

Without a doubt the wine of my life. Elegant, dried cranberries, cigar box, beechnut tobacco, great texture. A truly magnificent bottle. 1/100 that would be perfect. — 8 years ago

John Hubbell

9.4

Love the he nose. Great balance with leather, spice and cigar box. This sill has some life — 8 years ago

with Jim, Allison and 1 other

Phil Orlandini

9.1

This... doesn't make me feel drunk. This is gonna be my workin' wine. — 9 years ago

with Juliane

PJ

9.5

Great way to warm up on a 20 degree night! 🍷 — 10 years ago

Lisa Kinser

10

Great with Thanksgiving dinner! — 11 years ago

Becky Larson

8.9

Black box merlot !! Yummy — 12 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Holding up well showing notes of berry fruits, plum, cedar, leather, earth, spice box with sweet tobacco — 3 years ago

Willem Booij

9.2

Ok it’s not the greatest year, but this wine is very nice. A real classic Margaux with stil some dark forest fruit, some pencil and a box filled with vanilla stuffed Havana’s. Not a full bodied wine but a real charmer. — 4 years ago

Jonathan Toobi

9.3

Love this unfiltered red blend, gallivanter, nice acidic start and berry finish, light to medium bodied, really tasty and easy drinking, — 5 years ago

Paul Koplitz

9.0

Best box wine I’ve had. Worth every penny. — 7 years ago

Matt McMonagle

9.0

Great value. Really really drinkable. — 7 years ago

Steve McDermott

9.3

Old world earthiness. Red fruit, strawberry notes. A bit of cigar box and leather. Nice finish. Nice #rioja ! Thanks @John Pica — 8 years ago

Robert Cunningham

Wine Educator DeVinimus, Wine Workshop

9.2

Lovely secondary elements of sweaty saddle leather, cedar and later some cigar box. Soft, integrated tannins. Long finish and very nice nose. — 9 years ago

Holly Orchard

Certified Sommelier, President of Savvy Cellar Wines Inc.

9.0

Surprisingly good- 13.9% but feels a little hotter. The tannins are noticeable but not too bold.This is classic California cabernet, but time has allowed it to become more integrated and balanced- notes of ripe dark fruits, boysenberry, cassis, plum, cedar, violets, cedar box, and unfortunately a touch of "steminess". Not a fantastic wine, but a really solid domestic classic, which went great with our beef filets and creamed kale. — 10 years ago

Sean Fischa

9.1

My new house wine — 10 years ago

Liz Weidner

9.9

Delicious but $16. — 12 years ago

Rachel Hughes

9.0

Shiraz (70%), Cabernet Sauvignon (23%), Merlot (7%)
2009
Padthaway, Australia — 12 years ago