Kenneth Hargreaves

8.9

Nice nose, good initial palette, slides off the end at this point, but, for the price point, awesome with prime NY strip — 4 years ago

Michael Phillips

9.2

Brownish edge restrained nose leathery and garrigue at or slightly past prime but still lovely — 5 years ago

Cory Bolton

9.6

I have an affinity to Mike Smith wines. Let this baby breathe for a couple hours and it opens up well. Prime for drinking now — bold, dense fruit flavor that you’d come to expect from a Napa cab powerhouse wine maker. Full body and long peppery finish. Still a winner in my book. — 6 years ago

Chad Thompson

8.9

Might be the bottle but just a bit past its prime. Still good - sweet core, good acid, dark fruits. — 7 years ago

Louis Taylor

9.0

We liked this wine, full bodied with a fruity bouquet. — 8 years ago

R Henderson

8.9

A little past its prime, but still drinking fairly well. — 8 years ago

Dave Weick

9.2

Xmas prime rib dinner. Started with the 01 Insignia. Excellent example of Napa fruit. Dark berries, anise, softened tannins with the age, a big wine. — 9 years ago

Will Rogers

9.4

Prime 47 Indianapolis NFL Combine — 9 years ago

Damon Slachter

9.2

@Greg Wirth now this is some good stuff — 10 years ago

Davis Smith

Sommelier Acquerello

9.1

A customer thought this was past its prime. That's fine, more for me. — 11 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.5

Dark reddish tawny. Herbal nose. Heavy tobacco leaf, black cherries, cedar, smoke, plums, and cut Cuban cigar. Angular in the mouth. Needed five hours to find its groove. Big and powerful wine, paired perfectly with smoked prime rib. — 5 years ago

Philip Dobrin

9.1

A little muddled. Great nose but exhibits neither the complexity of a mature wine nor the structure of one its prime. — 6 years ago

Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.8

I’ve been following this wine since I first tasted it from barrel in the summer of 1990, and it has always been an amazing wine and one of the best examples of this remarkable vintage. This particular bottle, which I helped to drink alongside a superb, dry-aged prime porterhouse at one of the New York City area’s best steakhouses, Rothmann’s on Long Island, might have been the best I’ve ever had. The textbook iron, tobacco and cigar box Haut-Brion character was there in abundance, but this time there was also an almost Burgundian laciness and buoyancy to the wine that I’ve not experienced before. Even at almost 30 years old, it still has a long life ahead of it, but based on this bottle I wouldn’t begrudge anyone opting to drink it right now. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, January 219) — 6 years ago

Diane Kessler

9.1

Sweet, ripe fruit with firm tannins. Beautiful with prime rib on Christmas Eve. — 8 years ago

Seiji Takeuchi

9.1

Japan! Love this beer! — 8 years ago

Jay Eagan

9.4

Best Prime rib dinner ever. — 8 years ago

with Kristine and Chad

Richard Adams

9.7

Outstanding purity and balance. Prime window now. — 9 years ago

Kurt Krestinski

9.0

Smooth. Dark purple. Hints of blackberry raspberry and grapefruit. — 10 years ago

Rick Baumgarten

9.1

Still some fruit and very pleasant but past prime. — 11 years ago

Rick Baumgarten

9.9

Prime time. Soft as velvet — 11 years ago

Jason Case

9.3

Ken's bday! What a treat! Like no other wines I've tasted, beyond elegant, earthy mushroom, plums and blackberries. Past it's prime but still had a strong sense of what it was at its peak. — 5 years ago

Aravind A

9.2

Classic bdx, maybe a touch past-prime bc it showed slightly flat on palate. Very yummy! — 5 years ago

with Peter

Paul Krzych

9.1

Well worth the price. Drinking very well and perfect with prime rib. — 6 years ago

CYesh

9.0

A bit past it’s prime but the bones are still there. Delicious. — 7 years ago

Bill Bender

9.6

Silky sexiness. Black licorice, tobacco, bruised plum. An ethereal experience paired with prime porterhouse, black truffle and foie gras. Can’t get much better for me on a warm San Diego October night. — 8 years ago

Palmer Emmitt

Owner/Winemaker Judge Palmer

9.4

I think my first Monte Bello and it does not disappoint. A very charming wine with an intriguing tomato component backed up by tons of cassis - "classic" California Cab. Great structure and for me in its prime right now (from half bottle). — 8 years ago

Matt Brock

8.9

2 days open and still prime. Jammy cab with lots to offer: a little fruit on the nose, a little spice on the finish. Always a winner. — 9 years ago

with Jennifer

David Son

9.9

Our Honeymoon wine... Very silky smooth texture and nice oak scent. Got along well with our kurobuta pork belly appetizer and prime new york. — 10 years ago

John Wight

Sommelier/Wine Director Luce Restaurant

10

1982
At us prime! Stunning n gorgeous ! — 11 years ago

Kevin Kan

8.9

A little bit past it's prime but still has plenty fruit left. Very nice and easy drinking. Drank this bottle with a grilled NY strip steak. — 11 years ago