David Nicewicz

9.3

Birth year Bordeaux and this has been excellent. Very old school nose of copious tobacco, forest floor and dark berries. Medium bodied but gaining intensity over the course of 2 h - tannins completely melted. Bricking is apparent on first pour but the color grows darker with time. Perfect bottle that is a little past it’s prime but fun to step back in time. — 4 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

Paul Krzych

9.1

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

Benjamin Keator

9.3

Another old dusty dirty Cali cab. Still drinking well, but definitely past it’s prime. — 7 years ago

with David

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

Tony Capone

9.0

Perhaps a bit past its prime, none the less a great bottle of wine. Black cherry, allspice, dark chocolate, it still showed depth, the finish was dry, moderate oak. The wine still was a winner! — 9 years ago

Rick Galiardo

9.4

Bordeaux wine dinner; 6/18/15: Pichon Lalande 1990 - Lighter color than others, I think passing its prime. A little dry on the finish but perfectly nice still. Gruaud Larose 1989 - Very classic nose and palate of cedar and pine notes. Most silky palate of the bunch. Two at the table thought it was wine of the night. Not as much to my taste but very much classy Gruaud. Cos 1986 - Funky barnyard nose. Deep palate with still strong tannin, but plenty of fruit coming through. Liked it but there was some brett there that to me, hurt. Lynch Bages 1985 - For me, the wine of the night, largely due to the truly stunning nose. A tad dry on the palate but still long finish of dark fruit. — 10 years ago

Kurt Krestinski

9.0

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

Julio Armas

9.2

2008 Brunello si Montalcino "Prime Donne" from Donatella Cinelli Colombini. Enjoyed every sip of it! Salute! — 11 years ago

Eric McDougall

9.3

Cork was crumbly. Slightly past it's prime, but not corked. Soft and lovely and supremely balanced! — 12 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. — 4 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. — 6 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

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

Diabolus In Vino

9.0

Light bodied, past-prime, but classic fruit. 😋 — 10 years ago

Damon Slachter

9.2

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

Joan Carles Naya

9.0

Molt bona al primer tast. De les que té l'amargor — 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

Michael Phillips

9.2

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

Josh Morgenthau

9.2

Blackberry jam nose with some leather, tar and leaf litter. Color is quite opaque and garnet with just a little bricking. Lots of dark ripe fruit and preserved fruit on the palate. Full body, quite rich, powdery, and tannins still quite prominent. Very satisfying. Just entering its prime- may be better in 5-10. — 5 years ago

Benjamin Keator

9.5

Unfortunately we were not able to give this a proper decant this time. Nonetheless the quality and finesse still shines through. IMO the 2003 is just now entering it prime drinking window. Tannins have softened nicely. Good fruit integration. Still needs a bit of time in the glass to open. Over the course of an hour it was only getting better and better. Wish we had had time to do a 4-5 hr decant. — 6 years ago

with Jimmy

Louis Taylor

9.0

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

Jay Eagan

9.4

Best Prime rib dinner ever. — 8 years ago

with Kristine and Chad

Will Rogers

9.4

Prime 47 Indianapolis NFL Combine — 9 years ago

Robert Cunningham

Wine Educator DeVinimus, Wine Workshop

8.9

1975. Very nice earthy nose and palate. Moderate aromatic finish. Past its prime. Drink up. — 10 years ago

David Stein

9.0

Give it some time to open before drinking. Prime time for this 2001 vintage. — 10 years ago

Rick Baumgarten

9.1

Still some fruit and very pleasant but past prime. — 10 years ago

Charles Lawrence

9.7

Going with the good stuff to go with our Christmas prime rib...yum! — 11 years ago

Scott Gladstone

9.7

Prime Vegas — 12 years ago