Carter Pelham

9.7

Shared with close friends - everyone’s first Monte Bello, and a great one at that.

Took this bottle out to share at a local fine dining establishment, to pour it blind for our friends. Wrapped neatly in foil. We get seated and explain to our waiter. “The bottle MAY be a little bit older so take care with the cork,” I said, not wanting to give away the age to our friends. He proceeds to break the cork about halfway down, right through. No big deal. He’s a younger guy and I think a little flustered, he goes off to get assistance.

Comes back with another server. As the guy walks back up, I say “Thanks for helping us with our mystery bottle”, clueing him in on the idea that there’s a reason that we have it wrapped in foil. “Would have been nice to know it was an older vintage wine,” he replied brusquely. Ok… Server 2 digs around for a bit with an ah-so before punching the cork into the drink. Oh well. None of us are really phased by this, it happens.

They grab a strainer from the bar. Server 2 starts pouring at a decanter and immediately the first glass or so just goes everywhere on the table. I start to die inside. He remains silent. Gets on target with the rest of the bottle, finishing pouring, and says “Your 2004 Ridge Cabernet”, purposefully ruining the blind tasting, I guess. Walks away without another word, leaving his mortified coworker to clean up his mess and apologize.

This actually happened. On to the wine:

Beautiful medium opacity ruby with no browning.

Smells like a Pauillac on the nose. Blackcurrants, blackberry, black licorice, slight graphite, and damp tobacco. As the night goes on it reveals dill, vanilla, buttered toast, and slight dry woodsy notes.

The wine is surprisingly light in body, very much a claret. The tannins are silky, finely woven, and extremely integrated. The main thing we notice on the palate is that the wine is so perfectly integrated it is a little difficult to pull individual notes out of it. Expansive over the palate without being weighty. The finish is forever.

A memorable evening. — 4 years ago

with Linh and Sarah

liz m

9.2

Melon and vanilla. Very yummy! — 6 years ago

Brian Lenich

9.3

New Years at Brigantine — 6 years ago

Tyler Martinelli

9.5

Juicy and easy drinking! — 7 years ago

Mike K

9.2

Really enjoyed this as an evening sipper by itself. Subtle notes of the bourbon barrel, fairly well balanced. Would get again, especially for price. — 8 years ago

Travis Crawford

9.0

Julie's birthday — 8 years ago

Kath Rt

9.2

super deiiiiii💕 — 5 years ago

Matthew Bull

9.2

Don’t stop now....my word. Parker was right. It drinks beautifully early. Wow. — 5 years ago

James Forsyth

9.3

Did a blind taste off with this and a very high end Napa Cab. Two of six chose this one. Fair enough. It is explosive, complex and delicious. Dark fruit, leather. All very distinctly Bordeaux. Yum. — 5 years ago

Laura Arnold

8.9

Very smooth. Very nice combination with red pasta sauce. Definitely will buy again — 6 years ago

Marisa Munoz

9.4

Smooth, rich & delicious! — 6 years ago

with Stacy and Dylan

Kenny Baldridge

9.0

Chocolate and cherries — 8 years ago

Cecilia RZ

10

Delicious. Very earthy. — 8 years ago

Matt Nason

9.0

They make a Chardonnay? Word. — 5 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.5

The 2008 R. Lopez Heredia ‘Vina Tondonia Reserva’ Rioja is a marvelous effort from this challenging vintage in La Rioja. The wine is a complex blend of Tempranillo (75%), and Garnacho (15%), with Graciano and Mazuelo (5%) that was aged for six years before bottling. The wine is might be showing a bit more depth and concentration than the ’07 bottling while the ’07 is slightly more geared towards finesse. Deep white truffle and wild blackberry notes combine with shades of cinnamon, orange rind and sour kirsch on this gorgeous bouquet. The palate is wonderfully viscous and concentrated. Layers of sour red and ark fruits collide with minerals, smoky terroir and shades of blood orange zest and peat moss on this simply gorgeous palate. Rich and layered, yet having a sterling sense of tension, this magical new wine will cellar well for at least another fifteen years. Drink 2020-2038- 95 — 5 years ago

Auréliane Poney

9.4

Strawberry, rhubarb, watermelon
Rose?
Dry and lovely — 6 years ago

Nagib Nasr

9.0

Amazing Port to celebrate my brothers 50th birthday!!!! — 6 years ago

with Wissam

Ryan Vinson

9.2

Reminds me of chalk Hill. Full body chard. Loved it — 8 years ago

Don

9.5

One word for this wine...Fabulous. — 8 years ago

Carrie Bowden

9.4

Six years and this Morgon is coming into its own. Fantastic nose and palate — 9 years ago