Jay Kline

9.1

Opened 24 hours prior and decanted for sediment before returning to the bottle; enjoyed over the course of two days. The 1981 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of tart brambles and plums, green bell pepper, tobacco, leather, all of the decomposing earth and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium, mostly integrated tannins with medium+ acid, borderline high. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. Overall, a wine that is a reflection upon the vintage and at 43 years of age, that’s a big compliment. The 1981 is very much alive and will likely live for a very long time. However, it is backward, rustic, and somewhat tough to love unless you’re an old-school masochist. But I’m guilty and this wine is charming despite all of its green character. Drink now and over the next 30 years probably. — 9 months ago

Delectable Wine

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9.6

The 2018 Montrose delivers on the promise that it showed from barrel. I gave this a three-hour decant before broaching, since Montrose is always backward, albeit far less ferociously than even just a decade ago. It offers copious blackberry and blueberry scents on the nose, plus pressed violets and a light estuarine scent that becomes accentuated with time. The palate is medium-bodied with a silky-smooth texture. Finely chiseled tannins frame multilayered black fruit infused with crushed stone, and it has retained that subtle graphite element that lends it a Pauillac-like personality, though less so than out of barrel. This is a beautifully defined Montrose with entrancing symmetry, and it should drink earlier than other recent vintages thanks to a little more pliancy. (Neal Martin, Vinous, March 2021)
— 4 years ago

Neal Ferry

8.9

Good... let’s do this again — 7 years ago

with TwiLea

Ragan Ramsey

10

All time favorite — 8 years ago

with Billy

P Plusquellec

9.4

Second time in 3 weeks to enjoy this treat, though later vintage — 9 years ago

Joe Campanale

Beverage Director/Partner dell’anima, L’Artusi, Anfora, and L’Apicio

9.2

Opened my first 2013, couldn't wait! But I should have. Though it was absolutely beautiful, soft and delicious, it needed more time. The glasses left over from last night showed beautifully in the morning — 10 years ago

Vino Joe

9.2

Pleasant at first pour but underpowered. Needed 45 minutes and decant to start. Improved over time. Darker red than I was expecting. Young wine and quite smooth. Some racy notes at the perimeter but more of an easy drinking succulent Nebbiolo than a brooding one. — 9 months ago

Mike Saviage

9.9

Tasted blind. Deep purple color. Looks very young, compared to the 45 Margaux next to it. Almost opaque. Notes of black fruit, cracked walnuts, sweet fruit, raspberry and some cedar desk. Super rich in the mouth. Seems young and is firm, but tannins are softened and the mouthfeel is velvet touch. Long finish. It peacocks all night. The walnuts thing leads my guess to Latour, but can this be the 45? Is it a 61 or 82? Could be... I go with it being a 59 given how young it seems. Just an amazing bottle of wine, open for ~9 hours by the time we left, it seemed to effortlessly power along. Thanks Stan! — 3 years ago

Brendan Devine

9.2

The utilitarian in me really appreciates the Ridge labels. Second time I’ve had this wine and I really enjoy it. Cherries and anise. — 5 years ago

Pooneet K

9.2

Hard to imagine a more classic / perfect Bordeaux nose. Just screams those dark red fruit with leather and earth on the nose. Would not have guessed it was this old. Hard to say, though, if it will come together more with time versus staying slightly disjointed - the tannins and acid sort of follow after each other without a seamlessness that I’d expect. But still delicious. — 5 years ago

Frank Zbignewich

9.0

Young Caymus wine so some of the comments are interesting. Great dark berry flavors and much room to develop. Not the toasty oak of the 2012 but still needs some time to evaluate over the next 4 years. Still a fun wine to drink. — 8 years ago

Miguel A. Nistal

9.0

I love Stags Leap and this one is crazy reasonable and so good. Cherry flavored, soft on pallet. Beautiful wine. — 10 years ago

with Miguel

Byron C Mayes

9.7

Still really tight. Dark red purple. Classic cassis notes. Still plenty of time left. 2021 maybe? — 11 years ago

Adam Gäfvert

9.1

In a very nice state at the moment. Stands the test of time without any problems. One of my favourite label designs. — 2 years ago

Victoria

9.2

Dry but not too much, big and bold and needs time to breathe. About 40min and it was delicious. Price was about 45 or so but it was lovely for a nice occasion. — 3 years ago

Josh Morgenthau

9.5

Aroma is uncanny; a perfume of rose petals and coconut cream wafting from the glass. Totally beguiling. Vanilla and marzipan lead the way with fresh and dried red berries, red cherries, dried flowers and orange peel. So polished, but this needs more time for the oak and fruit to integrate. The 2010 Ardanza remains my favorite now for its classical balance. — 4 years ago

Brian Stotter

9.6

PnP at a friend's house. Wonderful nose of blackberry, black currant, dried blueberries, cedar, eucalyptus, and tobacco that keeps intensifying with time in the glass. Full body with fully-integrated tannins and a long complex finish that fluctuates between black fruits, organic earth, and eucalyptus. Everything about this wine is in perfect harmony right now but it still has plenty of life left. — 7 years ago

Michael Genn

9.3

Took a really long time to open up, but ended up being pretty damn good. Not as good as some late 80s/early 90s Dunns I've had though. — 9 years ago

Colin Nuckolls

9.5

An absolute masterpiece! It has a very spicy nose with a note of jalapeño. It has a massive and complex flavor with pepper, leather, and blackberries. It will only get better with time. — 10 years ago

Robert Potanovich

10

One of my all time favorites — 13 years ago