Angel Free

9.1

A little tart but good — 3 years ago

Steve Mitchell

9.2

Medium tannins, full bodied, balanced Cabernet .Nutty , earthy paired with a prime rib.
— 4 years ago

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. — 5 years ago

Steven

9.1

After a long day at the mall with the wifey I deserve a nice,jammy, fruit forward wine with notes that take you back to the Napa vineyards. Not to mention more 1on1 time with my queen. I’m truly blessed. Oh yeah, this wine is a winner. Definitely will add to the list of favs. — 6 years ago

Cameron Etezadi

9.5

Just beginning to get to the drinkable age with tannins starting to soften and mellow. The wine is still quite rigid though the balance has come back into play. BlackBerry and plums finish with green bell peppers and spicy peppercorns. Five more years and it’ll be great. — 7 years ago

with Eric

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Back to the Billecart Salmon. Especially, after the sweeter Bollinger Rosé last night. Needed some healthy acidity to stand up to our vinaigrette dressing in our salad. This never disappoints. — 8 years ago

Michael Mcdermott

9.6

Opened 1998when power went back on in Sonoma! Wow this was solid. Well kept with mid neck ullage, dark plum no brick colors of oxidation. As you would expect a earthy woody old Bordeaux nose, soft tannins but still strong 19 years on. After an hour open and decanted this was wonderful. — 8 years ago

Vino Joe

9.5

Definitely going to be something. It’s dense and tight. Decanted. Lots of fine sediment. It is a thick wine. Opened up after 90 minutes. Very expressive and long finish. I have been waiting on this one and knew it was early but wanted to see what is was like. The fruit and forest is there. Pencil shavings and a rounded earthiness. I liked it a lot but it will be even better in 5 more years. After 3 hours it remained very powerful yet balanced. The Cassis I didn’t detect early showed up and made for great texture. It’s a wine that lingers but still feels like it’s holding back. — 3 years ago

Ron R

9.3

Visually, bricking has begun. The nose presented a hint of musty cardboard, at that point, my sphincter started twitching - had I left this too long?
Palate displays spice notes initially, followed by anise, cinnamon and cloves. Mature cherries are also in the foreground with moderate tannins. Finishes with leather, olives notes and moderate sweetness. This is perched on a plateau, and should be consumed now.
The story behind the label is a broken bottle of a 2003 Leoville Las Cases, which pissed it’s pants (so to speak) in my eurocave, back in the day... — 5 years ago

Blair Campomizzi

9.3

A favorite of mine. Fruit forward with easy going plum, black cherry and blueberry supported with the standard Caymus vanilla back. — 5 years ago

with Marilea and Arthur

MaJ CappS

8.9

¡Feliz día de los muertos!
Time to scare the dead back to the beyond.
A wine from gnarled Vince’s should do the trick.
Smells of gun powder tea.
decanted for 4 hours, and the fruit is lush with dark ripened berries, and heavy handed spices. the burn will not blow off so one must integrate it into the tasting. High octane.
Expensive for a Zin, yet so well crafted, as we know Turley does.
The lingering acids seething with the alcohol burn. Enjoyable still.
— 7 years ago

Geoff Troup

Sales Eder Brothers, Cellar Fine Wines

9.0

The most generously fruity of Ridge Zins. Black berry and stewed fruit in the front, young and opulent at first compared to their other wines. More resolved and firm in the back with a near perfect juxtaposition of acidity and tannin. White pepper in the finish. A bit hot and jumpy at this time. Great potential but needs some softening time still. — 8 years ago

Steve Haro

9.5

Hints of menthol and eucalyptus on the nose. Loads of anise and black tea flavors with portobello and grilled game. Fruit flavors taking a back seat to earth but wow, does it have life. Forrest floor and tobacco on the finish. — 8 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Estate dates back to Crusades & Scottish navigator, George Smith, owner in the 18th century. Blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot aged in 20% new oak, deep Ruby with aromas of dark berry, herbs and earthy spice. On the palate flavors of plum, cherry & currant with notes of pepper, tobacco & cacao notes. Soft rich full tannins, long finish ending with fruit, earthy and mineral character, needs a little more time. — 3 years ago

Chris Edge

9.5

Again soft tannins, medium back — 4 years ago

Alex Sessions

8.9

Good aroma and back-of-throat tannins, but missing all that middle richness. I think maybe just a bit oxidized. — 5 years ago

Ron Lear

9.1

Spectacular fruity back finish with lovely tannins. Soft and velvety throughout! — 7 years ago

Ron R

9.3

I’ve always had a sweet spot for this producer. When I saw the WS rating, I had to try it.
It’s my sort of Napa cab, without the nosebleed at the checkout. Rich, plush nose of coffee and maple syrup. Presents with depth and texture on the palate. Tannins are ripe, indicating longevity. I’m going back to the well! — 7 years ago

with Mo

Rupesh Parikh

9.2

What a great cab; structured yet fruity; minimum tanins in the back end; loved it — 8 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