Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.3

Tasted side by side with the 2013 Lineage. Tough battle but bottle age has definitely helped this bottling. Mix of deep garnet and ruby red. Straight from opening there were lots of savory elements mixed in with red and black berries. Some floral notes too like roses. As it opened up over the two hour period there was petroleum, dark cocoa and cinnamon. Over the evening, additional notes of dark ripe fruits and even more spices, even slightly savory ones. So balanced for how young this is. Started out with heavy tannins (8/10) but mellowed and rounded out to a solid moderate tannins (6.5/10) over the two and a half hour decant. Rounded medium plus body that will develop further with time. Started off with some darker cherries and light greenery with a bit of leather. Even a bit of spices. Great acidity giving this strong backbone and a semi-dry long finish. This will be singing given another five years and drink will over the next twelve. Tons of potential and very surprised by this caliber of wine coming out of Livermore Valley. Great job Steven! — 9 years ago

with Sean and India

Erik Nordman

9.6

Drank BTG out of double magnum for #largeformatfriday at Tilia. Absolutely outstanding. SO aromatic. All the elements of this wine have damn near perfectly integrated together after 20 years. Acid and tannin in near perfect harmony, both intense but yet so refined and balanced. Singing with fig, dried cherry, tar, star anise, clove, and dried rose and violet petals. Stunning. — 10 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.5

1958 Giacomo Conterno Monfortino: from Jay. This was the Ying to the Mascarello's Yang. Lovely rich ruby colour with virtually no bricking on the edge. The nose developed over the course of 15 to 20 mins in the glass. Unlike the Mascarello that was shedding perfume from the moment it hit the glass, the Monfortino needed more air before becoming less brooding. Dark fruits on the nose. Purple plums, black cherries, some forest floor, light tobacco as well as some floral elements prevailed. The palette was a reflection of the nose so no surprises. The fruit was far from dried out and this particular bottle still had plenty of life left in it but from my recent experience this is the exception rather than the rule. I have had around 10 bottles of old Monfortino ('55 / '58 / and '61) over the last year and the bottle variation, as you would expect, is tremendous with the majority of them past their prime. The finish was strong and in keeping with the rest of the package with reasonable length and quality. Drink now. 95/100.

— 11 years ago

Andrew Benn

9.0

2008
Bright but age served it well - letting the Zin and Cab elements meld. Nice cold day sipping wine — 11 years ago

Jill Nussbaum

9.6

Holy moly! — 12 years ago

Rosie Haro

8.9

Smooth red — 14 years ago

LM Segal

9.5

A wine at its apogee, a liquid hommage to the blueberry at its core on the nose and across the palate. Perfectly integrated wood that comes through as sweet toasty vanilla and smoke essence. Screams Barossa, with distinctive secondary elements peeking out of sweet cherry, tobacco, spice, red flowers and plums. Outstanding, 30 min decant does it all. — 9 years ago

George Spencer

9.1

Awesome with bo ssam — 10 years ago

Jon Ruyle

9.4

The evolution this displayed throughout the night would have made Darwin himself proud. Barolo like tar elements, acidity became earthy with air. Long, wonderful finish. A worthy companion to Ching's filet mignon and my pomegranate and apple salad. — 10 years ago

with Eugene

Eric Elkin

9.2

Really good Pinot. Sweet and sour cherry, minerality and a bit of roundness that makes it so appealing. — 11 years ago

Robert Cunningham

Wine Educator DeVinimus, Wine Workshop

9.3

Savory and delicate. Drink up. Nice nose palate and finish. Milk chocolate and licorice elements with some woody, cedar chest elements. — 11 years ago

Corey Zamora, CSW

9.2

Very good rioja, good structure, earthy elements, beautiful color. But wine of the year last year? Think not. — 12 years ago

Eric and Rachel Ferkel

9.8

Full bodied and smooth — 13 years ago

with Eric

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9.4

Beautiful. Right in the middle between youthful fruitiness and mature tertiary development, showing some elements of both. Delightfully perfumed on the nose, full in the mouth, and smooth on the finish. A real treat. — 10 years ago

Robert Cunningham

Wine Educator DeVinimus, Wine Workshop

9.1

2 different bottles. One overripe and sweet cherry. Too ripe. Sweet finish. Not great. 88 pts. Second bottle was better, more tertiary elements and balance. Moderate finish. — 10 years ago

Matt Perlman

9.3

In this vintage, would have been hard pressed to say this wasn't the single vineyard bottling unless tasted side by side--powerful and complex, liquid rocks up front, with structure just beginning to soften enough for fruit and savory elements to emerge. — 10 years ago

David MacMillan

9.1

Mineral but still well rounded....Karl from Elements recommended — 11 years ago

with Robert

Robert Cunningham

Wine Educator DeVinimus, Wine Workshop

8.9

Nice wine. Soft in style and though some modern elements still nice — 11 years ago

Andrew Whittle

Co-Owner/Director Summit Estate Wines

9.6

First US Riesling I have had - impressed - good fruit, mineral & structure - would love to taste it with some serious age! — 11 years ago

Kelsey Morrison

9.6

Nose has similar elements to 07: black cherry, smokey white pepper, licorice. Palate has balanced acid, smooth texture, fruity finish. Great tannins, will last another ten years if cellared well. I ❤️ Paloma! — 12 years ago