David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Just entering its drinking window. It has 40 years ahead of it. Excellent with Ribcap from Costco.

Interesting that there are some vegetable notes on the nose.

Very good evolution. Medium plus tannins. Juicy, ripe blackberries, black raspberries, darkest cherries, black plum/ with skin, ripe strawberries, some blue fruit hues, cedar, black licorice/cola, dark rich earth w/ leaves, sandstone, steeped sun tea, light limestone powder, ripe, light, dark spice, clove, light cinnamon, hints of nutmeg, vanillin, moist volcanic clay, fresh red, dark flowers, framed in violets, round acidity with polish/balance, softly tensioned, elegant that falls on mineral & clay that lasts two-minutes. — 20 days ago

Dave Mayers

9.3

03 out of mag. Decanted 2 hours. Huge red fruit in the nose. The body was delicate. Perf drinking window. Red cherry, Bordeaux like pallate. Silky finish. All class. — 5 months ago

Vino Joe

9.5

Dense and spicy. This was packed with power and a very full mouthfeel. I think this a great drinking window for this vintage. — 8 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Previous tasting note here was for October 2022. Aromas of menthol , plum skins and friable soil. Medium bodied palate showing a strangely sweet chocolate character amongst the savouriness. A few years left in the drinking window. Have the last one in 2+ years. — 2 months ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

Drinking well, polished showing black & red fruit, cassis, spice box, graphite, leather, & sweet tobacco. Just beginning to enter its drinking window with many years ahead. — 4 months ago

Shay A

9.3

My last of a three pack, and this shockingly drinks almost identical to my last bottle over four years ago.

Lovely deep red in the glass with bricking around the rim. Fig bar, sweet black cherries and tobacco aromatics. Ripe red and black fruits on the palate...not over ripe, but definitely sweet. Channeling more of a cherry liqueur and concentrated mid-palate as it ages. Close to fully integrated. Quite smooth and still a lot of fruit playing a primary role, but it’s not getting any better. More sexy than intellectual (nothing wrong with either).

I’d imagine this will hold in this window for another couple years and then decline, but I didn’t expect it to hold in this same window for almost five years. Drink up. — 5 months ago

Vino Joe

9.3

Way too early. I have a few 375mL bottles and was curious to learn how a wine like this might be even though it was well before it’s suggested drinking window. The bones and structure are evident and this should grow into a monster. It was still a very pleasant wine it was just holding back the whole time. Unfocused fruit and a bit too sweet but I think this score will be significantly higher for round 2. — 9 months ago

Shay A

9.4

Annual birthday WWC hosting. As normal, 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds, 1 dessert, all presented blind.

Here we are six years after my last ‘88 Montelena and I’m looking at my old review as if I wrote it about this current bottle! So bright and lively. Gorgeous deep ruby color (darker than the ‘88 Leoville Barton). There is a Christmas spice (maybe more mint-driven) aromatic with bing cherries and floral notes. Red fruit to the core with some spiced blackberries, earthy/herbal savoriness, great acidity and a snappy/youthful finish. Cedar and espresso. Held strong over a few hours open. Not falling off a cliff, but don’t miss this window if you have some! — 2 months ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.3

Vintage 2008 | tuilé rim, brown, beautiful smell: autumnleaves, eucalyptus, leather, is now in its drinking window, great balance — 4 months ago

GaryWEdwards

9.4

Has moved into the beginning of that drinking window that rewards the patient. Good juice and a great price/value relationship. — 8 months ago