Steven Perlman

9.3

Cocoa, leather, black fruit; surprisingly bright with soft tannins. Great to drink with our best friends and a 32 oz. Bone in prime rib. — a month ago

Diane M. Napolitano

9.5

A birthday gift from nice friends! Light and bouncy, strawberries, oak, a bit floral, gets juicier on the finish. Yay! 🎉 — 8 months ago

Lauren Spiegel

9.2

Delicious pinot. Full bodied. Lovely to drink with good friends. — a year ago

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. — 3 years ago

with Linh and Sarah

Robert Swart

9.0

Fortunate to have great friends that surprised me with this old vintage Bordeaux from my birth year. Opened up nicely and paired well with beef. — 3 months ago

Dan Michael

9.4

What a treat to enjoy a perfectly aged Opus One with friends over dinner. The wine was gorgeous, great color, classic nose with black fruit and spice, lovely weight and texture with a long satisfying finish. I wish more people had a chance to taste this wine when it is at this age, outstanding! — 8 months ago

David Walser

9.3

Thanksgiving dinner at our friends house in St Helena. Has aged beautifully at 10 years. I don’t think it will get any better. — 2 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

#AgedWineTuesday

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.

Full-bodied and bold, with medium acidity and a hint of must on the nose.

Dry on the palate with black fruits, cedar, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco leaf, herbs, peppercorn, pencil lead, dark coffee, black tea and forest floor.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 19 year old still has a lot of power. Nicely balanced and complex. A beautiful Bordeaux from the great 2005 vintage.

Needs a couple of hours to open up properly and show the tannins.

Wine Enthusiasts 93 points. Wine Advocate 93 points.

Good by itself as a sipping wine.

A blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot.

13% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$150. — 3 months ago

Mark S.

9.1

Oak, lime like herb in aroma. Rich, citrus, white flowers. Citrus, comfortable acidity. Each factor in the taste is showing the feature clearly. From Hunter valley which is an initial place for wine in Australia. Vat 47 Hunter Chardonnay Tyrrell’s 2018 @7546, Toscany JH, 231028-231111 — a year ago

"Odedi"

9.2

#AgedWineTuesday

Celebrating our wedding anniversary, with a Vintage Champagne from the same year.

Light yellow in color with a golden hue.

Strong nose of bread, spices, earth, wet leaves, herbs, yeast, white pepper, lemons, yellow apples and river rocks.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and soft, small bubbles.

Dry on the palate with light citrus, over ripen apples, spices, yeast, bread, river rocks, herbs and white pepper.

Short finish with limes.

This 28 year old Champagne is still delicious, although probably on its last leg.

Showing great complexity with a nice mouthfeel. Soft and elegant.

Not much fruit is left, but enough to make it tangy and interesting.

Thank you Judy for sharing this with us.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with caviar and good friends. Very tasty, especially with the caviar.

12% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$550. — 3 years ago