Monte Del Frá

Ridge Vineyards

Estate Monte Bello Vineyard Merlot 2017

Nice Merlot with some ribeyes on the grill. Oak still not fully integrated and there is more of an opulent glycerine quality than I expected for a ridge. But still nice. — 14 days ago

Tom, Lyle and 1 other liked this

Monte del Frá

Cá del Magro Custoza Superiore Garganega Blend

Also with 32 degrees Celsius on a terrace this is drinking nicely. Full budied, light acidity and a slightly sweet. Salut! — a month ago

Peter, Berry and 2 others liked this

Suavia

Monte Carbonare Garganega 2020

Lemonade earth. — 3 months ago

Ira liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Estate Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

Promising red fruit on the nose but a bit too tannic—decanting was de rigueur. After 45 minutes it was better but still tight. It took a full two hours to open up fully and show interesting notes of tobacco, earth and pencil shavings to balance the fruit and acid. Tells me that I should wait another five years before opening my remaining bottles. Enjoyed the 2021 vintage with prime ribeye cap steak from Costco, chicken liver pate and Taleggio cheese, with visiting family (William, Teresa, Xander and Samantha). — 3 months ago

Scott@Mister liked this

Bodegas Riojanas

Monte Real Gran Reserva Rioja Tempranillo 1998

what an outstanding experience and without question one of the best wines of the year for me. This is a world class business card of what American oak can do at its best. It starts with a powerful yet elegant knows of dusty cherry, old licorice but mostly gives way to inebriating feeling of grandma‘s old spice cabinet. Something in the nose already tells you that fine fine tans are waiting for you, but the palate is overwhelmingly silky smoothness, possibly the highest combination of intense-yet-silky tannins you can find anywhere, with bright acidity and medium to light body that makes the whole thing dance. I decided to check the producer website and they recommend pairing it with cod with sauce. Luck would have it that I randomly was eating pasta filled with salt cod and tomato sauce. The pairing works well as it further rejuvenates the wine, but I would say it shines at its brightest just by itself, letting those tannins tell the story without any need to curb them down. I’m drinking from Coravin meaning I cannot decant the wine, but even the sediment tastes good. Just like those people who brag about buying burgundy in the 70s, I feel like once the ebbs and flows of trends will shift I will be bragging about buying a 26-year-old monte real gran reserva, kept 24 years at the winery, for 60 bucks, which in San Francisco wouldn’t even pay for the cost of storage  — 21 days ago

Andrew, Douglas and 6 others liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1990

A very reliable producer. Plenty left under the hood. Half bottle delight. Tons of sediment and the cork was intact but crumbled upon opening. Stewed for an hour and then began to be ready. Rounded succulent mature fruit a bit smoky and great balance/mouthfeel. — a month ago

Tom, Jan and 16 others liked this

Monte Antico

Toscana Sangiovese Blend 2019

Experience was worth the price of admission. A good blend. Needed a twist off and it served us well at the bowl — 7 days ago

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2017

Ridge - at best an ok. — 8 days ago

Shay, Paul and 2 others liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Chardonnay 2004

Eric Crane
9.9

Bonkers. Loads of primary fruit. Seems like it was bottled yesterday. Explosive and just kind of mind altering. Hard to believe how this showed with such age. — 2 months ago

Monte Bernardi

Sa'etta Chianti Classico Riserva Sangiovese Blend 2018

Great Chianti and affordable, let it breath first — 3 months ago