Andrew Cullimore

9.4

Medium deep ruby , bright ruby rim . Exuberant and open from the first with tobacco , cedar , deep crème de cassis , violets . On the palate this is intense and richly fruited but remains really well balanced , with great freshness . Spicy creme de cassis , blackberry , grafite , really quite classic. Reminds me of St Julien with the radiance , sunshine and brightness of Napa. Fresh acidity , ripe but grippy tannins , excellent length and balance , grafite , cassis tinged finish. Lovely now , but still quite youthful, from now and over the next 10 -15 years. At Guy Savoy, Caesars Palace, Las Vegas — 11 hours ago

Chris Coulombe

9.4

Probably the best Zinfandel I have ever had. Now like a cab. Great aroma, flavor, balance. We had it at the CIA cooking class — 7 days ago

John Malcolm

9.0

Not quite as great as I was expecting. May be a bit past its prime. Tasted mostly plum and some dark berries. The finish was a bit weak. — a month ago

Paul J

9.5

1hr decant. Dark, rustic red color. Cherries, plums, and cherry now & laters on the nose. Same on the palate. Medium depth with a lingering finish. — 2 months ago

with Brooke

Andy Krell

9.6

Tastes of plums, dark cherry and rick dark fruits. Love it. Will buy again — 2 months ago

Gladys Xiques

9.2

Aged purple fruit. Paired with meat chili — 2 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Better with the Rib-cap. The 08 vintage was spotty to good. This one shows the shortcomings of the 08 vintage. Really good fruit, but lacks typical, depth, mid palate, and length.

The nose is class Bordeaux.Ripe to ruby fruits of, black plum skin, slightly syrupy blackberries, plum, dark cherry liqueur, strawberries, dark currants. Dark chocolate cake with glaze, screaming, lead pencil shavings, tobacco, leather, dry riverstone, limestone marl, forest floor with dry leaves, soft, incense, black, licorice, red, cola, dry herbs, tomato, leaf, with dark and red flowers, framed in violets.

The palate is ripe to ruby fruits of, black plum skin, slightly syrupy blackberries, plum, dark cherry liqueur, strawberries, dark currants. Dark chocolate cake with glaze, screaming, lead pencil shavings, deep, dark spice that expands wide, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, caramel and vanillin, dry tobacco with ash, leather, dry riverstone, limestone marl, dry crushed rocks, forest floor with dry leaves, moist clays, soft, incense, black, licorice, red, cola, savory dry herbs, tomato leaf, dry oak barrel shaving to cedar with dark and red flowers, framed in violets, acidity is ok, just not right, finish is good, not great, it falls hard on spice and is short of a minute.

93 with the Rib-cap. Green Bean from my organic gsrden. Drink now through 2035. — 2 months ago

Norman

9.3

Wish it had a little more oomph. Was even better with more air a day later. — 10 hours ago

Norman

9.4

This dropped a ridiculous amount of sediment which might have taken a bit out of the wine from how I remember it. Still great but not as powerful and I thought more one note. — 10 hours ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

1979 vintage. Last tasted 12.10.25 (9.4), 8.15.25 (9.4) and 7.15.25 (9.4). Suck it, Trebek. 10.9.26. — 23 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.3

The 2020 edition of this wine is excellent. Still on the young side, it’s got a classic Zin nose of pristine brambly blackberry, a lifted note that’s almost but not quite eucalyptus adjacent, and some loamy gravel. Gorgeous balance in the mouth, rich and intense but with an elegant texture, tannins abundant but buried under the concentrated flavors. Flavors balance fruit and savory notes. Long. Love this one. — a month ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Presented double-blind at dinner. The wine pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core and a slightly orange rim with considerable variation; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated fruit: black currants, blackberries, plum, pipe tobacco, capsicum, pencil shavings, a touch leather, organic earth and a mix of dried herbs and some fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Really tasty stuff.

Initial conclusions: this is an old wine, likely 30-40 years old. That being said, it’s still very distinguishable as it’s showing varietal characteristics. This could be Cabernet Sauvignon (or a blend thereof), Cabernet Franc (or a blend thereof), or Merlot (or a blend thereof). I can see this being Napa because the fruit is still showing some generosity. But there’s a lot of non-fruits there too. Regardless, this was giving Left Bank vibes so I could also see this being Bordeaux from a great vintage like 1982. And that’s my call, Cabernet Sauvignon-blend from France, Bordeaux, Saint-Estèphe, from a classified growth like Calon-Ségur. Shucks. But I’m not mad about my choice! Old Opus One’s are tricky to differentiate. Drinking very well right now but this will live well past 2035. — 2 months ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Dark ruby in color with a reddish/brick rim.

Showing its age on the nose and full in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with cherries, plums, black currants, coffee, oak, cloves, earth, tobacco leaf, herbs, black tea and black pepper.

Nice length on the finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a very tasty Cabernet Sauvignon from Red Mountain in Washington State. Elegant and earthy with chocolate notes.

This Single Vineyard Cabernet is complex with a soft mouthfeel, and feels much older than its age.

Good right out of the bottle, and good by itself or with food. I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were aged in all new French oak barrels for 22 months. A small production of only 5 barrels.

14% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$80. — 3 months ago

Ming L

9.3

I opened this 2015 after the 16’ Branaire-Ducru.

The fruits are riper and slightly jammy with plum, blueberry, and blackcurrant, but it’s the savory expression that really sets it apart. Rich palate without excessive weight with lively acidity and fresh herbal lift. Kong savory finishes. Beautiful Bordeaux blend with Napa mountain fruits. — a day ago

Ming L

9.2

2013 is a great Napa Cab vintage, so I’m somewhat surprised that there is only 57% Cab in the blend.

Still quite stern and massive, I got this wall of dark fruit, tannins and extract, with acidity underneath it, but not necessarily a lot of charm. The structure softens a bit after 2 hours, revealing more fruits, herbs, and savory complexity. I think this needs another 4-5 years. — a month ago

"Odedi"

9.5

Dark ruby/ inky in color with a short reddish rim. Not showing age at all.

Strong nose of black currant, blackberries, black plums, black cherries, cedar, vanilla, licorice, tobacco, light earth, herbs, mediterranean spices, black tea and peppercorn.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black currants, black plums, blackberries, light cedar, earth, cherries, light vegetables, tobacco leaf, black tea, herbs, light vanilla, mediterranean spices and dark chocolates.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Elegant and nicely balanced with great complexity.

Needs 2 hours in the decanter to open up properly, so be patient. Will continue to age nicely in the next 15 years.

This 17 year old Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley is starting to drink at its peak, although I'm drinking out of a Magnum.

Showing a beautiful nose with lots of complexity. Rich and extracted, elegant and powerful.

Robert Parker 97 points. Wine Enthusiasts 96 points. Wine Spectator 91 points.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, and will also pair nicely with a big piece of steak.

A blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Petit Verdot and 4% Malbec. Aged for 24 months in all new French oak barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

95 points.

$450 (Magnum). — a day ago

Makhanna Seerattan

8.9

I did not try it but Rich liked it . — 2 months ago

Henry Fuseler

9.2

8/2026. Big, bold and dry. Nice finish.

Halls Chophouse — 2 months ago

Steve Bridge

9.5

Easily my favorite visit to SMV and every other one was a 10 out of 10. All the 2023s we tasted on the trip were outstanding. This was right up there with any of them. — 2 months ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Opened about 90min prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2001 Monte Bello pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with lovely notes of black currants, blackberries, plum, tobacco, purple flowers, an intoxicating mix of exotic Eastern spices, some cocoa, inorganic earth and minerals. On the palate? The wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is long and impeccably balanced. To my palate, this bottle has reached the age when Monte Bello starts to really become interesting. What a delight! Drink now with some air, through 2051. — 2 months ago