David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

A perfect bottle, direct import from a Negotiate via K&L. It has seen only Chateau & Negotiate storage.

Love, love, love the style of 80’s Bordeaux. Especially, the very good 80’s vintages. The style at this age is just so good as is the 12.5 ABV.

The fruit is still very solid & fresh. Ruby; blackberries, plums, poached strawberries, black raspberries, raspberries & blueberries hues. Lead pencil for days, some light v/a-bandaid, used tobacco w/ ash, very used leather, dark spice, understated mushroom, baking spices- light nutmeg/clove, cinnamon, vanillin, dry, river stone, limestone, dark rich soil with dry leaves, mix of dry and fresh herbs, touch of mint, moist clay, withering & dry dark, red, flowers, rainfall acidity and a well balanced, nicely structured, softly tensioned, beautiful finish that lasts 90 seconds.

Paired with/ Allen Brothers Cover Ribs. — 3 days ago

Alessandro Dalle Carbonare

9.3

Piacevole artigianalita. Naturally expressive. Quite untouched fruit. Finish a bit harsh. May improve. — 2 days ago

Vino Joe

9.5

Wonderful wine. One of my favorite vineyards. This is always a high quality wine. This one is still young but getting its legs. Vibrant and fresh if not yet rounded out. There is complexity that will only build. The length is good now but I know will be significantly longer in near term. Cherry. Fig. Eucalyptus. Loved this wine. Looking forward to sampling the next few I have over ensuing decade. — 25 days ago

Jess

9.2

Deeep purple color.
Aromas of baked blueberry, blackberry, green bell pepper, hint of vanilla.
Dry. Flavors of cassis, vanilla, cedar, licorice. Medium-rich, chewy tannins.

Intensity: 4/5
Complexity: 3/5
Balance: 5/5
Finish: 5/5 — 14 days ago

Ethan Samuels

9.4

2020 vintage drunk in April 2024. Evolved to become more charcoal, dark chocolate, tobacco, pencil shavings. Grippy and young still, have a second bottle and will revisit in a decade +. — 5 days ago

Alessandro Dalle Carbonare

9.8

So elegant Montrose. It builds up an epic journey in the aftertaste. Rich and opulent as usual but with a fine touch of incredible level.
Softer extraction resulted on a fruitier, more sapid and rounder wine than usual. It feels it’s going to be approachable in its youth. — 13 hours ago

leon egozi

9.5

305 group annual 10 yr Napa cab retrospective — a month ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

1998 not the best Napa Cabernet vintage. However, good producers still find their way through difficult vintages. Joseph Phelps is the rule rather than the exception.

This was poured out of magnum and drinking beautifully by their Hospitality Manger.

Nicely ripe, lush juicy fruits of blackberries, blackberries, both plums, some purple & blue fruits. Dash of spice & lead pencil, anise-black licorice, soft baking spices, caramel notes, some dark chocolate, fresh dark flowers, round acidity and a well balanced, softened structure & tension, elegant, nicely evolved finish that lasted a full minute. — 16 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

This had the classic LB nose showing mostly black fruits with currant, cedar, leather, menthol, spice box, cigar ash & tobacco leaf. — 11 days ago

Pooneet K

9.2

Quite delicious, but needs a 2+ hour decant even at 10+ years (plus lots of sediment so the decant is necessary anyway). Great pairing with an Easter roast beef and mushrooms. Nice darker fruit. Tannins still quite there - could take another ~5 years. Nice acid on the finish and always appreciate the < 14% abv. — 23 days ago