Garen Staglin

9.4

In Magnum. Excellent balance of fruit and acid. Many years to go. — 2 days ago

Carter White

9.2

Dark fruit, bell pepper, light body, tangy, and earthy. — 12 days ago

Shay A

9.2

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

Fun to do a side by side with the ‘88, and also check in against the Montelena. Profile wise, this leans ripe and modern stylistically. There is a kiss of brett that takes you to Bordeaux but it’s mostly red and black fruit driven with a vanilla pipe tobacco sweetness, leather, cassis and a little bit of a floral note, especially aromatically. Big structure for the vintage, but open for business now if you can give it a few hours in the decanter. — 5 days ago

Garen Staglin

9.8

Amazing. Fruit acid and balance. — 5 hours ago

Ron Siegel

9.2

Lots of red berry fruit, spice, leather, floral & tobacco notes — 17 days ago

Josh Morgenthau

9.6

Transparent, singing. Ripe but tense. Truly top tier fruit. — a month ago

Scott Kahn

9.0

Beautiful nose! Fruit is largely expired but the tannins persist and are much softer than typical Cabernet tannins. Drink this soon! — 14 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

This had lots of rich dark berry fruit with notes of graphite, sweet, savory spice, cedar, leather & tobacco — 5 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Garnet core , terracotta rim . Spiced red fruit undergrowth , touch of brown sugar , grafite , tobacco , dried mushroom, touch of smoke . On the palate quite elegant red fruited , dried cranberry , red currant , still very much alive , just enough acidity. Slightly short on the finish , but with a round palate and a slightly sweet , brown sugar tinged finish . Still very much alive and enjoyable . Better than expected — 7 days 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! — 5 days ago