Jay Kline

9.2

Enjoyed alongside some other Napa legends from the 80’s and 90’s. Over the first hour upon opening, the 1986 Monticello showed very well alongside the Dunn, Mayacamas and Monte Bello. It has a greater umami character that reminded us of hoisin and showed more alcohol but it remained fairly balanced. I thought it did seem to fade a bit as the night went on but what a showing. Drink now. — 14 days ago

Stephanie Arend

9.5

Full bodied, full of flavor — 3 years ago

David Bettencourt

8.9

Blueberry, strawberry, vanilla, lemongrass combine with a hint of honeysuckle on the nose. It needed about 30 minutes to open up and it was very reserved with the first pour. The oak hits hard with strong cherry flavor as you drink this 2016 vintage. Paired nicely with a shrimp, scallop and lobster fra diavlo linguine, but needed food. On its own it was a bit tight and dry. — 4 years ago

Conrad Green

9.0

Ripe and lush in the nose. Golden in color. Nice resolved fruit with dried apricot and an orange peel hint. Good pose and balance still. — 8 months ago

with Paul and Ara

Scott Cowan

9.0

Excellent QPR @ $28 for the 2017 vintage at Rustic Bakery (always a lovely soot for excellent pastries, sandwiches, soups, salads..,and now also a bit of a wine shop?!?) Day 1: more the cherry of cough syrup at the very first sip but that quickly turned to more rounded cherry vanilla cola w/in five mins of aeration. RASPBERRY mid-palate and socko heat plus finish with that delightful taste of vanilla associated with time in Toasted French Oak barrels mingling with blackberry leaves and dark bing cherry in that longer (and hotter) finish than any other pinot under $40 I’ve ever found stateside. Day 2 (under argon gas) zero of the sweet cough syrup and all above deliciousness plus more rounded mouthfeel. — 3 years ago

JKT

9.2

Another surprise of an unknown old style Cab. Might be first vintage of Jay Corley Monticello Vineyard in Oakville Knoll? Said to go for lighter style “dinner wine” which is on the mark. 12.5% ABV! Old school or what? Not just alive but lively and lovely with all that ripe prune fruits and earth and leather. held up very well in Eto over four days. Upping to 9.2. PS yes it is the first vintage of Monticello Vineyard and available as library wine on their site for $210! Shout out to Ira Schwartz's metaphor in his post on a '70 Mayacaymus Zin as pure joy of dancing with ones grandma, this one is like dancing with grandmother who trained as a ballerina and still has the style and posture! Amazement now laced with Heh heh value find satisfaction. AA14. — 4 years ago

Joe DAscoli

9.2

Some good fruit. ESP on the nose. Blueberries and raspberries - maybe some strawberry. On the palate, lots of darker flavors with a brambles like feel to it. — a year ago

Andrea Silverstein

9.5

Very rich, full bodied with tobacco notes — 3 years ago

Pablo Cetlinski

10

On of the undiscovered single vineyard Cabs of Napa. Bordeaux finesse and Napa deepness. — 3 years ago

Pablo Cetlinski

10

Ripe cherry with basil leaf, hints of cinnamon. Long lasting bright finnish with a good dose of acidity. Very light toasty oak. — 4 years ago