Shay A

9.5

This was opened for my good friend, and winemaker for Montagu & Silver Ghost, Weston’s birthday. Our local group has long had many opinions on if Kongsgaard’s Judge is worth the up-charge due to expected lifespan. With Kongsgaard’s “death and resurrection” winemaking style, we’ve come across more overly oxidized bottles of Judge within 10yrs than we’d expect. And the regular Chardonnay bottling at less than half the price drinks just as good, if not better, at all stages. That being said, when the Judge is in that magical spot, it is simply spectacular.

My hopes here were fairly low in terms of vibrancy, but at first pour, I knew I was in for something special. Had that green tinge I come across ever so often (which normally leads to young wine and/or wine not exposed to oxygen…neither of those apply here). Steely and tart initially before turning quickly to a more powdered lemon bar, exotic tropical ripe fruits like nutmeg dusted white peach and juicy stone fruit (a bit Peter Michael Point Rouge like on the nose). Salted honey roasted cashews, pineapple, rich honeycomb and a lanolin type twang on the mid palate. Finish here is astoundingly lengthy. While this was likely profound 2-3yrs ago, it’s fantastic today (assuming you don’t experience bottle variation)! Drink up! — 2 years ago

Shay A

9.3

Day 2 of Napa in the books!

Quick lunch with my friend Jason Moore of Modus Operandi Cellars. He was Weston’s (of Montagu Wines) mentor and is a fellow Texan! He submitted his wines for review for the very first time last year after 10+yrs, and received multiple 92-97pt wines. This SB is so much better than expected...tropical and explosive. Not quite on Arkenstone or Aesthete SB level, but the richness and round texture are very similar. Kiwi, stone fruit, nectarine and a melon/cantaloupe finish. If you enjoy big style SB, not sure there is a better Napa Valley one at $40. — 5 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.0

This wine is very forgettable. There was some fruit on the nose, but more of a muted presence. Perhaps a little too old? Bottle variation? Whatever it is, this one was in last place in a lineup of 2012 Plumpjack, 2005 Cayuse En Cerise, 2013 Sleight of hand Psychedelic, 2009 Alban Reva, 2001 Dutschke Semmler, and a 2015 Montagu Hyde. Died immediately when paired with braised pork. Did have some velvety black fruit character throughout but it had nothing exciting to contribute. Didn't even wake up with salty kettle chips. I would like to try a newer offering perhaps? — 5 years ago

with Dan and Shay

Kirk F

9.2

Enjoyed revisiting the 14. Delish! — 4 years ago

Joshua Fisher

9.4

new by the glass at the restaurant — 5 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.3

More fruit than funk. This one was not at the very front or back of a lineup consisting of a 2012 Plumpjack, 2005 Cayuse En Cerise, 2013 Sleight of hand Psychedelic, 2009 Alban Reva, 2007 Bevan Bob's Cuvee Dry Stack Syrah, and a 2015 Montagu Hyde. Would definitely enjoy again if someone else was buying. I was very surprised to find a lot fruit still here. The cellartracker drink by window seems to have expired a couple of years ago, yet I did not really get many tertiary notes out of this wine at all. A lot of dark fruit here. Ripe blackberry, boysenberry, hint of earthy grit to the middle and finish. Still seemed to finish with a little bit of resolving tannin. The finish definitely has rounded off. Enjoyed quite a bit, yet if you have this in your cellar I would start opening! — 5 years ago

with Dan and Shay

Shay A

9.3

We make our annual trip out to Napa in about a week and a half, so I’m enjoying some wines from producers we are visiting. This is from Modus Operandi Cellars. The winemaker, Jason, has become a friend and was who helped Weston from Montagu Wines get started in the beginning. Jason submitted his Modus wines for review to Wine Advocate for the first time and did incredibly well (multiple 93-97pt wines). We are having lunch with Jason on our trip and look forward to his new releases.

The blend on this changes year to year I believe. The aromatics here and very dark and scorched. Roasted plum, dark cocoa dusted dates, cinnamon and licorice. I even picked up some Bordeaux like saddle leather here too. On the palate, it’s got chalky tannin with ripe blue and black fruit, black pepper, and an herbal finish. — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.1

If you aren’t familiar with Brasswood, you should change that. A truly state of the art custom crush facility in St Helena (has housed clients like Bevan Cellars, Moone Tsai, Montagu, Modus Operandi, Dark Matter, etc), with tasting rooms, caves, a shop, bakery and a fantastic restaurant. On top of all that, they have their own label, which Angelina Mondavi consults on.

This is my first time trying their Chardonnay offering, courtesy of Brasswood’s Somm @Joshua Fisher . I was fortunate to follow this over the course of a few days. Day one had this showing very primary...down the middle type chard. Day two saw this increase in complexity...certainly true to Napa chard with a warm and soft profile, revealing lanolin, lemon cream, and even a cotton candy note on the nose. The palate has added notes of ripe melon, banana, and powdered sugar. Viscous but a line of acidity keeps this nervy. Thanks Josh. — 4 years ago

Shay A

9.4

Heck of a hosting by @Weston Eidson last night for the City Club wine group. All wines were tasted blind.

This was really fun trying alongside The Judge (once they were revealed). I guessed this was 3-5 year old Cali chardonnay, and guessed it was a Montagu Ritchie. Crazy power to this...it mellowed a touch with time in the glass, but it was large and in charge. Smoked marshmallows, lemon oil, hazelnut and honeyed fruits. Viscous and rich on the palate. — 5 years ago

with joe, Dan and 2 others

Mark Flesher

9.5

Solid 95. Almost want to give this one a 96. If I was planning to stay longer, this wine would have been within arm's length of me at all times. Full-bodied, correct Syrah done extremely well from Hyde fruit. Pours with a purple hue, with a delicate yet complex nose of herbs, flowers, mint(?), chocolate, and fruit. The entry of this wine is powerful. Lots of dark fruit with a hint of chocolate. The middle is balanced buy an herbal quality did I would stop really short of calling a funkiness in the traditional sense. It seems to touch down on these notes to give you just enough of a hint. Finishes with an earthy and Dusty resin, but it is quite fruity on the Finish as well. This was the most balanced wine on the table. Gave you every single characteristic you could hope to obtain in a Syrah. Bravo @Weston Eidson I will be buying me sommathis!! Has the structure to go 10 years. — 5 years ago

with Dan and Shay