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. — 7 months ago
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
Perfectly ripe red fruit condition, Red plum and red cherry. Secondary black plum.
Texture is rounded and soft with a good acid balance.
Too much new oak for my preference, it distracts from the quality of the fruit. — a month ago
Full bodied, full of flavor — 4 years ago
Drank it with a French guy who said it was great. Good enough for me! — 3 years ago
Very rich, full bodied with tobacco notes — 3 years ago
Yes, this is east coast - not central coast. Stunning build could fool anyone this is not Cali-quality! Form is simple: Malo/Lees = creamy + Rounded edges. But the palate is so synced with the mouthfeel that it is a seamless build. Meyer lemon creme-brûlée set in a floral Ramekin…one of the very best in recent memory for me. Paired with a tarragon butter Red Rainbow Trout (Fresh from Idaho) and family grown sautéed squash & baked potato….winner-winner, PTL!! Sure, this wine is not a mineral sonnet, but it did the Slam in Style! — 4 years ago
Gage Orion
Fantastic bottle on this semi warm late spring day watching a polo match at kings family winery in Crozet, Virginia! — 3 days ago