Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2020 vintage. A fave CA chard and producer. Medium-medium heavy body. Tasting slightly more tropical and advanced with less acidity than usual. Still absolutely delicious tho. Would like to retaste and reevaluate in 5-6 months tho. Based on 30 vintages of tasting this particular wine, betting it reconciles any tawdry, fleeting concerns that occupy my compromised palate and right quick. 01.22.25. — 16 days ago

Michelle

9.5

Excellent. In Butcher’s Cut on MSC — 3 months ago

Andrew

9.0

2014 drunk in 2024. Last bottle of this vintage. Still holds up and has more time in it. Lovely subtlety that does open up a bit with time.  — 4 months ago

Jeremiah Diaz

9.0

Pale gold in color; lemon, yellow apples, and peaches on the nose; high acidity; tastes like lemon zest; honeysuckle, and pear with a long finish. Nellie and I like it. Rayne did not. — 5 months ago

with Nellie

Jay Kline

9.7

Of all the American red wines that participated in the Judgement of Paris, it could be argued that Monte Bello has shown the greatest propensity to age. In fact, I would go as far as it requires lengthy cellaring to extract its best. I’ve had the good fortune to drink a number of tremendous vintages of Monte Bello over the last several years and this one has got to be at or near the top of the lot.

Opened and poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service and enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 1991 Monte Bello pours a deep ruby/purple color with an opaque core moving out towards a light ruby rim; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing (still!) with gorgeous notes of ripe and tart black currants, mixed bramble fruit, tobacco, some purple flowers, dill, mint, leather, earth, vanilla and associated baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. The structure remains tremendous which again, seems to indicate youth. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is super long and immensely satisfying. This is one of those wines that will outlive most humans. Drinking well now with a short decant but this has the gas to see 2061 with ease. — 20 days ago

Vino Joe

9.5

Perfectly ripe. This wine is peak. Mature fruit in balance with everything. This was ready to go from the pour. Well rounded and deep. Gorgeous color. Likely to start receding soon. So drink up! — 3 months ago

Graham

9.3

In a great spot. Tannins resolving and fruit still strong. With Jo-Jo and family. — 3 months ago

Ron R

9.3

Honeydew melon and pineapple everywhere.. broad and expansive on the mid-palate. Moderate and honied sweetness is tucked in with complementary acidity. A beauty. — 3 months ago

with Anne-marie

Jane Nuss

9.0

Pale lemon. One the nose- apple, pear, peach, citrus, and a grassy/herbaceous note that I can’t put my finger on. Burst of grapefruit and pineapple with some minerality on the palate. Medium body. Nice, zesty acidity. Was a bit tight at first out of the bottle. Best to let it breathe a bit and losen up some. Fun and cheeky wine! — 8 months ago

Eric Urbani

9.2

Terrific domestic Roussanne grown in the Santa Cruz mountains from this great producer. 190 cases. 13.2% ABV — 8 months ago