Sipping Fine Wine

9.5

From a 5 Bordeaux grape blend: 81.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.8% Merlot, 1.8% Petit Verdot, 1.4% Cabernet Franc & 0.4% Malbec, aged 24 months French oak, 85% new. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruits, floral and toasty spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry, cherry and plump blueberries with notes of herbs, baking spice and toasty notes. Fine soft tannins, long finish ending with cacao, toasty oak, fruit and earthy mineral tang. Very nice, aging well, but time will reward! — 12 days ago

Carter White

9.1

So consistent — 3 months ago

Brandon T

9.3

Medium body Pinot. Pomegranate, cherries, and some licorice. Young but opened up after about an hour. — 3 months ago

Kelley Raymond

9.2

Needs a bit more aging but a great drinker - more like patio wine — 8 days ago

Jay Kline

9.4

My previous bottle of the 2014 Montecillo was enjoyed back in January of 2021. That bottle, as my previous notes indicated, exhibited quite a bit of volatile acidity. This bottle did not seem to have much VA at all. In fact, this showed well right from the moment the cork was pulled.

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a game of 10 point pitch. The 2014 Montecillo pours a garnet/purple color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with gorgeous, lifted notes of cassis, black berries, leaf tobacco, Anaheim peppers, Herbs de Provence, eucalyptus and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long a with spices and minerals. Really tasty and distinctive stuff. I’m in no rush to openly third and final bottle. Drink now with patience, through 2039. — a month ago

Nicole Killin

9.0

Nice for the price! — 4 months ago

Mark Mannebach

9.3

Bright cherry and blueberry up front. Long smooth finish with a little spice — 25 days ago

Mark Rosse

9.5

This is what I remember about great California Cabs. In my cellar for 25+ years. Popped the cork and left air 2 hours before decanting for another hour. A hint of the coconut marker while first decanting but blew off quickly. Great color and condition. — 2 months ago

AJ Gubser

8.9

Black currants, sweet oaky spices, cigar, coconut cream. Ripe, dark fruits, oaky spice (nutmeg, cinnamon), mild acidity, firm but smooth tannins. Some lingering grape candy.

A nice, affordable steak wine. — 3 months ago

Mackenzie Svee

9.0

bone-dry finish mellowed by the ripe-apricot character, plus hints of toast and melted butter. — 5 months ago