Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

From a 5 Bordeaux grape blend: 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 2.5% Cabernet Franc, 2.3% Petit Verdot & 0.3% Malbec, aged 24 months French oak, 85% new, Deep Ruby with aromas of ripe dark fruits, cedar and floral spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry, black cherry and currants with notes of herbs, pepper spice and earthy notes. Fine sweet tannins, long finish ending with cacao, smoky oak, fruit and mineral tang. Very nice, aging well, but time will reward! — a day ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Founded in 1982 by Koerner and Joan Rombauer and sits on a tree covered knoll overlooking the Napa Valley, with caves that extend for over a mile. Pale lemon color with aromas of stone and tropical fruit, sweet oak, spice and floral scents. On the palate flavors of ripe peach, melon and apple, with vanilla spice, creamy texture. Medium+ finish, well balanced with acidity, ending with mineral notes. — 17 days ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Very pretty color of ruby with medium intensity and a wide reddish rim.

Pretty nose with nice complexity.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate and complex.

Showing red and black fruits with wood, light licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco and herbs.

Nice finish with soft tannins and cherries.

This 6 year old Zinfandel based Red blend from Sonoma County is drinking at its peak, and will continue to drink nicely in the next few years.

Elegant and fruit forward. Nicely balanced and soft with a nice mouthfeel. Showing nice complexity at this point.

Wine Enthusiasts 90 points. Wine Spectator 93 points.

Easy drinking and good by itself as a sipping wine.

A blend of 73% Zinfandel, 13% Petite Sirah, 10% Carignan, 3% Mataro and 1% Alicante Bouschet.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$35. — 25 days ago

Scott E. Becker

9.3

[Tasted on January 25, 2025 at Home with Tom, Kathy, Mark and Lucille]

84% Cabernet Sauvignon; 5.5% Merlot; 5.5% Cabernet Franc; 4% Petit Verdot and 1% Malbec. Blackberry and black currant fruit, with chocolate, espresso, earth and a mineral note. Nicely balanced. — 11 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Blend 95% Cabernet Sauv, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot, splash Malbec and Petit Verdot, blended before being aged 24 months in American Oak, 50/50 new and second used. Deep Ruby color with aromas of black fruits, spice and hints of cedar. On the palate flavors of blackberry, raspberry and currants with licorice, cacao, vanilla and savory herbs. Fine tannins, long finish ending with fruit, spice and savory mineral character. Nice!
— 4 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

No detailed notes. Just a good drink now budget Cabernet from California which drinks to its price point. Blackberry and dark chocolate. A Coppola movie has more complexity 😎 — 7 days ago

Neil Valenzuela

9.0

Deep ruby color. Aromas of blackberry, black cherry, baking spices and oak. Black fruit on the palate, plum and silky tannins on the finish.

🏅93 Points - Wine Advocate — 14 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Dark Ruby with aromas of ripe berry fruit and floral spice, pure Caymus signature style, easy drinking, approachable as always. On the palate flavors of ripe blackberry, black cherry and currants with complex spice showing notes of cacao, cinnamon and rich vanilla oak. Fine soft tannins, nice mouthfeel, great balance with acidity, long finish, ending with notes of oak and mineral notes. Nice! — a day ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

Pale yellow with pleasing aromas of citrus and tropical fruits, adding in spice and some biscuit notes. On the palate complex palate of flavors, fresh fruit, pineapple, lemon, grapefruit, peaches and Asian pears. Slight earthiness with a smooth and creamy well balanced finish ending with a gentle yeasty character. Very nice! Consistent quality! Will age well! — 9 days ago

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. — 19 days ago