David Shaw

9.1

First pour of the vintage for me. Smells like I just pulled fresh table grapes off the stem. Initial flavors of red fruit herbs and something floral, followed by unripe plum and cola. Light bodied but medium pigment extraction. After sixty minutes, flavors integrate. — a day ago

Ted

9.5

Superb glass of grape juice. Silky smooth. Outstanding!! — a month ago

with Jeni

Ming L

9.3

Like the Pipparello, this is a blend of Sangiovese, Sagrantino and Montepulciano. Unlike the Pipparello, this one sees no oak.
The savory nose is full of cherries, earth, and herbal spices. Very deep and complex. On the palate the acidity is noticeably higher. Intense and brooding. Powerful dusty tannins.
A wine making tour de force. — 2 months ago

Neil Valenzuela

9.5

Deep ruby color. Aromas blueberry, asphalt and RC Cola. Soft, gorgeous wine, full of blue fruits and delicate tannins- superb!! — 14 days ago

Jane Nuss

9.1

Notes of cherry, plum, oak, vanilla, and tobacco. Graceful and elegant on the palate. — 13 days ago

Vino Joe

9.5

Wonderful wine. One of my favorite vineyards. This is always a high quality wine. This one is still young but getting its legs. Vibrant and fresh if not yet rounded out. There is complexity that will only build. The length is good now but I know will be significantly longer in near term. Cherry. Fig. Eucalyptus. Loved this wine. Looking forward to sampling the next few I have over ensuing decade. — a month ago

Bryan Kesting

9.3

Plenty of secondary notes at 11 years of age. Drink up if you have them. — 19 days ago

Aaron S

9.5

Recommend to me as a cheap crowd pleaser and it sure holds up. Full of fruit and fairly sweet—great for a movie night with friends but would be disappointing alone. — a month ago

Paul J

9.0

PnP. Better than previous bottles of older vintages. Started out nice but became too tannic and rough for me. Not a ton of fruit present, more earth, herbs, and minerality. Decent depth. — 2 months ago

with Brooke

Victor Hsu

9.3

Privileged to sample the 2016 Monte Bello at the winery as part of their Library offerings. The bottle is $375 at the winery. Tight and tannic after 8 years (and half an hour of decanting) but promising much more. Josh at the winery concedes that it’s in a dumb phase but should reach its peak in 20-30 years. I could analyze and pick apart this one for hours. — 2 months ago