Monte Smith

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2012

1000th wine by delectable 🥳. Controlled power...deep flavours that are starting to integrate nicely. Have wanted to try this for a long time and wasnt let down. Heres to the next 1000 🥂 — 5 days ago

Somm, Austin and 15 others liked this
Anthony De Blasi

Anthony De Blasi

Congratulations! I just bought the Petit Sirah and Pagani Ranch 🤩

Château Smith Haut Lafitte

Grand Cru Classé de Graves Red Bordeaux Blend 2016

Wow!!. A delicate and complex wine. Medium to full body, not overwhelming, perfection of balance. Nose - attributes of cacao, aged prune. Tanins are still powerful and give the structure. A beautiful wine. — a month ago

Tom, Dave and 2 others liked this

Louis M. Martini

Monte Rosso Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Oak, chocolate, and leather. Big, rich, and full. — 2 months ago

Château Smith Haut Lafitte

Pessac-Léognan Blanc White Bordeaux Blend 2020

Brilliant and complex wine. Personally i couldnt find any hint of sauvignon blanc on the nose and it reminds me more of a chardonnay. Great use of wood and acidity. Will improve in the coming years. Highly recommmend! Served with roasted cauliflower soup — 2 months ago

Bob, Pooneet and 23 others liked this

Smith Madrone

Estate Bottled Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Paul J
9.4

PnP. This was great! Drove by the winery on Spring Mountain last week! Dark red color with dark, candied fruit on the nose. Classic Napa cab with nice terroir elements. Great depth and awesome texture. Another excellent Wine Spectator recommendation. — a month ago

Brooke Weaver Jakubowski
with Brooke
Scott@Mister, Jan and 5 others liked this

Speri

Monte Sant'Urbano Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Corvina Blend 2020

Sant’Urbano, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2020, Veneto, Italy 🇮🇹

Overview
Produced by Speri in the historic hills of Valpolicella Classico, the Sant’Urbano Amarone is one of the estate’s flagship wines and a benchmark expression of the style. Crafted from the traditional Amarone blend, primarily Corvina, Corvinone, and Rondinella, the grapes undergo the classic appassimento drying process for several months before fermentation, concentrating flavors and structure. The 2020 vintage shows remarkable balance between richness and freshness, delivering depth while maintaining precision and lift.

Aromas & Flavors
Subtle yet expressive layers of dried raisin, marmalade, and dark fruit compote emerge alongside notes of ripe cherry, fig, and delicate spice. The aromatic profile reveals the classic Amarone character without becoming overly heavy, allowing fruit purity and complexity to remain in focus.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied yet remarkably lively, the wine moves across the palate with impressive energy. Structured tannins and vibrant acidity provide a firm backbone, giving the wine lift and elegance. The texture is rich but polished, and the finish is long, layered, and persistent, suggesting a wine that will continue to evolve and climb with further aging.

Food Pairings
This Amarone pairs beautifully with slow-braised meats, roasted lamb, venison, and rich game dishes where its concentration and acidity complement savory depth. It also shines alongside aged cheeses such as Parmigiano Reggiano or Pecorino, where the wine’s structure and lingering finish enhance the richness of the pairing.

Verdict
A beautifully balanced Amarone that combines power with finesse. Structured, energetic, and elegant, it delivers both immediate pleasure and strong aging potential.

Did You Know?
The Sant’Urbano vineyard from which this wine takes its name is one of Speri’s historic crus in Valpolicella Classico and is considered among the estate’s most important sites for producing Amarone with both structure and longevity.

🍷 Personal Pick
An Amarone that truly danced across the palate, rich yet vibrant, with subtle dried fruit, marmalade, and compote supported by strong structure and acidity. Delicious now, but clearly a wine that still has room to climb.
— a month ago

Tom, Bob and 3 others liked this

Château Smith Haut Lafitte

Les Hauts de Smith Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 2016

Handsome #pessacléognan; 2nd wine from this famous producer. Took a good bit to open up. #bordeaux — 3 months ago

Ridge Vineyards

Estate Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2017

Wow. What a quality wine! Great, great, great complexity. Totally ready to drink. Love it. — 13 days ago

Tom liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1997

One of my absolute favorite California wines. The California Latour. ‘97 is superb—vividly detailed and complex with both power and elegance. A masterful balance of fruit, tertiary character and cooling acidity with a silky palate and melting tannins. Hard to beat for a Wagyu pairing. — a month ago

Paul, Tom and 6 others liked this

Charles Smith

M.C.K. (Motor City Kitty) Syrah 2022

Beast! Big, burly, brooding, and bawesome.
Rich and gamey with smoky olive brine and savory layers of earth. Tucking a couple away.
— 2 months ago

Tom, Steve and 3 others liked this