Bob Boyle

9.2

Good wine, nice depth to the fruit with long finish — a month ago

Neil Valenzuela

9.2

Deep purple color. Aromas of cassis, blackberry, earthy tones and herbs. Blackberry on the palate, earth and a hint of vegetation. Very tasty cab.

🍇 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec

🏅94 Points - Robert Parker
🏅94 Points - Wine Enthusiast
🏅91 Pints - Wine Advocate — 2 months ago

William Goldsmith

9.6

Ungrafted vines. Delicious — 3 months ago

with Ryann

Michael Dierberg

9.5

This one had signs of seepage on it so I opened it planning on throwing it out. What an amazing wine and so fresh! Maybe another bottle seeped on to this one? — 4 months ago

Robert Torretti

9.1

Nice, cool-climate California Pinot Noir. Good red and dark fruits on the palate. I served it a bit too cold, but as it warmed up, the earthiness that this wine is known for came through. I don’t love California Pinot, but Rhys almost always impresses me. — 5 months ago

Matt Perlman

9.2

Very old world, savory. Beautiful — 5 months ago

joy horn

9.9

Bought at Pine Orchard 11/25 $70 after tasting at Ridge in 10/25. Less expensive here. The 2023 is rated at 100 pts. Absolutely delicious. Floral aromas, lightly crisp, subtle oak, smooth finish. — 6 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2019 vintage. Oak attack if served above 65 degrees. Def essential to get that temp down to the 55-64 range so as to conduct pleasant conversation. Otherwise, it’s just screaming/noise. Previous vintage exhibited the same tendency whereas 2017 and before generally didn’t (to this extreme). Hoping it’s not trending that direction but suspect it is. Some splendid complexities once past the rapids. Medium-heavy body. 4.22.26. — 2 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Located in the western end of Dopp Road where the Chehalem Mountains converge with Ribbon Ridge, medium Ruby with aromas of red fruits and enticing spice. On the palate flavors of raspberry and wild cherry with pepper, toasty spice and earthy notes. Young with fine integrated tannins, well defined, elegant with underlying richness, long finish ending with oaky notes. Nice value, will age well! — 2 months ago

Andrew McIntyre

9.5

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 🥂 — 3 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2022 vintage. The curious case of the pinot noir where the mid-palate remarkably remained as if on command. Bright as a bell. Would not transition to the finish. Just stood there, in the middle of the tongue, blocking the traffic. Curious enough to buy two cases at $35 a bottle. 3.11.26. — 3 months ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.6

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. — 4 months ago

romo

9.3

Some poopy bret blew off in 30 mins and revealed a sheer dress of leafy brown spice. Likely peaked at 15 years. — 5 months ago

Robert Stackowiak

9.2

Golden color. Green apple and vanilla (light oak) on the palate. Age worthy. April 2026. — 2 months ago

Ming L

9.0

The 2019 shows a darker, riper profile than the ‘17 and ‘18 vintages. Blackcurrant, blackberry compote, and plum dominate at this stage, layered with licorice, cocoa, and a touch of earth. The palate feels fuller and more concentrated as well, but still quite balanced. Fine yet grippy tannins. Only 13.5% abv.

Powerful yet polished, it should evolve beautifully over the next decade. — 2 months ago

Vinny Brooklyn

9.4

Second & last of my bottles. Wonderful, while ready to drink still has plenty of years ahead of it. — 3 months ago

Ted

9.1

It’s been a minute since I have had this. Wet tobacco. Juicy fruit. Awesome aromatics. — 3 months ago

with Jeni

Neil Valenzuela

9.3

Medium ruby color. Aromas of curry, cardamom, cherry and strawberry. Strawberry flavors, toasted oak, raspberry and black tea. Very interesting Santa Cruz Mountain Pinot. Bottle #32187

🏅94 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
🏅93 Points - Wine Enthusiast — 4 months ago

"Odedi"

9.2

#AgedWineTuesday

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish/ brick rim.

Complex on the nose, and medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate and soft.

Showing cherries, plums, currants, light oak, tobacco leaf, herbs, black pepper, chocolates, light vegetables, Indian spices, licorice and black tea.

Long finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious 13 year old Pinot Noir from Santa Cruz Mountains in California. Drinking beautifully now, elegant and fruit forward. Nicely balanced and soft. Complex with a nice mouthfeel.

This Single Vineyard Pinot Noir, from the great 2013 vintage, is drinking at its peak now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next few years.

A good sipping wine that will pair nicely with food too. Loved the low alcohol level too.

12.8% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$80. — 5 months ago

Willem Booij

9.5

There are bottles I expect to be great, and then there are bottles that still manage to stop me in your tracks.

Château Montus Cuvée Prestige 1998 is firmly in that second category.

This wine has rested quietly in my cellar for nearly three decades, patiently waiting, gathering depth rather than dust. Opening it tonight feels less like uncorking a bottle and more like releasing a memory that has been maturing alongside time itself.

I use to secretly hide this wine among a line up of great clarets and it always stood out!

From the first pour, it’s clear: this wine is fully evolved, yet beautifully alive. The once powerful Tannat backbone has softened into something remarkably refined. The texture is silky, rich, almost velvety, no rough edges left, only harmony.

Dark fruit has given way to layers of leather, cedar, dried plum, cocoa and subtle spice. Everything is integrated, calm, confident. A wine that no longer needs to prove anything.

What amazes me most is not just how good it is, but how complete it feels. This is maturity without fatigue. Depth without heaviness. Power transformed into elegance, love it!

I’ve always known that wines from Château Montus, under the vision of the great Alain Brumont, were built for the long haul. Crafted from old-vine Tannat, grown on the steep, clay-limestone slopes of Madiran, Cuvée Prestige is fermented and aged with patience and intent, often spending extended time in new French oak. It was never meant to be rushed i learned decades ago.

Still, every time I open a mature Montus, I surprise myself all over again.

1998 has reached a point where everything makes sense. It is fully on its drinking window, perhaps right at its sweet spot, and it delivers pure pleasure, calmly and generously.

A reminder that great wine is not about price, prestige, power or extraction, but about time, trust, and restraint.

This bottle didn’t just age well.
It became something greater. 95 WBP — 5 months ago