Though a few WB’s suggested I not open the 05’ Monte Bello as it had shut down, I went ahead and did anyway since I have some left. These are two of the four wines tasted on Saturday night. Dinner incuded filet mignon from A & J’s in Seattle that is just a small step below Flannery steaks.
1996 Sassacia…this wine always fools me on the nose. I always think it’s a burg or rhone even though it’s a bordeaux blend. Light bodied with profiles of mushrooms and leather. Very elegant with nice acid, leather and earthy notes along with cherry and strawberry. I think the filet ehanced the flavor profile of the wine.
2005 Ridge Monte Bello. Pure elegance and balance. I did not get a lot on the nose until the end of the night but already showing a lot of complexity and that signature sour of a young Monte Bello. So for those who said it has closed down, perhaps on the nose it has. Plenty of dark fruit with notes of cedar and oak and extraordinary purity and richness and precision of a first growth. I think this could be right up there with the 1991 and might even be better than the 2001 Monte Bello I had last year. It will age effortlessly for decades. A stunning wine and our wine of the night!!!
For those who want to know, it was decanted about 7 hrs and consumed over 6 hours. I know Parker has rerated this wine 97 points and my guess it will be that in about ten years. ![[cheers.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/0/0ff9bfcdb0964982cd3240b6159868fbdf215b1a.gif "cheers"){kind=small}