5/11/2024 - Nothung Likes this wine:

Wonderful but not as profound as a few years ago. Bottle variation? Age? We’ll see when I open my other bottles. Needless to say, it went fabulously with grilled rib eye.

4/27/2024 - Nothung Likes this wine:

Consistent with prior note

4/6/2024 - Nothung Likes this wine:

Still drinking really well. Decanted and then drunk, which worked out well. A beautiful glass of Pinot.

3/17/2024 - Nothung Likes this wine:

A beautiful wine that paired wonderfully with bourbon molasses glazed corned beef on St Paddy’s Day.

3/15/2024 - Nothung Likes this wine:

Consistent with prior notes

3/15/2024 - Nothung Likes this wine:

Consistent with prior note.

2/24/2024 - Nothung Likes this wine:

Very good, not great. Felt heavy (for lack of a better word), rather than the lighter, more poetic body I expect from a Hermitage. Opened about 5 hours and then decanted before drinking, which was right.

2/14/2024 - Nothung Likes this wine:

A beautiful lady of a certain age. Probably nearing the end of its (relatively) peak drinking plateau, so drink up. Unfortunately my last bottle. 😢

2/3/2024 - Nothung Likes this wine:

A wonderful expression. Really good at any price; a great wine at its price point.

2/3/2024 - Nothung Likes this wine:

A wonderful expression of gruner.

2/4/2024 - Nothung Likes this wine:

I think Harley 1199’s tasting notes are spot on. A beautiful Rioja in a great place right now. PnP, which worked out well. Not much evolution over two+ hours of drinking.

1/24/2024 - Nothung Likes this wine:

Decanted about an hour before drinking. Opened up nicely in the glass. In a great place. A classic, wonderful Montelena. No rush but don’t think it will get any better with more age.

1/28/2024 - Nothung Does not like this wine:

Good grape juice. And I mean grape juice, not grape juice as a euphemism for wine.

12/31/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine:

Beautiful.

12/31/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine:

I'm a huge fan of Rochioli, and West Block in particular, but this wine was a bit flat, more one dimensional and tart than usual. Opened a few hours before drinking, which seemed right.

12/24/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine:

Spectacular! Opened ~8 hours and then decanted immediately before pouring into the glass. The wine was great from the first sip. From previous reviews it seems that earlier in its evolution the wine was not so great. Patience has been rewarded for those who have waited. It is great now and will be for many years to come.

12/9/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine:

Still going strong and beautiful.

12/9/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine:

Much better than my last bottle. A beautiful Brunello that is drinking really well right now. It may be entering the end of its peak drinking plateau, so drink up. Opened about 4+ hours before drinking, not decanted, which worked well.

11/25/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine:

From magnum, opened in the morning, not decanted. Drank well with Friendsgiving dinner of turkey and prime rib. A really nice, but not great Cote Rotie. It seems to be nearing the end of its peak drinking plateau so drink up.

11/25/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine:

Well balanced, the sweetness nicely leveled with the acidity. Just beautiful; perfect after a heavy Friendsgiving dinner. In a great place right now, but no rush.

11/18/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine:

Very nice, not great.

11/18/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine:

OMG. Absolutely beautiful.

11/17/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine:

A beautiful wine and great wine for the price. Pop, decant, drink worked well.

10/15/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine:

A nice (not great) central CA valley pinot. PnP. Still drinking really well. Don’t see any real improvement from here. In a good place.

10/13/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine:

Wonderful. PnP.

9/24/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine:

A nice brunello. Nice, but nothing all that special. Went well with braised lamb shanks.

9/22/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine:

A beautiful CDP. In a great place. Don’t think it will improve much from here, but has many good years left. Opened 8 hours before drinking, not decanted, which was perfect.

9/16/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine:

Stunningly beautiful as always Still drinking really well. Decanted, which really opened it up.

9/16/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine:

In a great place right now, but but no rush; plenty of life left. Just a great CDP. Opened about 7 hours before and then decanted immediately before drinking. That should have been plenty given my experience with the last bottle but it needed more. Still a bit closed when we started drinking but opened up beautifully in the decanter and in the glass.

9/5/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine:

Drinking really well right now, but starting on the downward slope of its peak drinking plateau. Drink up. A beautiful Cali cab.

8/27/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine:

On a bit of a decline but still drinking really well with plenty of fruit still present. A truly beautiful Pinot Opened a couple of hours and then decanted immediately before drinking, which worked out well.

8/26/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine:

Really nice, and a great wine for the price.

8/25/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine:

Always spectacular, and this time was no different. One of my favorite wines.

8/24/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine:

Still drinking really well, but probably nearing the end of its drinking plateau. Opened a few hours before and then decanted for about an hour. A beautiful, elegant cab.

8/19/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine:

Consistent with prior note.

8/6/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine:

Perfectly nice, but not profound. Opened for 4 hours and then decanted for about an hour.

8/2/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine:

A beautiful Washington State cab. Decanted for about an hour. Drinking really well. Won’t improve with more cellaring so drink up.

8/3/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine:

Still drinking really well. Went perfectly with lamb in a saffron sauce.

7/28/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine:

Good, but nothing special. Somewhat disappointing.

7/29/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine:

Still drinking well; a wonderful bottle of pinot.

7/29/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine:

Wow! What a great glass of chardonnay! Just beautiful.

7/16/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine:

A beautiful expression of Rioja and great QPR. Drinking well now, but no need to rush; it has a long life ahead of it.

7/16/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine:

Still going strong, although I wouldn't wait too much longer before drinking.

7/13/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine:

Good PnP wine at red sauce Italian restaurant.

7/15/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine:

Exquisite! Poetry in the glass. Opened about 8 hours before and then decanted for an hour. One bottle left. Wish I had many more. In a perfect spot now, but no need to rush.

7/3/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine:

Still in a good place after all these years. Not the best Montelena, but it is still a Montelena and thus a wonderful glass of Cali Cab.

7/3/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine:

A top flight bottle from this great estate. A wonderful expression of California cab. In a great place right now. Unlikely to improve with more time in the bottle, but no rush to drink up. Opened about 7 hours before drinking, not decanted, but probably would have benefited from a short decant before serving.

7/3/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine:

Consistent with prior note (a good, not great Montelena). Still drinking well; in a good place. Opened about 7 hours before, not decanted. Probably would have benefited a bit from a short decant before serving.

7/4/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine:

PnP. Delicious

6/18/2023 - Nothung Likes this wine:

From magnum. Decanted about 3 hours before drinking, which worked well. In a really good place now. A lovely Brunello.