Tasting Notes
Robert Parker 90
“The 1994 Monte Bello is showing very well, offering up a fully mature bouquet of ripe currant fruit, brown sugar, tea leaf, black truffles and toasty American oak. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied and open-knit, with a sweet core of fruit, bright acids and somewhat drying tannins that assert themselves on the finish. The 1994’s structure seems to have developed quite rapidly, and despite the pedigree of the vintage (which produced some extraordinary wines on the North Coast), this would appear to be a rare example of a Monte Bello that’s beginning to ride into the sunset.”
Anticipated maturity: 2000-2020
Vinous 89
The 1994 Monte Bello is now fully mature, or close to it. Sweet tobacco, worn-in leather, spices and dried cherries are all nicely delineated in the glass. The fully tertiary, mushroomy notes that are apparent, especially on the bouquet, suggest the 1994 has reached the end of its positive development. At the same time, there is plenty of fruit and density left. Although it is possible the 1994 might remain at its current plateau, the more likely scenario is that the aromatics will continue to develop, which will only be to the wine’s detriment. It’s hard to see the 1994 being better in the future than it is today.
Anticipated maturity: 2014-2014
