Ever since RP gave this wine a 96, I've been nibbling on my stash trying to find all those points somewhere in the bottle. Starting about 18-months ago, I'd have given the wine about a 90, it was closed and not showing much (until it had been open several days). A year ago it was up a point or two, 6-months ago it was beginning to open and show some promise, but still a low 90s wine for me.

The current bottle seems to be getting closer to turning the corner. I'd currently put it around a 93, but I suspect it has the stuff inside to get close to Mr. Parker's score. It has put on weight and become a bit fatty with more glycerin. Still has a good Italian snap to it, no sign of any aging around the edges. First wiffs were still closed, but then it quickly opened to rich, ripe, plum, a hint of vanilla, tobacco / coffee scents. A very intriguing nose with some character.

To the taste, the wine is consistent with the nose, but additional black cherry comes through to balance the tobacco / coffee flavors. On the finish, the tannins are somewhat dry and give way to a dusty, lingering finish. This has become really nice stuff, and I'm increasingly more impressed with the wine as time goes by. The balance is great, and I suspect it will continue to age nicely.

This is one of my favorite Italians for the money. What did you pay for this? I agree with you that it is not 96pts, but it is a wine that will develop over the next 2-3 years. I won this bottle in a office bet about 1 1/2 years ago. I wish I had waited to drink it. I paid $30 for it. The bet was "Who would finish better in the KY Derby: Monarchos or Point Given?" One of my co-workers recieved this bottle as a gift and he wanted to sell it. I picked Monarchos.

I drank this bottle last winter. I gave the wine 92-93 pts. If you have a few left wait another year to open the next one. Thanks for refreshing my memory on this wine.

IW

I.W.-

At the get-go, I had about 15-bottles for which I paid high-$30's each. After my initial not-so-great view of the wine, I auctioned about 6 of them. So, now I have 6 or 7 left, and for the price, quite glad I do.

In a recent dialog w/ Enoselsa regarding '97 Tig vs. '99 Tig, Eno said he felt that both were excellent, but that '97 was built for the long-term and '99 was more user-friendly in the near-term. I would characterize the '97 and '99 Montiano the same way. The '97 has great structure and I think will evolve into a very special wine, perhaps achieving Parker's 96 rating. The '99, which I had about 6-months ago, was tasting great at the time... probably a 93 - 94 also. A bit more fleshy now, but I doubt that it has a lot more to give in the future.

In either case, at this price point ('99s are generally available for $45/bottle), Montiano is a very fine wine. Also, in world of either excessively commercial and / or goo-bomb melots, its nice to find a merlot with some real backbone and a handful of "dirt" tossed into the bottle for good measure.

Are there any comments on the 2000? I've had it twice and found it to be in great drinking condition right now. It's a very different wine compared side-by-side with the 99. I'm considering purchasing a couple of the 00's, but I question it's longevity.

R2,

Can't help you on the 2000, I've not tried it. I'm still seeing '99s in the market at pretty good pricing; if I wanted more, I'd probably buy the '99s just 'cause I know they're good.

I'd be interested in your thoughts on how the '00 differs from the '99.

As for longevity, I wouldn't expect the '97 to have any problems going a good 5-years more, and I think that is probably short if properly cellared. I don't think the '97 will really get into its prime drinking zone for another 2 or 3 years. I would expect the '99 to comfortably go 5-years too.