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- Puzzled at the responce?
I'm confused as to why the Monticello Wines don't sell better in my area? I'm totally in love with all of their Wines. Especially the Jefferson Cuvee'! The Pinot Noir and the Estate Chardonnay. I live in the Warren,Niles, Youngstown area and I'm not sure if it is because of the economy or what. I know they are a bit higher than what is selling the best right now but with their Quality and reputation I know there are still alot of people who are paying that price for other Wines. Has any on tried any of these Wines lately? I wish I had a cellar full of them.
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1738 - Reply by Gregory Dal Piaz, Sep 11.
Monticello seem to make a push every so often and then fade from view. I recall their making a big plash in about 1985 then again in about 1993. I can't recall the last time the got moved to the front of the media darling line.
I think there are two issues working against the,. The first is that they pretty much have just continued what they do best, making good wines at reasonable prices. No story there. the second issue is that so many new wineries have come on the scene in California over the past decade that there's virtually no space left to devote to exiting brands.
Thank you for shedding some light on an old stand by.
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41 - Reply by schellbe, Sep 13.
My wife and I stopped at Monticello during our week-long trip to Napa this June. I must confess that I am a neophyte when it comes to CA wines, having consumed mostly European wines in the past. These wines display a very soft style, low acid with an apparent heavy treatment of malolactic. We tasted (all from the 06 vintage) the Chardonnay Estate, which I found had a lot of vanilla and a fairly heavy oak treatment, the Corley Reserve Chardonnay, with a vegetal nose, very soft with a little vanilla, very light mid-body and not a lot of fruit. I liked the reds better: Syrah Estate: A little fecal and earthy (qualities I like in moderation) , with a little spice and berry fruits. Good tannic finish. Corley Proprietor's Red (CF 58%, with Merlot and CS) Inky port-like nose, sweet flavors. blackberries, tar-like, tannic finish. Noticeably lacking the ripe olives of many CF.
These seem to be well made wines with rather subdued fruit made in a very soft style. I prefer wines with a little more acid and maybe a little more fruit. They do not seem to have the excessive oak and vanilla so prevalent in CA Chardonnays, but still not my preferred style. These are probably good with a lot of foods. I did not buy any as they didn't knock my socks off, and there were so many wines we tried, most of them new to us.
