Although Louis M. Martini was not the first to produce wine from the famed Monte Rosso vineyard, he was the first to plant Cabernet Sauvignon there and make sensational wines from it, showing the grandeur of the site. This high-elevation vineyard takes its name from its red, rocky, and well-drained soil. The vineyard is now owned by Gallo under the name of Monte Rosso Estate, and although I haven’t tasted their Cabernet, they make a positively sensational Semillon from it – which I previously reviewed and scored 95 points – so I suspect that their Cabernet will also be excellent. It’s such a large vineyard, 545 acres, of which roughly 180 are planted, with, unsurprisingly, lots of Cabernet, so other producers, one of which is Far Mountain, get a shot of working with the prized raw material. Far Mountain’s stunning 2023 seamlessly combines dark fruit with plenty of savory minerally notes, all atop a luxuriously suave base. Rodrigo Soto, Far Mountain’s winemaker, explains “[I] don’t want to run away from savory, so I don’t push ripeness and limit oak by using big barrels.” Fabulous acidity keeps this masterful red fresh throughout a meal. It’s fine tannins and silky texture makes it a delight to drink now but its balance suggests more will evolve with years or decades in the cellar.
96 Michael Apstein – July 15, 2026