Paul T HB

9.8

Seymours is my favorite Alban. Never disappoints.This needs another 5 years at least, but will last much longer

Jebs 98 point review The 2014 Seymour's comes from a higher elevation site that’s hammered by the winds off the Pacific Ocean. Classic Seymour’s all the way with its huge nose of black fruits, tobacco, ground pepper, crushed rocks, and ample meatiness, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a deep, layered mid-palate, building tannins, and a great finish. While the Seymour’s is always the most backward and austere of the three single-vineyard Syrahs, the forward nature of the 2014 vintage shows in the wine’s texture and slightly more charming, forward character. Nevertheless, this brilliant Syrah will cruise for 20+ years in cold cellars.@Somm David T — 2 days ago

with Ron

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Ridge – Monte Bello 2017
Santa Cruz Mountains – California, USA 🇺🇸
Blend: 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc

Overview
One of California’s most legendary wines, Ridge Monte Bello has been estate-grown, produced, and bottled entirely in-house since the 1960s. The 2017 vintage reflects a Bordeaux-inspired blend from the cool Santa Cruz Mountains, offering both structure and elegance. (Educational note: Monte Bello’s higher-altitude vineyards give cooler temperatures, yielding more restrained, ageworthy wines compared to Napa Valley powerhouses.)

Aromas & Flavors
Blackberry, cassis, and red plum at the core, accented by cedar, graphite, and cocoa. Hints of tobacco, dried herbs, and floral notes bring depth and complexity.

Mouthfeel
Medium to full-bodied with polished tannins and refreshing acidity. A graceful, layered wine that “dances on the palate,” finishing long and harmonious with both power and finesse.

Food Pairings
Perfect with grilled lamb, prime rib, or braised short ribs. Also pairs beautifully with mushroom risotto or aged cheeses.

Verdict
A benchmark California classic — Bordeaux in inspiration, but with a Santa Cruz identity all its own. The 2017 Monte Bello is elegant, expressive, and deeply satisfying. 🍷

Did You Know?
Ridge’s Monte Bello gained international fame in the 1976 Judgment of Paris tasting, where it ranked among the world’s top Cabernets, cementing California’s place on the fine wine map.

Collector’s Rarity 📌
Highly allocated and cellared by collectors worldwide, Ridge Monte Bello is a vertical-worthy wine with decades of aging potential. — a month ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2002 vintage. Decanted and tasted 15 minutes and 1 hour after decanting. Slight amount of sediment. Cedar, cinnamon and traces of bacon fat in the nose along with a splash of VA. The VA blew off and wasn’t there after 1 hour but was hanging out at the onset. Medium heavy body with another 5-7 years likely dropping this to medium body. Smoked meats, bigg dark plum and roasted nuts still part and parcel during. No rush to crush. 10.28.25. — 5 days ago

Sam Friedland

9.0

Very good, still a lot of tannins. Should be better I three to five years. — a day ago

Kland Aida

9.2

A very good Valle de Guadalupe wine. Smooth, chocolate, leather, and earthy. Great with steaks. May 2024 — 2 months ago

Mariana Puga

9.3

always yum — 3 months ago

with Raul

Neil Valenzuela

9.2

The 2022 release is a hit!
Deep purple color. Aromas of black cherry, cola, dried herbs and cedar. Black and blue fruit on the palate, herbs and oak on the finish.

🏅97 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
🏅94 Points - @Dr. Owen Bargreen — 20 days ago

Nick Jouras

9.4

Double magnum still has a lot of life left we sure enjoyed it with the crowd!! — 9 days ago

jochen rueckert

9.0

Nice. Old school not very funky but nice — a month ago

Ericsson

9.3

One of those surprisingly good wines. — 2 months ago