Ridge Vineyards
Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
Santa Cruz Mountains, San Francisco Bay, California, USA
Flight #2 of our 1997 Retrospective and these were the thoroughbreds. Presented single-blind; no formal notes. Wine #2 had great color, was developing, fresh, focused, balanced; great structure. One of those glasses of wine you didn’t want to end and, for me, a tough call for favorite of the flight along with Wine #1. I vacillated between this being Dominus or Monte Bello; ultimately calling the former. This is in a beautiful phase of life. Monte Bello is one of those wines that needs decades to show its best. Drink now through 2040.
Flight #2 of our 1997 Retrospective and these were the thoroughbreds. Presented single-blind; no formal notes. Wine #2 had great color, was developing, fresh, focused, balanced; great structure. One of those glasses of wine you didn’t want to end and, for me, a tough call for favorite of the flight along with Wine #1. I vacillated between this being Dominus or Monte Bello; ultimately calling the former. This is in a beautiful phase of life. Monte Bello is one of those wines that needs decades to show its best. Drink now through 2040.
Feb 4th, 2024
Mind-blowingly good. Powerful, cassis-driven nose led a silky, layered tapestry of cedar, more cassis, old red cherry and fully resolved tannins. We didn’t decant but it faded from its peak within 30 mins of PnP, so drink up.
Mind-blowingly good. Powerful, cassis-driven nose led a silky, layered tapestry of cedar, more cassis, old red cherry and fully resolved tannins. We didn’t decant but it faded from its peak within 30 mins of PnP, so drink up.
Sep 13th, 2019
Exactly what you’d expect. Focused, classic, Monte Bello - tannins have all relaxed and now it’s potent core of seething juicy, earthy, complexity is fully revealed.
Exactly what you’d expect. Focused, classic, Monte Bello - tannins have all relaxed and now it’s potent core of seething juicy, earthy, complexity is fully revealed.
Mar 23rd, 2019
Dark ruby. Opaque. Big shoulders in the nose. Notes of black cherry, forest floor, menthol, flowers. Velvet glove in the mouth. Huge wine and very smooth.
Dark ruby. Opaque. Big shoulders in the nose. Notes of black cherry, forest floor, menthol, flowers. Velvet glove in the mouth. Huge wine and very smooth.
Jan 1st, 2018
Half bottle and outstanding. Only bottle decanted for 30mins or so. Crushed blackberries, graphite/lead, bay leaf. At almost 21yrs old, still fairly tannic! Killer weight. Bordeaux like on the palate...a chalkiness to it, alongside leather, plum and fruit skins. Don’t be scared to let this sleep for another 5-7yrs.
Half bottle and outstanding. Only bottle decanted for 30mins or so. Crushed blackberries, graphite/lead, bay leaf. At almost 21yrs old, still fairly tannic! Killer weight. Bordeaux like on the palate...a chalkiness to it, alongside leather, plum and fruit skins. Don’t be scared to let this sleep for another 5-7yrs.
Dec 29th, 2017
One of the better bottles I’ve had in a while. This is drinking very well right now, though it definitely changed quite a lot over the course of the night - would suggest a couple hour decant. Dusty but integrated tannins, insanely precise fruit, great tension and balance, and a distinct almost menthol quality on the finish. Really an excellent wine.
One of the better bottles I’ve had in a while. This is drinking very well right now, though it definitely changed quite a lot over the course of the night - would suggest a couple hour decant. Dusty but integrated tannins, insanely precise fruit, great tension and balance, and a distinct almost menthol quality on the finish. Really an excellent wine.
1 person found it helpfulFeb 19th, 2018
Was a crime to open her so young but she yielded tobacco wrapper and currents on the nose and a long lingering finish.
Was a crime to open her so young but she yielded tobacco wrapper and currents on the nose and a long lingering finish.
Dec 10th, 2016
This is an prime example of a historic Northern California First Growth. Will evolve for 15 plus more years.
This is an prime example of a historic Northern California First Growth. Will evolve for 15 plus more years.
Aug 19th, 2016Still killing it 19 years later. Only 12.8% alcohol with nice fruit hanging on and nice silky tannin structure.
Still killing it 19 years later. Only 12.8% alcohol with nice fruit hanging on and nice silky tannin structure.
Jul 15th, 2016Love the Ridge wines. A classic. No hurry to drink.
Love the Ridge wines. A classic. No hurry to drink.
May 28th, 2016