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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 93.9 pts. and median of 94 pts. in 198 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by englishman's claret on 12/3/2023 & rated 95 points: A wine of real character, the 1992 Ridge shows redcurrant, blueberry, green peppercorn, and coffee, growing in time as the American oak grows less conspicuous with air. This is drinking well though protein is an obligatory accompaniment given the amount of tannin still felt on the palate. This kept on improving - did we even see it at its best? (1438 views) | | | Tasted by SimonG on 10/6/2023 & rated 95 points: A Medlar lunch (Medlar, London): Oh gosh, if ai thought the Mouton was good… Gorgeously cool blackcurrant fruit. So poised and elegant. Focus, precision, depth. Opens to show some riper cassis, but tempered with some blackcurrant leaf. Gorgeous and unsurprisingly a clear step up from a previous bottle eight years ago. (1424 views) | | | Tasted by JulianSkeels on 10/4/2023 & rated 94 points: Took a long time to open - about 3hrs in a decanter. Tightly coiled pure ripe Cabernet Sauvignon, all blackcurrant and plum. Slightly rustic tannins and lower acidity made it tiring and we only got through half a bottle. Lacked the complexity I expected - no tobacco or cedar notes. Hold off opening until at least 2030. 94++pts (1195 views) | | | Tasted by ppandian on 1/28/2023 & rated 96 points: Powerful! Could handle another 10 years in the bottle.
Notes of chocolate, leather and licorice. Great depth and balance. Complex and long finish. Drank at the Bruno’s with Bobby and families. Paired beautifully with grilled steak tips. (2069 views) | | | Tasted by misterstarre on 12/31/2022 & rated 96 points: This looked viscous, but it turns out, it’s just dark and opaque while still having a medium plus weight and a racy, silky, swift mouthfeel. This fills the palate with fresh mint and sage, cassis, beef blood, and milk chocolate. Excellent. Moutonesque. (2151 views) | | | Tasted by Ben Christiansen on 11/6/2022: Now all tight and structured. Sox hours in. (2324 views) | | | Tasted by Ben Christiansen on 11/6/2022: Black currant fruit and concentrated. Amazing depth, even a little more structured too. More fruit. Still going strong no reason to rush. (1935 views) | | | Tasted by zimmy07 on 9/13/2022 & rated 96 points: This was pure silk. Velvet, red fruits and great harmony of oak and fruit. My guess the bottle was not stored the best before, so I can only imgaine this bottle, if stored properly, would have a ton of life left and be even higher score. Aas it was it was all togetehr and had room for growth. Only thing that I dont like, is all the bottles I have 2005-2021 will take another 20-30 years before they are in a good place. These wines at 30 years are so damn good! (2419 views) | | | Tasted by maranoli on 9/2/2022 & rated 99 points: 2 bottles, same notes
Deep Garnet with a hint of purple
Intense nose
Black fruits, gentle sweetness of drying fruit, not honeyed, verbena, floral herb (lavender?)
Acidity M, tannins fully resolved, alcohol M, glorious balance
Taste lasted way beyond any count.
Probably the best, most balanced CabernetI have tasted in the past 10 years. If there is perfection in wine, this vintage of Ridge comes very close. An extraordinary wine, will easily go another decade if well stored. (1508 views) | | | Tasted by hadukla on 6/3/2022 & rated 100 points: Perfect. Balance, taste, finish. All of it is a beautiful dance. I bet this could last another decade or two. (1970 views) | | | Tasted by ShadowIII on 4/29/2022 & rated 97 points: Aromatics were extraordinary, simply jumping out of the glass, dark fruit, blueberry, blackberry, pencil lead, cedar, lush, integrated tannins, long, long finish, just spectacular (1865 views) | | | Tasted by Kemo Sabe on 3/27/2022 & rated 94 points: Decanted about an hour and drank over 2. Fantastic. Dead ringer for left bank BDX. Pencil, leather, saddle, dark berries, good tannins well integrated. Good complexity and density. Long finish. This is a masterpiece of a wine and easily has years left. 94+ (2058 views) | | | Tasted by Marc on 10/31/2021 & rated 93 points: Final Wine Tasting Dinner of 2021: Superb nose of great depth, richness and darkness. The American oak handling is very apparent on this wine, but for me, is part of the style of this great wine. Whilst a wine of (by California standards) modest alcohol, the proportions of the wine are immense, with a thick structure, opulence, and creamy coconut aspects that do not become overbearing. It is an old-school style that has little to do with Bordeaux, but it manages to convince in its own terms - it is a great expression of place. Drinking really well, but based on this bottle (stored in a cool cellar) will go for another two decades. It will be fascinating to see what happens to the obvious US Oak with time, although at the age of 29, one would have thought this overt character would have somewhat moderated! (2595 views) | | | Tasted by joshabramson on 5/23/2021 & rated 97 points: Bright acidity, ripe fruit, still very fresh, vibrant and youthful. Delicious wine, this is great stuff. (3316 views) | | | Tasted by BBencz on 5/22/2021: Stunning performance. Perfect balance, medium weight. Still giving lots of fruit and a fully perfumed nose. Amazing stuff. (2632 views) | | | Tasted by jlgnml on 5/15/2021 & rated 92 points: Funky nose to begin with. Btl storage? Decanted and opened up. Good nose and flavor. Light on the palate feel, good finish. Probably better 10 years ago. DRINK (2611 views) | | | Tasted by oldwines on 3/6/2021 & rated 98 points: WOW!!! Utterly magnificent. Perfectly balanced. Elegant to the extreme. Decanted at 5pm and tasted over 4 hours or so. Tasted along side 1986 Ch. Pichon Lalande. It would be impossible to tell which of these two wines was the Bordeaux in a blind tasting. Youthful beyond description with not a trace of brick. Slightly translucent dark garnet. 13.4% ABV. The nose is floral and woodsy, earthy and highlighted by tobacco and cedar and a hint of graphite. The fruit comes out on the palate...cassis, blackberry, black plum, then the layers of licorice, pipe tobacco, menthol, chocolate and crushed pine needles. Finish is outrageously long and deep. Superb! One of the very best Cabernet based wines I have had...right up there with 1990 Ch. Margaux, 1974 Ch. Montelena, 1974 Heitz Martha’s Vineyard, 1982&1986 Ch. Mouton, et al. Superb with grilled strip steak and sautéed mushrooms. The mouthfeel and length are just thrilling...velvet on your tongue with a richness and depth that is what makes great aged wine great! Of note... I paid ~$67 for this on release.
p.s. More than 24 hours later this wine is still going strong. The fruit is a little less rich, the finish is a little more tart but there is a whole new layer of flavor that really lingers of chocolate covered cranberry. Very interesting and impressive and another sign of the potential longevity of this wine! I think it should easily last for another decade or two in a good cellar. (3345 views) | | | Tasted by Lipsman on 6/17/2020 & rated 97 points: Drinking magnificently now. Peals of dark fruits submerged in still spicy, but smooth tannins. Saturated flavors, sublime in complexity and length. Cherries and smoke. Still fresh! Balanced and ready to age for another decade. Decant for an hour before enjoying. (3583 views) | | | Tasted by sfwinelover1 on 4/30/2020: One off 375 purchased for me by my sis when we toured the winery a bit less than 5 years ago. Cork crumbled on initial corkscrew contact, and when I couldn't save it with a two pronged opener, I pushed the cork in and used my fine strainer pouring it into a decanter. 1 oz pour was all about secondary notes, tannins and acidity, with earth, smoke, dried spice, a bit of barnyard and leather and muted, semi-sweet cran-cherry. After 90+ minutes of air, the cherry notes thickened and sweetened up a bit, but the fruit was still pretty receded (CT joke from a modern Napa cab drinker: how do you know when the fruit has receded in a Montebello?); I've had enough MBs to know that even when I won't confuse them with Outpost Trues, I won't confuse them with Stony Hills, either. Beautiful, deep, dark purple with a slight brownish hue, light to medium bodied, medium legs. Very present but silky tannins and acidity, no heat, but you knew that already. Good complexity, very light persistence and intensity, nice mouthfeel. Amazing complement to mixed grill. Maybe it's because the fruit wasn't as vibrant as it might have been, but this had a wonderful saline and saline quality which, as another writer mentioned, gave it an almost syrah-like quality.
If I were rating this, I'd be about a 92-93, but I don't think that's fair both because I think that something happened to dilute the fruit, other than just age (look at the recent TNs and Parker's fairly recent score) and also that while my strainer did a great job, there was likely still some effect from the disintegrated cork. From the reviews, if you have an unaffected bottle, this may go on for some time, although it seems unlikely to improve, so I'd say bottom's up. This was more interesting than great, although there were enough glimmers of what a great MB can be that I'm glad I had it (especially since my sister bought it). Note to self: drink that '96 Ducru sooner than later . . . (3505 views) | | | Tasted by chatters on 2/4/2020: From magnum. Double decanted about 2 hours before consumption. Leather, muted blackcurrant, cream, earthy, cedar, muted sweet spice, little plum and black cherry on the nose. in the mouth it's juicy, rich, emery paper rasp to the tannins on the palate, leather, earth, a little gamey, blackcurrant, plums and cherries, sweet spice on the palate. Nice. (3719 views) | | | Tasted by chatters on 1/15/2020: Coravin fun - Ridge range; 1/15/2020-1/17/2020 (My place, Kent Street): Magnum. From Coravin. Generous blackcurrant and plums, leather, polished oak, cigar box, slight vanilla and sweet spice., smells serious and almost a little austere despite the fruit generosity, a little biscuit and pepper as well. With time in the glass it gets more leathery but also denser. On the palate it's got juicy acidity, pure Cabernet blackcurrant with Cassis balanced with silky tannins. Preposterously long. Finish just doesn't quit. In a great spot now. Really lovely. Impossible to spit. I got this for a milestone birthday a couple of years ago but it wasn't showing so well...and now it's my birthday in about 2 1/2 weeks...Soooooooo (3955 views) | | | Tasted by mark2eye on 12/26/2019 & rated 94 points: Really enjoyable, and got better with more air time. Tasted this along the 96 and we all found this to be darker and more broody. Wet forest, graphite, truffle, tobacco, and funk was our initial impression, but with about two hours of air time the fruit really began to shine through. This easily has another ten years ahead of it , but I think it's in a perfect drinking window now (3526 views) | | | Tasted by pabernatchez on 11/17/2019 & rated 98 points: An absolutely gorgeous wine. Tasted blind with a group of savvy wine industry people, people were guessing Cheval Blanc 1989 here, or Margaux 1990 there! Definitely of first growth level, racy and refined like no other American Cab I have ever had. Fabulously complex nose of blackcurrant, with a minty component, scorched earth and mind-blowing black truffle, esthery aromas, it stole the show. Tannin are silky and fully resolved. Drinking great now, would drink in the next 5 to 10 years. (2906 views) | | | Tasted by S1 on 11/10/2019: Charleston Offlineorama V; 11/7/2019-11/10/2019 (The Holy City): (blind) Still tasted young and I didn’t get that Ridge distinctive oak. I expected more complexity but it was still delicious. (2639 views) | | | Tasted by MC2 Wines on 11/10/2019: Charleston V - the wooden anniversary; 11/6/2019-11/10/2019 (Charleston, SC (various locations)): Wine #5 in our blind. I didn't get this one at all. To me it was more savory and almost meaty. Dark fruits. Very young. Hint of the animal notes. I don't normally associate that with Ridge but perhaps there is some in the Monte Bello? I was expecting a Syrah but was surprised to find the cab. Also a favorite of mine though in the group. (3041 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Neal Martin
Vinous, The Judgement of Clapham Junction (Mar 2022) (3/1/2022)
(Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello California Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By William Kelley
Decanter, Ridge Monte Bello Vertical (11/27/2017)
(Ridge Vineyards, Monte Bello, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains, California, USA, Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (9/18/2016)
(Ridge, Monte Bello Santa Cruz Mountains Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (2/25/2015)
(Ridge, Monte Bello Santa Cruz Mountains Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (3/2/2010)
(Ridge, Monte Bello Santa Cruz Mountains Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, September/October 2000, IWC Issue #92
(Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello Red Blend) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (5/7/2011)
(Ridge Monte Bello) From 375 ml - very dark red violet color; tart cassis, tart red plum nose; tasty, tart plum, cassis, mushroom palate; medium-plus finish 92+ points 92 points | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (3/6/2011)
(Ridge Monte Bello) From 375 ml - slightly bricking medium dark red violet color; nice mushroom, dried mushroom, tart currant nose; tasty, poised, silky textured, tart currant, mushroom palate with near medium acidity; medium-plus finish 93 points | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (9/26/2010)
(Ridge Monte Bello) From 375 ml - nearly opaque red violet color; maturing, tobacco, cigar box, dried berry nose; tasty, poised, ripe cassis, dried berry, tart plum, tobacco palate with a touch of menthol, much younger tasting than suggested by the nose; medium-plus finish (80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 9% Petit Verdot; decanted for 2 and a half hours) 92 points | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (6/20/2010)
(Ridge Monte Bello) From 375 ml - bricking medium dark red violet color; tart red plum, dill, olive nose; tart red plum, cassis, dill, chocolate palate; medium finish (80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 9% Petit Verdot) 92 points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous and Decanter and JancisRobinson.com and RJonWine.com. (manage subscription channels) |
| Ridge Producer website | Wikipedia
Ridge Vineyards is a California winery specializing in premium Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and Chardonnay wines. Ridge produces wine at two winery locations in northern California. The original winery facilities are located at an elevation of 2,300 feet (700 m) on Monte Bello Ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA near Cupertino, California. The other Ridge winery facilities are at Lytton Springs in the Dry Creek Valley AVA of Sonoma County.Red Bordeaux BlendRed Bordeaux is generally made from a blend of grapes. Permitted grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and rarely Carménère.Today Carménère is rarely used, with Château Clerc Milon, a fifth growth Bordeaux, being one of the few to still retain Carménère vines. As of July 2019, Bordeaux wineries authorized the use of four new red grapes to combat temperature increases in Bordeaux. These newly approved grapes are Marselan, Touriga Nacional, Castets, and Arinarnoa.
Wineries all over the world aspire to making wines in a Bordeaux style. In 1988, a group of American vintners formed The Meritage Association to identify wines made in this way. Although most Meritage wines come from California, there are members of the Meritage Association in 18 states and five other countries, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Israel, and Mexico.Monte Bello On weinlagen-infoUSAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.California2021 vintage: "Unlike almost all other areas of the state, the Russian River Valley had higher than normal crops in 2021, which has made for a wine of greater generosity and fruit forwardness than some of its stablemates." - Morgan Twain-Peterson Santa Cruz Mountains Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association | Wikipedia
Once referred to by wine writers as the Chaine d'Or -- or "golden chain" -- the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA sits above Silicon Valley, running along the craggy range next to the Pacific on some of the prettiest parts of Northern California. The area supports more than 75 wineries, despite being limited by geography and high land prices.
In 1981 the Santa Cruz Mountains Viticultural Appellation became federally recognized, one of the first American viticultural areas to be defined by geophysical and climatic factors. The appellation encompasses the Santa Cruz Mountain range, from Half Moon Bay in the north, to Mount Madonna in the south. The east and west boundaries are defined by elevation, extending down to 800 feet in the east and 400 feet in the west. |
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