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Red
2000 Ridge Monte Bello
Red Bordeaux Blend
- USA
- California
- Santa Cruz Mountains
Label borrowed from 2001
Label borrowed from 2001
Label borrowed from 1999
Label borrowed from 2001
Label borrowed from 2001
Label borrowed from 2001
Label borrowed from 1999
Label borrowed from 1999
Community Tasting Notes 217
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fredb Likes this wine:
March 31, 2024 - Decanted off moderate crust in bottle and small amount of fine sediment. Dark garnet red with limited transparency. Aromas of smoke, sous bois, plum, and currant. Palate is initially very dark with plum and smoke dominating. Left in decanter for 3.5 hours before meal service. Time did open this up and more red fruit elements came out along with some vanilla and cedar notes. Finish is medium and a bit tart. Expect this has more upside for my tastes but fully resolved and ready now. Drink at leisure.
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Zazzaman Likes this wine: 91 points
March 10, 2024 - Antepenultimate bottle of 6. Decanted 2 hours, some age on rim, nose complex - vanilla / tar / tobacco, blackcurrant and cedar wood on palate but not very complex. Grabs your attention but doesn’t wow!
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vvWine.ch wrote: 90 points
March 1, 2024 - (75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 13.4% Alkohol) Dichtes Rubin. Die Nase ist fordernd, gereifte Frucht, ätherische Noten, etwas Gummireifen, Medizinschrank, Minze, Eukalyptus, sehr reiffruchtig und für Montebello erstaunlich warm anmutend. Im Gaumen dicht, konzentriert, reife Frucht, viel Struktur, etwas ruppig, wild, sehr lang in der Aromatik, jedoch mit weniger Finesse als die letzte Flasche. Vermutlich keine Top Flasche, dennoch hohes Niveau.
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ohne_musik wrote: 96 points
February 22, 2024 - Terrific! This was ready to go from pnp, but develops additional depth over the course of 2 hours. Aromatically, this smells like an old school right bank (Figeac?) with plush Merlot fruit, tobacco, and a twinge of green. Only a little bit of cassis. In the mouth this is both mellow and expansive, fanning across the palate with layers of luxurious kirsch, plum, cedar, hay, and wet clay. A whiff of harmonious American oak. Medium bodied and held up by Fresh and vibrant acidity bolted to lightly raspy tannins than are not yet fully resolved, leading to a long savory finish. At peak and probably will stay here for another 10 years easy. This is a masterclass in low alcohol, old school mountain cab.
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robmatic wrote: 96 points
June 18, 2023 - Stellar.
1 person found this helpful Comment
1 - 5 of 217
More notes
Pro Reviews 11
Add a Pro ReviewDecanter
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By William Kelley
Ridge Monte Bello Vertical, 11/27/2017 (link)(Ridge Vineyards, Monte Bello, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains, California, USA, Red) Subscribe to see review text.
Vinous
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By Antonio Galloni
Santa Cruz Mountains: California’s Best Kept Secret (Jul 2013) (link)(Ridge Monte Bello Monte Bello) Subscribe to see review text.
JancisRobinson.com
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By Alex Hunt, MW
6/6/2012 (link)(Ridge, Monte Bello Santa Cruz Mountains Red) Subscribe to see review text.
Winedoctor
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By Chris Kissack
November 2006 (link)(Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon) Subscribe to see review text.
JancisRobinson.com
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By Jancis Robinson, MW
5/25/2006 (link)(Ridge, Monte Bello Santa Cruz Mountains Red) Subscribe to see review text.
Vinous
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By Stephen Tanzer
May/June 2002, IWC Issue #102 (link)(Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello Red Blend) Subscribe to see review text.
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By Stephen Tanzer
May/June 2001, IWC Issue #96 (link)(Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello Red Blend) Subscribe to see review text.
RJonWine.com
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By Richard Jennings
6/17/2011 (link) 93 points(Ridge Monte Bello) Slightly bricking dark ruby color; lifted, herbal, thyme, tart cassis, roasted plum nose; mature, tart cassis, thyme, iodine, tart plum, graphite palate; should go 15-20 years; medium-plus finish (more mature tasting than the bottle I tried six months earlier; 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc)
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By Richard Jennings
12/10/2010 (link) 93 points(Ridge Monte Bello) Nearly opaque red violet color; green tobacco, cassis, currant nose; tasty, plush, youthful, cassis, currant, tobacco palate with depth and body; medium-plus finish (75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc)
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By Richard Jennings
4/17/2010 (link) 92 points(Ridge Monte Bello) Dark red violet color; rich cassis, berry, raspberry, vanilla nose; tight, ripe cassis, blackberry, ripe plum, herbal, menthol palate; medium-plus finish (my #5 of the flight, group's #8 out of 8)
Rockss and Fruit
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By Lyle Fass
4/21/2003 (link)(Ridge Montebello) Cassis, chestnuts, mint, leather, tar and smokey oak out of the gates. After aeration a touch of green peppercorn arrives. I thought it might be green but it really works with all the other aromas. Also there is not the slightest hint of green on the palate. Lots of currant, cassis and cherry fruit with some spicey oak tones. Perfectly balanced. Really glides across the palate. This was great for the first five minutes, then shut down for the next two hours and then slowly started to sneak back and fill out. Even though, the fruit never made it's real presence known. This needs time but will be fantastic when it get's there.
Wine Definition
- Vintage 2000
- Type Red
- Producer Ridge
- Varietal Red Bordeaux Blend
- Designation n/a
- Vineyard Monte Bello
- Country USA
- Region California
- SubRegion Santa Cruz Mountains
- Appellation Santa Cruz Mountains
- UPC Codes 086891077437, 185983000046, 4714127538976, 500000001767, 744442101009, 744442471003
Community Holdings
- Pending Delivery 17 (1%)
- In Cellars 1,753 (53%)
- Consumed 1,508 (46%)
Food Pairing
Community Recommendations
Beef - PlinioWho Likes This Wine
98% Like It 55 votes
More About This Wine
Articles
- ProducerRidge
- VarietyRed Bordeaux Blend
- VineyardMonte Bello
- CountryUSA
- RegionCalifornia
- AppellationSanta Cruz Mountains
Add Articles
- Wine2000 Ridge Monte Bello (add)
- FamilyRidge Monte Bello (add)
- ProducerRidge
- VarietalRed Bordeaux Blend
- VineyardMonte Bello
- CountryUSA
- RegionCalifornia
- SubRegionSanta Cruz Mountains (add)
- AppellationSanta Cruz Mountains