Professional reviews have copyrights and you can view them here for your personal use only as private content. To view pro reviews you must either subscribe to a pre-integrated publication or manually enter reviews. Learn more.
Manage Subscriptions
Important Update From the Founder
Read message >
Red
2008 Ridge Monte Bello
Red Bordeaux Blend
- USA
- California
- Santa Cruz Mountains
Community Tasting Notes 167
-
bottles.and.bites Likes this wine: 94 points
April 6, 2024 - 13.3% ABV, 72% cab, 28% Merlot.
Summer bing cherries, cinnamon, mushroom. Complex and intense, shapeshifting on each sip. Some rose florals, then thyme savoriness, then a kick of cherry acidity, and on it goes. There is weight in the palate and a delicious umami factor to the wine. 4 hours open, it had a nearly candied cherry finish which wasn’t my favorite. Revisiting 12 hours in, it’s gone more tertiary on the finish and very enjoyable. Still needs time I expect or a long decant.
Bought off auction, brought back to Monte Bello to enjoy it where it was grown & made.2 people found this helpful -
dougsmith Likes this wine: 92 points
February 12, 2024 - Deep ruby color. Nose of blackberry syrup, floral notes, and a touch of mountain herb. Medium bodied on the palate with very good presence and length.
-
englishman's claret wrote:
December 3, 2023 - Obviously very young; will it develop into a more classically-styled Monte Bello with age? Oaky, jammy now - unlike the others on show.
-
Montesquieu wrote: 93 points
December 2, 2023 - As a long time MB collector and fanatic, I confess this was not one of my favorite bottles and vintages. It featured more California-typical cassis than normal, and less MB-typical green, lean, eucalyptus. It's a good wine for sure, but not a great MB. Fans of Napa cab might actually prefer this vintage.
2 people found this helpful Comment -
lozatron Likes this wine:
November 23, 2023 - Thanksgiving Wimps 2023 - Alfred Stieglitz Table (La Trompette): Yum. More ready to drink than the 10 served alongside it, more earthy notes, but still so much substance and class to it. No rush to drink but if you've got them you should feel pretty good about that.
2 people found this helpful Comment
1 - 5 of 167
More notes
Pro Reviews 15
Add a Pro ReviewDecanter
-
By Stephen Brook
Ridge Monte Bello retrospective, 10/25/2022 (link)(Ridge Vineyards, Monte Bello, Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mountains, California, USA, Red) Subscribe to see review text.
-
By Stephen Brook
Ridge Monte Bello retrospective, 10/25/2022 (link)(Ridge Vineyards, Monte Bello, Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mountains, California, USA, Red) Subscribe to see review text.
JancisRobinson.com
-
By Jancis Robinson, MW
10/25/2022 (link)(Ridge, Monte Bello Santa Cruz Mountains Red) Subscribe to see review text.
Vinous
-
By Antonio Galloni
Santa Cruz Mountains: Wines of Breathtaking Pedigree (Sep 2020), 9/20/2020 (link)(Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello Central Coast Red) Subscribe to see review text.
-
By Stephen Tanzer
Vintage Retrospective: The 2008 Napa Valley Cabernets (May 2018), 5/18/2018 (link)(Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello Central Coast Red) Subscribe to see review text.
Decanter
-
By Jon Bonné
Top USA Bordeaux-style blends, 7/26/2012 (link)(Monte Bello, Ridge, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains, California, USA, Red) Subscribe to see review text.
Vinous
-
By Josh Raynolds
November/December 2011, IWC Issue #159 (link)(Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello Santa Cruz Mountains) Subscribe to see review text.
JancisRobinson.com
-
By Jancis Robinson, MW
9/15/2011 (link)(Ridge, Monte Bello Santa Cruz Mountains Red) Subscribe to see review text.
Vinous
-
By Antonio Galloni
Exploring California's Central Coast (Aug 2011) (link)(Ridge Monte Bello Santa Cruz Mountains) Subscribe to see review text.
WineAlign
-
By John Szabo, MS
5/4/2011 (link)(Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello, Santa Cruz Mountains red) Subscribe to see review text.
JancisRobinson.com
-
By Jancis Robinson, MW
3/2/2010 (link)(Ridge, Monte Bello Santa Cruz Mountains Red) Subscribe to see review text.
-
By Jancis Robinson, MW
6/11/2009 (link)(Ridge, Monte Bello Santa Cruz Mountains Red) Subscribe to see review text.
RJonWine.com
-
By Richard Jennings
5/19/2013 (link) 94 points(Ridge Monte Bello) From magnum - very dark red violet color; maturing, tart berry, violets, tart black currant nose; tasty, maturing, rich, tart black currant, violets, cedar, cassis cream palate; medium-plus finish
-
By Richard Jennings
9/17/2011 (link) 88 points(Ridge Monte Bello) Dark ruby color; tart cassis, oak, menthol nose; youthful, tart cassis, oaky, menthol palate; medium finish (75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc)
-
By Richard Jennings
3/6/2011 (link) 93 points(Ridge Monte Bello) Dark red violet color; Lovely, rich, cassis, red berry nose; tasty, rich, poised, ripe cassis, red currant, tart plum palate; medium-plus finish 93+ points (72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot)
Wine Definition
- Vintage 2008
- 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, 4714127538976, 744442101009, 744442279005, 744442471003
Community Holdings
- Pending Delivery 123 (2%)
- In Cellars 4,521 (69%)
- Consumed 1,878 (29%)
Food Pairing
Community Recommendations
BBQ Elk Tenderloin, grilled lamb chops, grilled meatsWho Likes This Wine
97% Like It 77 votes
More About This Wine
Articles
- Wine2008 Ridge Monte Bello
- ProducerRidge
- VarietyRed Bordeaux Blend
- VineyardMonte Bello
- CountryUSA
- RegionCalifornia
- AppellationSanta Cruz Mountains
Add Articles
- Wine2008 Ridge Monte Bello
- FamilyRidge Monte Bello (add)
- ProducerRidge
- VarietalRed Bordeaux Blend
- VineyardMonte Bello
- CountryUSA
- RegionCalifornia
- SubRegionSanta Cruz Mountains (add)
- AppellationSanta Cruz Mountains