2005 Ridge Monte Bello
Community Tasting Note
sid_loves_wine Likes this wine:
Wednesday, July 12, 2023 - My first experience with this beautiful wine. I only got about a glass and a half, as it was shared by a generous friend from a 375ml, but I think I got enough out of it to write some comments. Feels like it has a long way to go yet if you want to sit on it, but doesn't feel like it NEEDS more aging, especially if you're not afraid of a little structure.
Very expressive right out of the gate, charging from the glass with about a 50-50 combo of rich (but surprisingly fresh) purple and black fruit, and a powerful, sweet American oak tone with cedar, vanilla, coconut, etc. Because of this strong American oak note and the still very dense/structured tannins, this almost resembled a great gran reserva Rioja - except with very different fruit, lots of blackberry cobbler and plum reduction, things like that, rather than the dried, sometimes sour fruit of older Rioja. At times the tannins were genuinely challenging, but in the end there was more than enough fruit to stand up to the immense textures.
This was a little more obviously new-world than I expected, in a good way- not at all the kind of classic cab that relies on tart, green, early-picked fruit to achieve a sense of balance, but a beautifully rich profile that's been super dialed-in through extremely mindful work in the vineyard and cellar (I love how it's detailed on the back label!)
Obviously this is pretty expensive and I can't fully comment on the QPR, as it's one of only a handful of wines I've tasted in the general price range. If I had one criticism, it's that I wouldn't call it very...complex, especially with that clear American oak note being so prominent, and not so different than pretty much any other quality wine which uses the stuff. But the amazing fruit itself combined with the use of said oak (each giving the other plenty of room) felt pretty unique, and incredibly engaging. In terms of classic, high-end US cabs I've had slightly better experiences with Dunn Howell Mtn and a Paul Hobbs Las Piedras, although this was right at their heels.
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