Have you ever removed the foil cap on a wine only to discover there's no cork underneath? Well, this 1974 Monte Bello had no cork. The hard foil top was pristine. Fill level was lower than ideal, which is why the owner kept the bottle rather than re-selling it. Upon finding no cork below the foil or in the bottle, we expected the worst. Instead, beautiful smell suggesting it wasn't spoiled. The taste was excellent for almost 50 years of life. Given all that, I doubt this bottle is representative, but it definitely gave great drinking pleasure.
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Ridge Monte Bello Retrospective (Porter House): A few weeks ago we were at an auction where this came up and sold for more than >$3k and that was on my mind when I was drinking this wine. This is a great wine - beautiful and elegant and black fruits and floral and almost this nice cutting edge to it that is the acid tying it up at the end. It was very lovely. Hard to say that much more lovely than the other wines we tried which were also super spectacular, but definitely a real treat (esp in the side by side 74 line-up which was killer).
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TobI's Firework (Berens am Kai 1 star Restaurant): blind for me a bit too evolved for a 74 but with great great acidity and tannin structure. Black currant still present and some ethereal notes not that explosive as Marha's vineyard. In same with 1984 I preferred a touch the latter one. At his peak. Other at the table rated 74 with higher points (till 100). 96
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Ughh!!! Not corked, not VA, not even tired...just an off bottle. We begged and pleaded and waited, but it just never came around...the ultimate tease!!!
Served in flight with Heitz Martha’s and Mayacamas of the same 74 Vintage.
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1974 California Tasting (Cafe Boulud): A very classic nose. Lovely complexity and maturity. Classic Ridge elegance with great purity and a long finish. 1974 Cali Cab tasting
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1974 RIDGE MONTE BELLO SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS CABERNET SAUVIGNON [3 btls]- stunning; all 3 bottles were absolutely fabulous with the 2nd bottle a tad better; it gave up mint and eucalyptus in the nose which continued on with loads of black currant, blackberry and plum within its full body; it was in perfect balance, held on for a long finish and just exuded class and royalty; my #1 WOTN although the 74` Petite Sirah still was singing to me.
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Sommelier said the cork was a little challenging to remove, but in mostly good shape. Very funky nose at first, a bit barnyard-like, but that dissipated after about 10 minutes in the glass. Rich color, no hint of age in appearance, only slight fading at the margins but no bricking at all. Tannins are still quite grippy, good acidity, black fruit fading a bit. Long tart finish. Showing very well.
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Birthday wine. Celebrated my 40th with this, and I was very happy with it. Very little color fade around the edge. Aroma was a bit earth, but still had some black fruit to it and some tobacco, as well. Nothing denoting raisin or oxidation. The body still showed well, velvety and palette-coating. Still showing some grippy tannins, which was surprising to me. A nice acid backnote, but not overbearing. Balanced. Finish was slightly bright. Even though the Drink Window on here says 2011 on the outside, I still felt this bottle could still hold up to a few more years. Overall, I was quite happy with it, and it made a milestone birthday very special.
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Burgundy Producer Dinner (Bistro de l'Hotel - Beaune): Only the 2nd time I've had this wine. First time it was corked and this 2nd wonderful bottle was opened in Beaune! Lots of black fruit, tobacco, spice. Very intense but with great overall balance, textures. Still fresh.
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Purchased a few years back from Hi-Time, this bottle had a base neck fill and a pristine cork that came out easily with a screwpull. A nice ruby color with some bricking, this did not appear as youthful as a '75 Pontet Canet I had the other night. Red plum, forest floor, sandalwood and some "Draper perfume" on the nose. This shows similar flavors but with some blood orange notes also in the mix. Medium bodied with well resolved tannins, this showed its best with about an hour of aeration, and surprisingly the remaining 1/3 bottle was still holding up the next day. Nonetheless, I think this is at or past its peak, and was a very nice '74, but not as good as some others I've tried (Conn Creek and Mondavi Reserve are at the top of that list for now).
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I'm amazed at how well this wine held up after having had poor storage for about 15 years before going into commercial storage. One of six bought at the winery in 1977. Similiar to a 74 Mt. Eden we had a couple years ago, it was in good shape. I know it would be much better if it had had proper storage but it was still tasting good. Maybe more one dimensional than the Mt. Eden which I remember enjoying a little bit more. 100% cab at 12.9% back then. I figured the Mt. Eden was a fluke but this one gives me a lot more appreciation of how these wines were made. If in pristine shape, I'm sure it would be great. Litterally amazed at how well it held up.
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Ridge Monte Bello Vertical Tasting 1974 - 2008 (Switzerland): Likely a bottle which came out of a slightly too warm cellar. Still an intensive red showing some brick color at the corners. But youthful for its age. Taste of malt, eucalyptus and black tea. Acid is present but there is still a bit of sweetness remaining. For its age still in good shape. Maybe not the best bottle sd I already tasted well-stored bottles at solid 95 points. Drink now.
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Ridge Monte Bello Vertical 72-03 (Ken's house, northbrook IL): sadly the wine was corked. there was really good tones of red cherries, cedar and a bit of menthol, but the wet cardboard just stayed there and wouldn't blow off. drat. (my 7, the group's 7)
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Ridge Monte Bello vertical 1964 - 2002 (Institute of Directors, London): High toned, pungent, a bit oxidised, lots of sweet ripe fruit, but earthy too, and a drying finish. Given others' enthusiasm, I went back to it, and it did grow in charm, but my glass ran out too quickly. [The group's WOTN}
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Very youthful ruby, almost purple. Very full bodied, strong fruit, high blackcurrent, very fresh with great acidity, a mushroom / fresh truffle element not noticed before on the other wines. Great depth of character, subtle tertiary oak adding complexity without being overpowering.
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The color was dark. On the nose scents of cedar, flowers, mocha, chocolate and herbs filled the glass. Full bodied with a slightly tannic finish. The mouth rejoices in a bath of red & black fruit. The finish was long.
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2/2/2024 - G_H wrote: 96 Points
A 1974 Napa Retrospective (Zunfthaus zur Waag Zürich): Beautiful nose that has an intriquing mix of floral notes and an intense dark black fruit with some super ripe black cherries. What a fantastic nose.
The palate backs this up with a dense, velvety body and a long finish.
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8/13/2023 - Montesquieu Likes this wine: 95 Points
Have you ever removed the foil cap on a wine only to discover there's no cork underneath? Well, this 1974 Monte Bello had no cork. The hard foil top was pristine. Fill level was lower than ideal, which is why the owner kept the bottle rather than re-selling it. Upon finding no cork below the foil or in the bottle, we expected the worst. Instead, beautiful smell suggesting it wasn't spoiled. The taste was excellent for almost 50 years of life. Given all that, I doubt this bottle is representative, but it definitely gave great drinking pleasure.
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11/2/2021 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Ridge Monte Bello Retrospective (Porter House): A few weeks ago we were at an auction where this came up and sold for more than >$3k and that was on my mind when I was drinking this wine. This is a great wine - beautiful and elegant and black fruits and floral and almost this nice cutting edge to it that is the acid tying it up at the end. It was very lovely. Hard to say that much more lovely than the other wines we tried which were also super spectacular, but definitely a real treat (esp in the side by side 74 line-up which was killer).
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10/18/2020 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 96 Points
TobI's Firework (Berens am Kai 1 star Restaurant): blind
for me a bit too evolved for a 74 but with great great acidity and tannin structure. Black currant still present and some ethereal notes not that explosive as Marha's vineyard. In same with 1984 I preferred a touch the latter one. At his peak. Other at the table rated 74 with higher points (till 100). 96
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3/3/2020 - La Flama Blanca wrote: flawed
Ughh!!! Not corked, not VA, not even tired...just an off bottle. We begged and pleaded and waited, but it just never came around...the ultimate tease!!!
Served in flight with Heitz Martha’s and Mayacamas of the same 74 Vintage.
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9/13/2017 - nywine68 Likes this wine: 93 Points
1974 California Tasting (Cafe Boulud): A very classic nose. Lovely complexity and maturity. Classic Ridge elegance with great purity and a long finish. 1974 Cali Cab tasting
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5/2/2017 - Blake Brown Likes this wine: 96 Points
1974 RIDGE MONTE BELLO SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS CABERNET SAUVIGNON [3 btls]- stunning; all 3 bottles were absolutely fabulous with the 2nd bottle a tad better; it gave up mint and eucalyptus in the nose which continued on with loads of black currant, blackberry and plum within its full body; it was in perfect balance, held on for a long finish and just exuded class and royalty; my #1 WOTN although the 74` Petite Sirah still was singing to me.
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12/12/2016 - jdtonic Likes this wine: 97 Points
I defer to Antonio Galloni's note of this year.
Pretty cool to drink a Cali Cab made in Santa Cruz before the skateboard was invented, and some unpaved Norcal roads led to a brand new Circle K...
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11/3/2015 - fcxj wrote: 90 Points
Fresher than 1978.
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10/12/2014 - raypedia Likes this wine: 91 Points
Sommelier said the cork was a little challenging to remove, but in mostly good shape. Very funky nose at first, a bit barnyard-like, but that dissipated after about 10 minutes in the glass. Rich color, no hint of age in appearance, only slight fading at the margins but no bricking at all. Tannins are still quite grippy, good acidity, black fruit fading a bit. Long tart finish. Showing very well.
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10/11/2014 - wpattison Likes this wine: 92 Points
Birthday wine. Celebrated my 40th with this, and I was very happy with it. Very little color fade around the edge. Aroma was a bit earth, but still had some black fruit to it and some tobacco, as well. Nothing denoting raisin or oxidation. The body still showed well, velvety and palette-coating. Still showing some grippy tannins, which was surprising to me. A nice acid backnote, but not overbearing. Balanced. Finish was slightly bright. Even though the Drink Window on here says 2011 on the outside, I still felt this bottle could still hold up to a few more years. Overall, I was quite happy with it, and it made a milestone birthday very special.
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5/13/2014 - Burgundy Al wrote: 93 Points
Burgundy Producer Dinner (Bistro de l'Hotel - Beaune): Only the 2nd time I've had this wine. First time it was corked and this 2nd wonderful bottle was opened in Beaune! Lots of black fruit, tobacco, spice. Very intense but with great overall balance, textures. Still fresh.
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3/28/2014 - GrapeScott wrote: 92 Points
Purchased a few years back from Hi-Time, this bottle had a base neck fill and a pristine cork that came out easily with a screwpull. A nice ruby color with some bricking, this did not appear as youthful as a '75 Pontet Canet I had the other night. Red plum, forest floor, sandalwood and some "Draper perfume" on the nose. This shows similar flavors but with some blood orange notes also in the mix. Medium bodied with well resolved tannins, this showed its best with about an hour of aeration, and surprisingly the remaining 1/3 bottle was still holding up the next day. Nonetheless, I think this is at or past its peak, and was a very nice '74, but not as good as some others I've tried (Conn Creek and Mondavi Reserve are at the top of that list for now).
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10/2/2012 - pismo45 wrote:
I'm amazed at how well this wine held up after having had poor storage for about 15 years before going into commercial storage. One of six bought at the winery in 1977. Similiar to a 74 Mt. Eden we had a couple years ago, it was in good shape. I know it would be much better if it had had proper storage but it was still tasting good. Maybe more one dimensional than the Mt. Eden which I remember enjoying a little bit more. 100% cab at 12.9% back then. I figured the Mt. Eden was a fluke but this one gives me a lot more appreciation of how these wines were made. If in pristine shape, I'm sure it would be great. Litterally amazed at how well it held up.
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9/29/2012 - Wine_lvr wrote: 89 Points
Ridge Monte Bello Vertical Tasting 1974 - 2008 (Switzerland): Likely a bottle which came out of a slightly too warm cellar. Still an intensive red showing some brick color at the corners. But youthful for its age. Taste of malt, eucalyptus and black tea. Acid is present but there is still a bit of sweetness remaining. For its age still in good shape. Maybe not the best bottle sd I already tasted well-stored bottles at solid 95 points. Drink now.
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10/6/2009 - Burgundy Al wrote: flawed
Ridge Monte Bello Vertical 1972-2003 (Chez Kailin - Northbrook IL): Corked, which was too bad because this showed great underlying fruit but the moldy cardboard smell just kept gaining stronger and stronger.
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10/6/2009 - KeithAkers wrote: flawed
Ridge Monte Bello Vertical 72-03 (Ken's house, northbrook IL): sadly the wine was corked. there was really good tones of red cherries, cedar and a bit of menthol, but the wet cardboard just stayed there and wouldn't blow off. drat. (my 7, the group's 7)
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6/30/2009 - Rupert wrote: 92 Points
Ridge Monte Bello vertical 1964 - 2002 (Institute of Directors, London): High toned, pungent, a bit oxidised, lots of sweet ripe fruit, but earthy too, and a drying finish. Given others' enthusiasm, I went back to it, and it did grow in charm, but my glass ran out too quickly. [The group's WOTN}
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1/23/2006 - Russell Faulkner wrote: 97 Points
The Full Monte - 35 Year Monte Bello Vertical (Alba Restaurant, London): 100% CS, 12.9% Alcohol
Very youthful ruby, almost purple. Very full bodied, strong fruit, high blackcurrent, very fresh with great acidity, a mushroom / fresh truffle element not noticed before on the other wines. Great depth of character, subtle tertiary oak adding complexity without being overpowering.
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3/2/2004 - Jeff Leve wrote: 95 Points
The color was dark. On the nose scents of cedar, flowers, mocha, chocolate and herbs filled the glass. Full bodied with a slightly tannic finish. The mouth rejoices in a bath of red & black fruit. The finish was long.
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