1980 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello

Community Tasting Notes (20) Avg Score: 91.2 points

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  4/23/2023 - jnewman77 Likes this wine:

  Wow this was a great bottle. I bought two bottles at auction a couple years ago for a great friend's 40th; this bottle was clearly better. Incredible nose with remarkably fresh cherry, cassis, green tobacco, a hint of oak spice, damp earth, and just a hint of herbs. The palate had very good depth with melted tannins and generally was just pleasurable. Not the most intense or deep which at 43 years of age isn't a bad thing. But the balance and the nose are remarkable. An exquisite bottle that reminds me why I cellar cabernet based wines.

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  4/6/2021 - Robert Pavlovich wrote:

  Fairly rustic, but also pretty glorious. We put it in a wide bottomed decanter and it held well for hours, unfurling with its mature dark fruit, wrapped in cedar, tobacco, and plenty of fresh acidity and dry oak. Very worthy of the producer and appropriate for the era, even if not one of their all time bests.

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  4/28/2020 - jnewman77 wrote:

  Opened for a great friends 40th; the nose here is quite dominated by pyrazines; very herbal and cedary initially; with air it gains a little bit of fruit, but mostly stays in the pyrazine zone; the palate shows actually some nice dried currant and plum, humidor, cedar, mushroom, and leaf litter. Paired with a rack of lamb it brings a lovely freshness and still has a little bit of structure. Overall I'd say it was good; the palate was surprisingly better than the nose though with time the nose was pleasant.

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  6/24/2018 - doctornoah Likes this wine: 93 Points

  Wow, this was on point!

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  10/14/2017 - Nanda wrote: 93 Points

  Ridge Monte Bello Vertical, 1980-1999 (Chez Moll): Popped and slow-oxed ~3-4 hours before dinner. Full, elegant, complex nose of mature plum fruit, bell pepper, menthol, tobacco. Serious aromatic intensity and lift. The palate shows quite vibrant and fresh, and holds this energy for 2+ hours over dinner. Mature, dried fruit with loads of eucalyptus, tobacco leaf, tar and herbal notes. Long, savory finish. A real testament to the vigor and age worthiness of Monte Bello.

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