Won at fundraiser auction. Last Montebello vintage at Ridge before Paul Draper came on board. Opened & served immediately July 25, 2022 with roast pheasant: prune color; only fair nose; oddly tart; not well balanced. But not, however, "madérisé" as the French say. Overall, quite disappointing when compared to other Montebello bottles from the early-mid-1970s. No improvement the following day. Perhaps indeed past its prime.
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WOW! The blast of tobacco, cedar wood, smoke, herbs and cassis could have come from Pauillac, and a serious Classified Growth at that. Full-bodied, a little rustic, but long and dense, the wine is rough and ready, leaving you with a lengthy flash of red fruits and herbs.
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A complex and vibrant bouquet of cedar, dried cherry, cassis, forest floor and a touch of leather is the prelude to a wine of striking amplitude, power and intensity; firm, savory tannins and bright acidity still make an impression on the palate. This early Monte Bello gives the measure of the site’s potential. 12.7%
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Dinner With Paul Draper in NYC - older vintages of Ridge (Cafe Boulud): Wow, a great bottle of this wine which smells very much like a Latour with a wonderful nose of black fruits, minerals and roasted walnuts. Perfectly mature now with wonderful earthy dark fruit flavors and a smooth, silky first-growth type texture. Really elegant and fine but also grippy on the finish with complex notes of tar, black earth and minerals. Wow!
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(Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello) Bricking medium dark red violet color; appealing, tart cassis, light menthol, shitake mushroom, tart red currant nose; delicious, mature, tart red currant, light tobacco, mushroom, tart raspberry palate with medium-plus acidity; long finish (12.7% alcohol)
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11/17/2023 - roddey3 wrote: 89 Points
Won at fundraiser auction. Last Montebello vintage at Ridge before Paul Draper came on board. Opened & served immediately July 25, 2022 with roast pheasant: prune color; only fair nose; oddly tart; not well balanced. But not, however, "madérisé" as the French say. Overall, quite disappointing when compared to other Montebello bottles from the early-mid-1970s. No improvement the following day. Perhaps indeed past its prime.
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2/21/2019 - Jeff Leve wrote: 96 Points
WOW! The blast of tobacco, cedar wood, smoke, herbs and cassis could have come from Pauillac, and a serious Classified Growth at that. Full-bodied, a little rustic, but long and dense, the wine is rough and ready, leaving you with a lengthy flash of red fruits and herbs.
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6/27/2017 - William Kelley Likes this wine: 95 Points
A complex and vibrant bouquet of cedar, dried cherry, cassis, forest floor and a touch of leather is the prelude to a wine of striking amplitude, power and intensity; firm, savory tannins and bright acidity still make an impression on the palate. This early Monte Bello gives the measure of the site’s potential. 12.7%
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6/10/2017 - europat55 wrote: 92 Points
From double magnum (!)
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10/23/2013 - dream Likes this wine: 96 Points
Dinner With Paul Draper in NYC - older vintages of Ridge (Cafe Boulud): Wow, a great bottle of this wine which smells very much like a Latour with a wonderful nose of black fruits, minerals and roasted walnuts. Perfectly mature now with wonderful earthy dark fruit flavors and a smooth, silky first-growth type texture. Really elegant and fine but also grippy on the finish with complex notes of tar, black earth and minerals. Wow!
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