2020 Ridge Monte Bello

Community Tasting Notes (22) Avg Score: 92.4 points

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  4/24/2024 - Montesquieu wrote: 92 Points

  As a Monte Bello collector since 2001, I normally don't open bottles until they're mature - 15+ years in good vintages, 10+ in an off one. I made an exception in this case to assess the smoke presence and whether these should be consumed younger as a result. My palate isn't the most sensitive, but I do believe I detected smoke, which challenged the otherwise good MB core. The wine was still a good wine, though not for the price, for the first 60 minutes. After that, the smoke became more prominent relative to other notes. Consequently, I'll plan to consume these younger than normal and without long decants.

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  4/21/2024 - Cailles wrote: 88 Points

  From two half bottles. To talk about the elephant in the room first: yes, there are smoky/ashy notes noticeable in the wine. No doubt for me, in both bottles. Yet, with all the youthful exuberance, all the fruit as a counterbalance, the notes can be perceived as just another layer, as minerality, even as a feature (depending on your sensitivity and whether you like ashy/smoky notes), but I fear that as the wine ages, these notes will take over and wreck the wine. I liked the hints of smoke on the nose but didn‘t like those on the palate and in the finish (and it stays in your mouth long after the sip). Today, it‘s still a decently drinking wine, but with this „ticking time bomb“ in the wine, certainly not worthy to have been released as Monte Bello. Drink up - not one to lay down.
  
  TN: Intense, expressive bouquet with perfectly ripe dark berries, spices, some vegetal aromas and minerality which extends into a clear ashy note, which adds to the nose rather than negatively dominating it. Quite particular but luxurious and inviting. On the palate the same perfectly ripe and fresh dark and dark blue fruit, cedar notes, minerality, some spices. Quite beautiful, complex and precise. Towards the mid-palate and especially in the finish, the ashy and smoky notes come forward and they stick in your mouth. Not very pleasant, especially in the second bottle it was quite penetrating. The longer the wine is open the stronger the notes are on the palate. The strucutre is impeccable: Fine tannins, light and airy feel, good freshness, silky texture and good overall balance.
  
  Decanting: Not decanted. Open from the go. Do not decant, the more air, the stronger the smoke note.

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  4/18/2024 - pkouchu wrote: flawed

  For those still doubtful of smoke taint, wine advocate just published their review, they sent the wine to a lab and it came back 4x over the threshold. It’s smoke tainted to hell.

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  4/10/2024 - North Willis Likes this wine: 93 Points

  I opened this bottle with great anticipation given concerns raised in the wine community over smoke taint. I’m pleased to report that this is drinking wonderfully, if still quite young. I picked up a hint of smoke on the finish, and at PnP the finish drops off a bit abruptly. But as the wine opened up, the finish broadened and the hint of smoke seemed to recede. Reports of ash tray and grit were just not part of the experience of this bottle. Based on the outcome, I feel confident my remaining bottles will prove to be excellent MB’s in due time.

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  3/8/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine: 93 Points

  Astonishing open for a Monte Bello at this stage, but of course too young. Complex bouquet of black currant, dark fruit, coffee, vanilla, spices. Long but tannic finish. Wait 6-7 more years and you will be rewarded. Potential for 95+

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View all 22 Community Tasting Notes

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