1981 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello

Community Tasting Notes (42) Avg Score: 92.1 points

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  6/14/2023 - ekorn Likes this wine:

  This bottle was purchased from a private cellar sale. It had some bin staining, and a slightly elevated cork, which was cause for some doubt as to if the wine itself would be in good shape.
  
  The fill was into the neck, though. The cork was only saturated a half inch or so, which was encouraging.
  
  Decanted for sediment (not much for a 40+ year old wine), then tasted. The wine had a little bit of bottle funk, which blew off with time, but otherwise was spectacular from the get-go. We left this in the decanter, and it continued to open over the next 3 or so hours.
  
  Very fragrant nose with some leather, blueberry, mint, and dill. This wine smelled fabulous and relatively youthful for its age. It retained its mountain fruit on the nose and palate -- a little bit of tartness that I love in this style of wine. On the palate, more tart mountain fruit, some herbal/tea characteristics, herbal finish, and light tannins that receded as the night wore on.

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  6/7/2023 - mdefreitas wrote: 96 Points

  This bottle was in great shape, with the fill level well into the neck. The cork was pristine and looked about twenty years old. I wonder if this was a re-conditioned bottle? The color was still a deep red, with minimal bricking. The aromas jumped out and screamed "Bordeaux", with loam, tobacco, leather, herbs and celery seed. Perfectly resolved, melt-in-your-mouth tannins. Spectacular showing.

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  12/31/2021 - Old Claret Likes this wine: 98 Points

  Alive and delicious - the best Cali cab I've ever had and one of the best wines period. Truly a great bottle! (This was our backup when we discovered that our 1979 Hermitage la Chappelle was DOA.)

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  11/2/2021 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:

  Ridge Monte Bello Retrospective (Porter House): One of the best birth year wines I've ever had. This is definitely more in the vegetal/briar patch/spicy style. Lower on fruit, but drinking really well and very bright in style. Surprised me and for many was the favorite of the flight which is really saying something.

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  1/27/2021 - pkouchu wrote: 92 Points

  cedar, cassis, tobacco, savory herbs, mint, tart blackberry, mushrooms, loam, leather, red berries, red plum
  
  secondary notes slowly becoming more dominant. Still delightful though

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