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Ridge Monte Bello vertical 1964 - 2002
Institute of Directors, London
Tasted June 30, 2009 by Rupert with 1,181 views
Introduction
On a sweltering day in London, we were lucky that this took place in the gloriously air-conditioned IoD. Basically it confirmed my past impression of Monte Bello - severe, grand and impressive. Not so obviously California as others. Unlike others in Linden's California series, the young wines showed very well - 02, 01, 99, 97, 96, 94 all superb with the '94 the pick of the bunch. I was surprised to find so much farmyard in the '81 and the '78, but these were so silky and lively that I adored them. Best of all was the '71. That said, I can't remember a tasting where I was so far out of line with the consensus. The group's WOTN was '74 followed by '90.
Flight 1 (15 notes)
Red
2002 Ridge Monte Bello
93 points
The fragrance leaps out of the glass - sharp, lead pencil, cassis, quite claret-like, high acid, impressive and classic
Red
2001 Ridge Monte Bello
92 points
Denser and rounder than the '02, (the extra lushness presumably due to the much higher than usual merlot content - 36%), not so forthcoming, high acid again, but stylish
Red
1999 Ridge Monte Bello
93 points
When this was first poured pretty much everyone apart from Linden thought it was corked - obviously so I thought. But returning to it an hour later, the taint had disappeared entirely and what was left was brilliant - compared with the cassis based '01 and '02, this was more floral and red fruited -fantastic complete wine
Red
1996 Ridge Monte Bello
91 points
Intense, leafy and lean, grippy tannins, high acid, severe, but quite grand and impressive
Red
1997 Ridge Monte Bello
92 points
Milky, chocolately nose, richly oaky, very cabernet, focused and fine
Red
1994 Ridge Monte Bello
94 points
Pronounced menthol nose, cassis, intense, juicy and persistent - this was really exciting
Red
1990 Ridge Monte Bello
89 points
I was way out of line with the group on this one. There's a lot of sweet fruit here, but it's drying, sour, lacking charm and ultimately a bit dull - for most present this was a contender for WOTN
Red
1984 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello
87 points
Sickly lactic nose, some mint chocolate on the palate, but faded, woody, dried out [a fair number of the others present were a lot more enthusiastic about this finding a cedary claret quality)
Red
1981 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello
94 points
A lot of farmyard on the nose, but bursting with life, smoky, a silky texture, very fresh - I loved this [many others found it too pongy]
Red
1978 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello
93 points
Volatile, very mature, complex, sweet and cedary, harmonious, fine. [That's what I thought - others were very down on this wine]
Red
1974 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello
92 points
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}
Red
1971 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello
94 points
Mature, but absolutely enticing nose, sweet smoky fruit, vibrant, this lured me in and had me spellbound - lovely
Red
1970 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello
flawed
Corked. Underneath, this seemed lush and with bags of cassis fruit.
Red
1964 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello
90 points
Malty, mature, sharp and a bit short, but this still has some fruit and life and is rather attractive