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Red
2010 Ridge Monte Bello
Red Bordeaux Blend
- USA
- California
- Santa Cruz Mountains
Community Tasting Notes 143
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thelostverse wrote: 96 points
March 12, 2024 - Decanted for three hours prior to dinner as there was a bit of fine sediment in the bottle. Very dark color showing no visible signs of age. The nose again initially had some funk which does not show in the palate. Notes of dark fruit, cedar and pencil shavings, violet and cigar on the nose. Palate continues with nicely integrated tannins. The best showing yet for this bottle with years remaining. 96+
5 people found this helpful Comment -
Kemo Sabe Likes this wine: 93 points
January 28, 2024 - Decanted for 3 hours. Could have decanted for 3 days. This is a monster of a wine. Just too young but will be a great wine as all the components are there. 13.2% abv. Loads of dark fruit, blackberries and some leather. Just so primary right now. Lots of depth and massive concentration. 93 today upside to 95+
4 people found this helpful Comment -
lozatron Likes this wine:
December 4, 2023 - Monday Night Festive Blinds (Hawksmoor Guildhall): Served blind but by me so I knew what it was. Interestingly, this was bigger, perhaps sweeter, certainly oakier than the wines it was tasted alongside. It was just as good as I hoped it would be but for balance I might have chosen an older one. With that said - this really is the nuts.
1 person found this helpful Comment -
Vinumming & Ahhing Likes this wine: 94 points
December 4, 2023 - BWCCC Cycling Planning Meeting (Hawksmoor, Guildhall): Served blind at the perfect temperature, this has a charming green fruited coolness with touches of cedar and blackcurrant leaf. On the palate there is a little mintiness that steers me towards the new world rather than Bordeaux. Some exotic beef tea too with just a hint of pho like lemon grass and ginger. With some air there is a hint of tarragon and a couple of PPM of pine resin. So youthful on the palate. Many, many years ahead of it. A tour de force.
2 people found this helpful Comment -
lozatron Likes this wine:
November 23, 2023 - Thanksgiving Wimps 2023 - Alfred Stieglitz Table (La Trompette): Well well well. Some wines don't suck. Real fine tannins, and a lovely substance there. On pouring this seemed less ready than its 08 flightmate - over the course of the dinner this got up there with the 97 - the 97 for current drinking, and this for the future. Yum.
3 people found this helpful Comments (5)
1 - 5 of 143
More notes
Pro Reviews 14
Add a Pro ReviewVinous
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By Stephen Tanzer
Vintage Retrospective: The 2010 Napa Valley Cabernets (May 2020), 5/1/2020 (link)(Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello Central Coast Red) Subscribe to see review text.
Decanter
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By Panel Tasting
Californian Cabernet 2010, 10/10/2018 (link)(Ridge Vineyards, Monte Bello, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains, California, USA, Red) Subscribe to see review text.
JamesSuckling.com
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By James Suckling
2/9/2017 (link)(Ridge Vineyards Santa Cruz Mountains Monte Bello, Red, United States) Subscribe to see review text.
Vinous
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By Antonio Galloni
Ridge Monte Bello: Past, Present and Future (Jul 2015), 7/1/2015 (link)(Ridge Monte Bello Central Coast) Subscribe to see review text.
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By Josh Raynolds
November/December 2013, IWC Issue #171 (link)(Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello Santa Cruz Mountains) Subscribe to see review text.
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By Antonio Galloni
Santa Cruz Mountains: California’s Best Kept Secret (Jul 2013) (link)(Ridge Monte Bello Monte Bello) Subscribe to see review text.
WineAlign
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By David Lawrason
6/3/2013 (link)(Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello, Santa Cruz Mountains red) Subscribe to see review text.
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By John Szabo, MS
5/29/2013 (link)(Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello, Santa Cruz Mountains red) Subscribe to see review text.
Vinous
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By Antonio Galloni
California's Central Coast: Better than Ever (Aug 2012) (link)(Ridge Monte Bello Santa Cruz Mountains) Subscribe to see review text.
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By Antonio Galloni
Exploring California's Central Coast (Aug 2011) (link)(Ridge Monte Bello Santa Cruz Mountains) Subscribe to see review text.
RJonWine.com
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By Richard Jennings
3/10/2013 (link) 96 points(Ridge Monte Bello) Very dark maroon color; very appealing, lifted, ripe black currant, violets, blackberry, graphite nose; rich, delicious, ripe black currant, blackberry, violets, ripe black fruit palate with firm, sweet tannins; needs 7-8 years; medium-plus finish (74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc; 13.2% alcohol; 96% American oak, 4% new French oak for 18 months; yield of 83.5 tons from 58 acres)
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By Richard Jennings
6/17/2011 (link) 93 points(Ridge Monte Bello) Barrel sample - dark purple red violet color; youthful, red berry, berry, vanilla, caramel, cinnamon nose; very youthful, berry, roasted berry, coffee, cinnamon, plum, baking spice, creosote palate; needs 15+ years; long finish 93-95 points (74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc)
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By Richard Jennings
5/21/2011 (link) 94 points(Ridge Monte Bello) Barrel sample (final assemblage) - purple red violet color; lifted, richly herbal, pencil lead, dark plum nose; delicious, very young, rich, red currant, cassis, red berry, green herb, gun flint palate with black plum undertones and sweet tannins; needs 10-12 years; long finish 94-95 points (74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc)
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By Richard Jennings
3/6/2011 (link) 93 points(Ridge Monte Bello) First assemblage barrel sample - nearly opaque crimson color; lovely, complex, olive, herbaceous, tart cassis, tart currant nose; tasty, tart currant, tart cassis, olive, herbaceous palate, like a St. Julien from a ripe year; long finish 93-95 points (70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc)
2010 Merlot component barrel sample - medium dark purple red violet color; primary, lavender, berry, raspberry nose; tight, tart red plum, herbaceous, tart red currant palate with near medium acidity; medium-plus finish 90-91 points (Bowl Block)
2010 Cabernet Sauvignon component barrel sample - dark magenta color; lovely, rich and complex tart cassis, green peppercorn, green olive nose; tasty, poised, tart cassis, green olive, red currant palate with lift; medium finish 92-95 points (Fosters Block)
2010 Petit Verdot component barrel sample - opaque purple red violet color; hint of pencil lead, tart red plum, red berry, black fruit nose; rich, lovely, tart black fruit, pencil lead, graphite palate; medium-plus finish 93-96 points (Olivos Block)
Wine Definition
- Vintage 2010
- Type Red
- Producer Ridge
- Varietal Red Bordeaux Blend
- Designation n/a
- Vineyard Monte Bello
- Country USA
- Region California
- SubRegion Santa Cruz Mountains
- Appellation Santa Cruz Mountains
- UPC Codes 086891077437, 4714127538976, 744442101009, 744442279005, 744442301003
Community Holdings
- Pending Delivery 219 (3%)
- In Cellars 5,861 (76%)
- Consumed 1,670 (22%)
Food Pairing
No food pairings available.
Who Likes This Wine
100% Like It 76 votes
More About This Wine
Articles
- ProducerRidge
- VarietyRed Bordeaux Blend
- VineyardMonte Bello
- CountryUSA
- RegionCalifornia
- AppellationSanta Cruz Mountains
Add Articles
- Wine2010 Ridge Monte Bello (add)
- FamilyRidge Monte Bello (add)
- ProducerRidge
- VarietalRed Bordeaux Blend
- VineyardMonte Bello
- CountryUSA
- RegionCalifornia
- SubRegionSanta Cruz Mountains (add)
- AppellationSanta Cruz Mountains