Professional reviews have copyrights and you can view them here for your personal use only as private content. To view pro reviews you must either subscribe to a pre-integrated publication or manually enter reviews. Learn more.
Manage Subscriptions
Important Update From the Founder
Read message >
Red
2012 Ridge Monte Bello
Red Bordeaux Blend
- USA
- California
- Santa Cruz Mountains
Community Tasting Notes 145
-
deadwax Likes this wine: 94 points
April 9, 2024 - Double decanted to take to out with friends. In a good place with plenty of life. I think this is a 40-year MB. On the nose a purple fruit, cassis and spice box. On the pallet cassis, blue fruit and spice in the medium body wine. Very good and will get better.
3 people found this helpful Comment -
mark2eye Likes this wine: 96 points
February 10, 2024 - Excellent. Drinking perfectly right now.
2 people found this helpful Comment -
ziavino wrote: 95 points
February 2, 2024 - Notes of ripe plum and blackberry lead the way, with grippy tannins emerging and lingering on the medium-long finish. Oak feels well integrated at his stage, and there's a mineral undertone that plays a more prominent role than usual. Savory, earthy notes weave in and out too. Excellent, and just leaning into its drinking window now.
6 people found this helpful Comment -
Rieslingfan wrote:
February 1, 2024 - Served blind by the host at our monthly tasting group, this was the runaway wine of the night. Still very young, but also quite drinkable, with solid black fruit, firm tannin, a touch (just a touch) of wood framing, and a very long finish. Not the most aromatic wine of the night, but definitely the most complete, and with the longest runway for improvement. Drink now if you must, but better off not to, as it's going to get a lot better.
7 people found this helpful Comments (1) -
Too much practice. Likes this wine: 92 points
January 1, 2024 - This is something (news only to me). Tasted from Nik Bertelsen. Round, smooth, fruity, oaky and utterly delicious. Very long finish.
1 person found this helpful Comment
1 - 5 of 145
More notes
Pro Reviews 19
Add a Pro ReviewJamesSuckling.com
-
By James Suckling
12/30/2022 (link)(Ridge Vineyards Santa Cruz Mountains Monte Bello, United States) Subscribe to see review text.
Decanter
-
By Stephen Brook
Ridge Monte Bello retrospective, 10/25/2022 (link)(Ridge Vineyards, Monte Bello, Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mountains, California, USA, Red) Subscribe to see review text.
-
By Stephen Brook
Ridge Monte Bello retrospective, 10/25/2022 (link)(Ridge Vineyards, Monte Bello, Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mountains, California, USA, Red) Subscribe to see review text.
-
By William Kelley
Ridge Monte Bello Vertical, 11/27/2017 (link)(Ridge Vineyards, Monte Bello, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains, California, USA, Red) Subscribe to see review text.
JamesSuckling.com
-
By James Suckling
2/9/2017 (link)(Ridge Santa Cruz Mountains Monte Bello, United States) Subscribe to see review text.
Vinous
-
By Antonio Galloni
Ridge Monte Bello Revisited: 1968 – 2012 (Jul 2016), 7/1/2016 (link)(Ridge Monte Bello Central Coast) Subscribe to see review text.
WineAlign
-
By Steve Thurlow
1/24/2016 (link)(Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello, Santa Cruz Mountains red) Subscribe to see review text.
JancisRobinson.com
-
By Jancis Robinson, MW
10/21/2015 (link)(Ridge, Monte Bello Santa Cruz Mountains Red) Subscribe to see review text.
WineAlign
-
By Sara d'Amato
9/5/2015 (link)(Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello, Santa Cruz Mountains red) Subscribe to see review text.
-
By John Szabo, MS
9/1/2015 (link)(Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello, Santa Cruz Mountains red) Subscribe to see review text.
-
By David Lawrason
8/26/2015 (link)(Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello, Santa Cruz Mountains red) Subscribe to see review text.
Vinous
-
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.
JancisRobinson.com
-
By Jancis Robinson, MW
2/25/2015 (link)(Ridge, Monte Bello Santa Cruz Mountains Red) Subscribe to see review text.
Vinous
-
By Antonio Galloni
Santa Cruz Mountains – A Study in Terroir (Jul 2014) (link)(Ridge Monte Bello Monte Bello) Subscribe to see review text.
JancisRobinson.com
-
By Julia Harding, MW
10/4/2013 (link)(Ridge, Monte Bello Santa Cruz Mountains Red) Subscribe to see review text.
Vinous
-
By Antonio Galloni
Santa Cruz Mountains: California’s Best Kept Secret (Jul 2013) (link)(Ridge Monte Bello Monte Bello) Subscribe to see review text.
RJonWine.com
-
By Richard Jennings
3/15/2015 (link) 93 points(Ridge Monte Bello) Saturated very dark ruby color; appealing, ripe cassis, raspberry puree, cherry puree nose; rich, tight, ripe raspberry puree, cassis palate with sweet tannins and good acidity; needs 5 years; medium-plus finish (64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot; 13.8% alcohol)
-
By Richard Jennings
5/19/2013 (link) 96 points(Ridge Monte Bello) Final assemblage - opaque purple red violet color; very appealing, cassis, creme de cassis, cedar, pencil lead, ripe black fruit nose; velvety textured already, tight, tart black currant, tart black cherry, pencil lead, violets palate with balance; could use 5-plus years; long finish (62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot; 13.7% alcohol)
-
By Richard Jennings
3/10/2013 (link) 94 points(Ridge Monte Bello) First assemblage barrel sample - opaque purple red violet color; very appealing, complex, pencil lead, black currant, mulberry nose; rich, tasty, poised, tight, tart black currant, tart berry, pencil lead palate with firm, sweet tannins; needs 7-plus years; medium-plus finish 94-96 points (first assemblage is 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot, 8% Cabernet Franc; 13.7% alcohol; all the Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc was used in this blend)
Wine Definition
- Vintage 2012
- 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 052000047837, 086891077437, 4714127538976, 7070293028367, 744442101009, 744442101122, 744442103003, 744442301003
Community Holdings
- Pending Delivery 195 (2%)
- In Cellars 7,319 (79%)
- Consumed 1,794 (19%)
Food Pairing
Community Recommendations
Angus, Beef, clove beef, entrecote w/ sauce, Lamb, lamb w/ green pepper corn sauce, paupiettes w/ sauce, Red meats, steak bordelaiseWho Likes This Wine
99% Like It 108 votes
More About This Wine
Articles
- Wine2012 Ridge Monte Bello
- ProducerRidge
- VarietyRed Bordeaux Blend
- VineyardMonte Bello
- CountryUSA
- RegionCalifornia
- AppellationSanta Cruz Mountains
Add Articles
- Wine2012 Ridge Monte Bello
- FamilyRidge Monte Bello (add)
- ProducerRidge
- VarietalRed Bordeaux Blend
- VineyardMonte Bello
- CountryUSA
- RegionCalifornia
- SubRegionSanta Cruz Mountains (add)
- AppellationSanta Cruz Mountains