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Red
1996 Ridge Monte Bello
Red Bordeaux Blend
- USA
- California
- Santa Cruz Mountains
Label borrowed from 1997
Label borrowed from 1997
Label borrowed from 1997
Label borrowed from 1997
Label borrowed from 1997
Label borrowed from 1997
Label borrowed from 1997
Label borrowed from 1997
Label borrowed from 1995
Label borrowed from 1995
Community Tasting Notes 209
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SMHalps Likes this wine: 96 points
April 6, 2024 - Part of a trio of aged American Cab and Cab blends night with my wine group. It was opened and decanted for 90 minutes before pouring. Lots of fruit left, but the structure is beginning to weaken. I'm not sure how many years this has left. But this bottle was drinking great! Long finish, beautiful nose. The other 2 wines were a 2002 Quilceda Creek Cabernet and a 1996 1996 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard. As all 3 wines were drinking great, it was hard to pick a favorite.
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jbaron wrote: 94 points
March 30, 2024 - Quite nice.
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dream Likes this wine: 96 points
March 12, 2024 - This was singing tonight and showing great maturity with just fabulous spicy dark berry fruits with and a wonderful lick of eucalyptus and superb floral lift. Layered with a gorgeously opulent texture and so giving now with superb concentration and complexity on the finish. Just a flourishing wine that's exciting to drink and yet so balanced and light on its feet. Certainly another decade of development here but I love where it is now. It was paired against the '96 Lafite and at least today, I slightly preferred the Montebello which is saying something.
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Robert R. Likes this wine:
February 10, 2024 - A very fine wine. Decanted an hour (should have been more patient). Great nose. Full, smooth, well integrated, complex flavor profile. About as good as it gets in my experience from CA Bordeaux styled wines. Just a real pleasure. High marks.
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roddey3 Likes this wine: 98 points
January 27, 2024 - Magnum bottle: decanted night before & left overnight back in uncorked bottle; initially quite closed up. Re-decanted next morning 5 hrs before serving at lunch with gougeres and veal shanks (M. Battali recipe): fully open and stunningly complete wine that matches flavor profiles of previous reviews. Terrific nose, body, structure, mouthfeel, v. long finish. Comparable to 1984 Ridge Montebello and 1967 Heinz Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. Jancis Robinson was on the mark.
1 - 5 of 209
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Pro Reviews 10
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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.
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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.
JancisRobinson.com
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By Jancis Robinson, MW
10/25/2022 (link)(Ridge, Monte Bello Santa Cruz Mountains Red) Subscribe to see review text.
JebDunnuck.com
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By Jeb Dunnuck
Santa Cruz Mountains and the Santa Lucia Highlands, 2/14/2019 (link)(Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello Red) Subscribe to see review text.
Vinous
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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.
JancisRobinson.com
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By Jancis Robinson, MW
4/2/2016 (link)(Ridge, Monte Bello Santa Cruz Mountains Red) Subscribe to see review text.
Vinous
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By Stephen Tanzer
May/June 1999, IWC Issue #84 (link)(Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello Red Blend) Subscribe to see review text.
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By Stephen Tanzer
May/June 1998, IWC Issue #78 (link)(Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello Red Blend) Subscribe to see review text.
RJonWine.com
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By Richard Jennings
6/20/2010 (link) 92 points(Ridge Monte Bello) Dark red violet color; hrbal, marjoram, thyme, dill nose; a little tight but plush, tart plum, herbal, red plum, marjoram palate; medium finish 92+ pts. (80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 9% Petit Verdot)
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By Richard Jennings
7/11/2008 (link) 96 points(Ridge Monte Bello) Dark red violet color; great ripe plum, mulberry and eucalyptus nose; rich, ripe plum, eucalyptus, delicious structured palate; long finish 96+ pts. (decanted 4 hours)
Wine Definition
- Vintage 1996
- 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, 098803018636, 744442101009, 744442279012
Community Holdings
- Pending Delivery 22 (1%)
- In Cellars 1,604 (61%)
- Consumed 1,014 (38%)
Food Pairing
No food pairings available.
Who Likes This Wine
100% Like It 60 votes
More About This Wine
Articles
- ProducerRidge
- VarietyRed Bordeaux Blend
- VineyardMonte Bello
- CountryUSA
- RegionCalifornia
- AppellationSanta Cruz Mountains
Add Articles
- Wine1996 Ridge Monte Bello (add)
- FamilyRidge Monte Bello (add)
- ProducerRidge
- VarietalRed Bordeaux Blend
- VineyardMonte Bello
- CountryUSA
- RegionCalifornia
- SubRegionSanta Cruz Mountains (add)
- AppellationSanta Cruz Mountains