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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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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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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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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Tasted blind, this wine was very impressive. It has incredible balance, mineral extract, and great length. While not as classy as some bottles, this was shockingly good.
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Ridge Monte Bello Tasting (Ridge Monte Bello, Cupertino): From Jeroboam. Forest floor, mulch, caramel; palate is medium-full bodied, elegant, balanced, very Bordeaux-like at this age. Fully mature and if anything on the downslope. Drink now. 91
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'Gliding Eagle' engraved on the back. Fresh floral and tobacco aroma. Initially reticent with tobacco, but opened up beautifully within 15-30 minutes with clean, elegant, and perfectly ripe fruit that was light on its feet. Some secondary flavors but still with good structure and some length. Plenty of sediment that needed decant or filter. This bottle has aged very nicely.
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Ridge Monte Bello Vertical, 1980-1999 (Chez Moll): This was apparently quite good upon opening a few hours before dinner and on initial pours. By the time I got to it, the nose was start to show a stewy character. The palate does show some fruit concentration and vigor, but the fruit has a stewy characteristic that worsens with air. Perhaps a bad bottle (though it looked perfect, and had similar/same provenance to the 1980 served side-by-side).
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Ridge Monte Bello, 1980-1999 (Chicago, IL): This was best right when I opened it, and then started to fade as time passed. At first, I thought this showed a great balance of herbal notes and ripe fruit, and that this had a bit more density and richness on the palate than the 1980. But air did not do this wine good, as it got more and more stewy as the evening went on, culminating in a bit of a pruney taste. I'm not sure if this was the victim of poor storage or not; I do note that I opened this same wine (from different provenance) a few months ago and it showed a bit of stewiness then as well.
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Liked but didn't love this - it certainly has that "Draper perfume" of American oak and dill/herbal/leathery notes framing a core of ripe plummy fruit, but there's a faintly stewed/compote aspect to the fruit flavours and it feels a touch clunky on the palate, without the usual blend of power and finesse I typically expect from old Ridge.
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Indianapolis II; 4/21/2017-4/22/2017 (Indianapolis, IN): The nose of this opened off with a bit of stewed fruit, but then with some air, this did improve significantly. The nose on this has a bit of vegetal quality, as well as a bit of leather and a slight dose of American oak. The palate is quite full, with some very blatant American oak, as well as tart plums and leather. It's not a superlative wine, but this is still as solid a Californian cabernet as they come.
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Pnp. Wonderful nose with mushroom, flowers, ashes, and red fruit. Very lovely. Palate had softened and fine tannins with some fruit left. Very soft, elegant and silky.
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PWTG Ridge Monte Bello single blind tasting, Flight of four vintages: 1981, 1986, 1991, 1994. Groups #2, My #2 Some secondary and tertiary aromas show up in addition to dusty fruit, The palate is silky and resolved, beautifully balanced and refined with a lovely texture. Not nearly as big and powerful as the 1991, but this provides a compelling package in a more subtle restrained way.
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Spur of the moment purchase from Alex Sebastian at Wooden Angel, Beaver, PA, who has had this wine in his superb cellar since release. This was meant to distract MWP and me from extended ICU visits with ailing brother J. at Allegheny Valley Hosptial. While not entirely successful as a distraction (no beverage could be) it worked very well as a wine. Lithe and still somewhat youthful, it had a very classic appeal with leathery and cedar notes in abundance, and a kind of shimmery depth in the glass that recalled the halcyon days of the Reagan Administration (this from a committed Democrat). I would recommend it emphatically, and am lifting the glass now with hopes for a better tomorrow.
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(First tasting note. Take with a grain of salt). Enjoyed this bottle with a nice prime rib dinner which was a good match for the Ridge. I don't think this will benefit from more age, however it developed substantially after decanting and 45 minutes of time, so perhaps could last for a few more years easily. The color was a deep-hued purplish-brown (at least under the dim lighting of the restaurant). The bouquet was smoky and grilled meat initially and retained those notes throughout although some plum and fig showed later. The first drink was taken too soon, eventually the wine opened up. The flavor notes that predominated were soy sauce, cigar box, and grilled meat (more grill then meat - at first it was like the aroma of a barbecue in use). There were hints of black fruits that continued to develop with time but never quite achieved a harmonious balance. That said it was a very enjoyable wine and was perfect for the prime rib. Maybe if we had left it for another hour it would have come into it's own. Didn't expect to have to do that with an '81. In comparison to the '95 vintage I had a couple of weeks ago, this was a lesser wine. But I'd gladly share another drop if offered, don't think I'd go looking for one to purchase though.
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Part of a tasting put together by my friend jeffreylubowski. This bottle was from Andy's collection. Clean label and excellent ullage. Cork came out in one piece. Ninety-two percent Cabernet Sauvignon with the remaining balance Merlot. Color was quite good and indicative of a younger wine. Wine did not appear tawny in color for a 33-year old wine, but the lighting in the room limited further scrutiny. Nose and palate were pretty much the same, with elements of dark fruits (mulberry mostly), herbs, a bit of eucalyptus/menthol along with a touch of iron-like tannins. The mulberry and high notes of menthol made the wine taste rich without being jammy. Did not develop the cigar box element I fondly remember from the 1991 Monte Bello, but it's a lovely wine. Clearly a California wine for all the right reasons. Well integrated. Would enjoy tasting this wine against a 1st or 2nd growth Bordeaux from the same vintage. (1981 was a drought year. Alcohol: 12 percent.)
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This was outstanding. The cork was suspect, so I was fairly nervous, but this had an absolutely captivating bouquet of damp earth, leather, tobacco, and herbs with a great core of cassis and red currant fruit. The nose was complex and developed well for 90 minutes. The palate was rich with fruit yet very elegant with a perfect amount of tannin that was well integrated. The finish was great initially, but did begin to fade after about 75 minutes. This bottle was purchased direct from the winery cellar. I think a well stored bottle still has years ahead of it as this was nowhere near over the hill. What a lovely wine.
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I brought this and served it blind. We had just had the 1997 which was served by someone else, so this was fun. This was red fruited, elegant and hugely complex. Great wine with a perfect level of maturity (although it could go on). Discussions went between much younger Bordeaux or Bolgheri, no one would go to the US. Widely agreed to have been one of the best wines of the night. An eye opener for many.
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Tasted blind, this wine had a deep red/purple center with light red orange rims. The high+ intensity nose showed mocha, cherries, clove, and soil.
In the mouth, this wine was rich, ripe, and had great structure and length. I thought for sure, given the flavor profile and structure, that this wine was French!
I would say this wine is in the zone and there is no reason to wait. Impressive! Enjoy!
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Light red. Transparent with obvious signs of age. Brown to orange edges. Cedar, Earth still with present Fruit Characters of Dark Berries, Cherries. Some Vegetables, like Celery. Hints of Sweetness. The nose is very interesting, even though more unobtrusive than intense! Play of Cassis and Cherry with secondary characters of Graphite, Earth and Dried Leaves. Watery mouthfeel and thin on the palate. Fully integrated tannins. First impression was quite interesting, but instead of evolving, the aromas more or less faded over the 3 hours of drinking. See more details in my Blog: cellartv.wordpress.com
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Drank two bottles at dinner -- both were purchased at auction from single owner who purchased at release. Bottles were in great shape, base neck ullage, good clarity, corks intact and less than halfway saturated. Decanted first bottle for one hour, second bottle for 2.5 hours. Nose was great -- very Bordeaux-like with cedar, tobacco, earth, and very faint black and red fruits. However, the wine was thin, mid-palate underwhelming, and finish with a weird, tangy volatile acidity that just wouldn't go away. Nursed these bottles/glasses over many hours, but the wine just faded. Strange given some older Monte Bellos I've had that were wonderful and given others seem to have had better recent tastings...
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There is something about these older, carefully made CA wines that are wonderful and that are distinguishable. I think it is the clarity. This was beautifully delineated, with the fruit still there in abundance and there was almost a sweet cherry taste - remarkable. The balance is terrific, with the tannins totally integrated. I bought this at auction, so I was lucky. However even with the buyers' fee this was the same price as today's Monte Bello. Now you cannot say that about Bordeaux. Wonderful experience, and a big tip of the hat to Ridge's Paul Draper.
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I would have said this was an aged Bordeaux. Excellent nose of dirt, mushroom, hay, and a hint dried currant. Wonderful in the mouth and quite textured and excellent finish of dirt and leather.
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Ridge Monte Bello Red and White-New Releases and Library Wines (Ridge Vineyards, Cupertino, California): Mature looking. Funky, mushroomy nose. Light with a similar underripe quality to the 1994. Here, however, there is still some appealing fruit underneath with discernible sweetness and a decent finish. Bordeaux style. Not bad and still very much alive for being 30+ years of age, but not nearly as good as the 2 youngest wines.
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Powerful nose of cherries and cedar hope chest with a touch of green tobacco. Lovely integrated flavors of black cherry, lavender, cedar, tobacco, graphite and probably a few other components I can't identify. Fully mature but not over the hill. Tannins are completely soft and mature. Gorgeous wine.
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Note: Tons of sediment, so make sure you decant. Killer mature nose showing cedar, some funk and some dusty/dried red currants. the palate is liquid silk, very supple and surprisingly rich given the age and vintage. The finish lingers. Very impressive and worth a search to find some.
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David Turns 30 -- 1981 Cabs: Fantastic and easily WOTN. A bit funky at first but that blew off. Really beautiful black fruit, with a distinctive dusty/brambly quality that I usually find in Monte Bellos. Plenty of nice secondary nuances too, with slight herbal qualities and fully integrated oak. Silky and perfectly balanced, as the tannins are mostly resolved and some nice acid still hanging around. Just everything you would want in an aged Cab.
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not blind. 72% jimsomare, 28% monte bello. i read the ridge disclaimer, so hope this is right. not in perfect shape, but approachable. dried tobacco and brown tea. everyone raves about old ridge. looks like i'll have to continue to wait for a pristine example.
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Ridge Monte Bello 1981-1999 (Gauthier Soho): Densest of this flight (sediment shaken on the journey in?), but wonderfully fresh, and mixed in with the vanilla and berries was earth and game - glorious.
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Monte Bello Cabernet Offline (Gauthier London): Certainly a case of saving the best till last! Wonderful nose of classic mature cab. Very Bordeaux like. Cigar box, pencil lead. Mature. Velvet textured palate. Great length. Superb. Really showing perfectly.
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Lovely big seamless nose showing a strong SC Mountains green streak. Acids balance the fruit on a palate showing its age. Best served with a meal and probably a better 5-10 years ago but still in a great place. Terrific.
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Celebrating Repeal Day with Twelve California Wines (1968-2005) (Acme Chophouse, San Francisco, CA): Color was dark garnet, almost opaque. The nose was quite advanced age-wise, but clean and without faults. The wine had a medium body with brambly fruit and tastes of dark chocolate. Structure was classic, with good acid and tannin balance. Finishes well, and without any bitterness. Not terribly complex.
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Slight bricking but a pure almost inky ruby core, a hint of brett but upfront black cherries overpower it on the nose, well perfumed, great poise, excellent. Maintains a real classy texture, amazing given the low alcohol.
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With MPL and BLR at Singer & Foy. Very dark ruby. Nice bouquet. Good blackcurrant fruit, slightly vegetal. On the palate, round and elegant; still some unresolved tannins. Good, not great. 5-9-15-6: 85/100.
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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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12/31/2019 - fclarity wrote: 94 Points
Tasted blind, this wine was very impressive. It has incredible balance, mineral extract, and great length. While not as classy as some bottles, this was shockingly good.
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5/11/2019 - aagrawal wrote: 91 Points
Ridge Monte Bello Tasting (Ridge Monte Bello, Cupertino): From Jeroboam. Forest floor, mulch, caramel; palate is medium-full bodied, elegant, balanced, very Bordeaux-like at this age. Fully mature and if anything on the downslope. Drink now. 91
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12/7/2017 - wabi47 Likes this wine: 94 Points
'Gliding Eagle' engraved on the back. Fresh floral and tobacco aroma. Initially reticent with tobacco, but opened up beautifully within 15-30 minutes with clean, elegant, and perfectly ripe fruit that was light on its feet. Some secondary flavors but still with good structure and some length. Plenty of sediment that needed decant or filter. This bottle has aged very nicely.
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10/14/2017 - Nanda wrote: flawed
Ridge Monte Bello Vertical, 1980-1999 (Chez Moll): This was apparently quite good upon opening a few hours before dinner and on initial pours. By the time I got to it, the nose was start to show a stewy character. The palate does show some fruit concentration and vigor, but the fruit has a stewy characteristic that worsens with air. Perhaps a bad bottle (though it looked perfect, and had similar/same provenance to the 1980 served side-by-side).
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10/14/2017 - acyso wrote: 90 Points
Ridge Monte Bello, 1980-1999 (Chicago, IL): This was best right when I opened it, and then started to fade as time passed. At first, I thought this showed a great balance of herbal notes and ripe fruit, and that this had a bit more density and richness on the palate than the 1980. But air did not do this wine good, as it got more and more stewy as the evening went on, culminating in a bit of a pruney taste. I'm not sure if this was the victim of poor storage or not; I do note that I opened this same wine (from different provenance) a few months ago and it showed a bit of stewiness then as well.
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4/21/2017 - salil wrote: 88 Points
Liked but didn't love this - it certainly has that "Draper perfume" of American oak and dill/herbal/leathery notes framing a core of ripe plummy fruit, but there's a faintly stewed/compote aspect to the fruit flavours and it feels a touch clunky on the palate, without the usual blend of power and finesse I typically expect from old Ridge.
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4/21/2017 - acyso wrote: 90 Points
Indianapolis II; 4/21/2017-4/22/2017 (Indianapolis, IN): The nose of this opened off with a bit of stewed fruit, but then with some air, this did improve significantly. The nose on this has a bit of vegetal quality, as well as a bit of leather and a slight dose of American oak. The palate is quite full, with some very blatant American oak, as well as tart plums and leather. It's not a superlative wine, but this is still as solid a Californian cabernet as they come.
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5/23/2016 - Burgnick Likes this wine: 93 Points
Pnp. Wonderful nose with mushroom, flowers, ashes, and red fruit. Very lovely. Palate had softened and fine tannins with some fruit left. Very soft, elegant and silky.
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5/15/2016 - llink wrote: 94 Points
PWTG Ridge Monte Bello single blind tasting, Flight of four vintages: 1981, 1986, 1991, 1994. Groups #2, My #2
Some secondary and tertiary aromas show up in addition to dusty fruit, The palate is silky and resolved, beautifully balanced and refined with a lovely texture. Not nearly as big and powerful as the 1991, but this provides a compelling package in a more subtle restrained way.
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10/30/2015 - Bklyndude Likes this wine: 94 Points
Spur of the moment purchase from Alex Sebastian at Wooden Angel, Beaver, PA, who has had this wine in his superb cellar since release. This was meant to distract MWP and me from extended ICU visits with ailing brother J. at Allegheny Valley Hosptial. While not entirely successful as a distraction (no beverage could be) it worked very well as a wine. Lithe and still somewhat youthful, it had a very classic appeal with leathery and cedar notes in abundance, and a kind of shimmery depth in the glass that recalled the halcyon days of the Reagan Administration (this from a committed Democrat). I would recommend it emphatically, and am lifting the glass now with hopes for a better tomorrow.
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6/10/2015 - HKEG Likes this wine: 92 Points
(First tasting note. Take with a grain of salt). Enjoyed this bottle with a nice prime rib dinner which was a good match for the Ridge. I don't think this will benefit from more age, however it developed substantially after decanting and 45 minutes of time, so perhaps could last for a few more years easily. The color was a deep-hued purplish-brown (at least under the dim lighting of the restaurant). The bouquet was smoky and grilled meat initially and retained those notes throughout although some plum and fig showed later. The first drink was taken too soon, eventually the wine opened up. The flavor notes that predominated were soy sauce, cigar box, and grilled meat (more grill then meat - at first it was like the aroma of a barbecue in use). There were hints of black fruits that continued to develop with time but never quite achieved a harmonious balance. That said it was a very enjoyable wine and was perfect for the prime rib. Maybe if we had left it for another hour it would have come into it's own. Didn't expect to have to do that with an '81. In comparison to the '95 vintage I had a couple of weeks ago, this was a lesser wine. But I'd gladly share another drop if offered, don't think I'd go looking for one to purchase though.
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7/31/2014 - John Dunlap Likes this wine: 92 Points
Part of a tasting put together by my friend jeffreylubowski. This bottle was from Andy's collection. Clean label and excellent ullage. Cork came out in one piece. Ninety-two percent Cabernet Sauvignon with the remaining balance Merlot. Color was quite good and indicative of a younger wine. Wine did not appear tawny in color for a 33-year old wine, but the lighting in the room limited further scrutiny. Nose and palate were pretty much the same, with elements of dark fruits (mulberry mostly), herbs, a bit of eucalyptus/menthol along with a touch of iron-like tannins. The mulberry and high notes of menthol made the wine taste rich without being jammy. Did not develop the cigar box element I fondly remember from the 1991 Monte Bello, but it's a lovely wine. Clearly a California wine for all the right reasons. Well integrated. Would enjoy tasting this wine against a 1st or 2nd growth Bordeaux from the same vintage. (1981 was a drought year. Alcohol: 12 percent.)
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6/19/2014 - jay and toby wrote:
Full old world perfect. Drank at Amber and Andy's.
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1/29/2014 - jnewman77 Likes this wine:
This was outstanding. The cork was suspect, so I was fairly nervous, but this had an absolutely captivating bouquet of damp earth, leather, tobacco, and herbs with a great core of cassis and red currant fruit. The nose was complex and developed well for 90 minutes. The palate was rich with fruit yet very elegant with a perfect amount of tannin that was well integrated. The finish was great initially, but did begin to fade after about 75 minutes. This bottle was purchased direct from the winery cellar. I think a well stored bottle still has years ahead of it as this was nowhere near over the hill. What a lovely wine.
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1/18/2014 - aro Likes this wine: 95 Points
I brought this and served it blind. We had just had the 1997 which was served by someone else, so this was fun. This was red fruited, elegant and hugely complex. Great wine with a perfect level of maturity (although it could go on). Discussions went between much younger Bordeaux or Bolgheri, no one would go to the US. Widely agreed to have been one of the best wines of the night. An eye opener for many.
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12/19/2013 - fclarity wrote: 94 Points
Tasted blind, this wine had a deep red/purple center with light red orange rims. The high+ intensity nose showed mocha, cherries, clove, and soil.
In the mouth, this wine was rich, ripe, and had great structure and length. I thought for sure, given the flavor profile and structure, that this wine was French!
I would say this wine is in the zone and there is no reason to wait. Impressive! Enjoy!
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3/13/2013 - WineCellarTV Likes this wine: 92 Points
Light red. Transparent with obvious signs of age. Brown to orange edges.
Cedar, Earth still with present Fruit Characters of Dark Berries, Cherries.
Some Vegetables, like Celery. Hints of Sweetness.
The nose is very interesting, even though more unobtrusive than intense!
Play of Cassis and Cherry with secondary characters of Graphite, Earth and Dried Leaves. Watery mouthfeel and thin on the palate. Fully integrated tannins.
First impression was quite interesting, but instead of evolving, the aromas more or less faded over the 3 hours of drinking.
See more details in my Blog: cellartv.wordpress.com
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12/21/2012 - esh44 wrote: 83 Points
Drank two bottles at dinner -- both were purchased at auction from single owner who purchased at release. Bottles were in great shape, base neck ullage, good clarity, corks intact and less than halfway saturated. Decanted first bottle for one hour, second bottle for 2.5 hours. Nose was great -- very Bordeaux-like with cedar, tobacco, earth, and very faint black and red fruits. However, the wine was thin, mid-palate underwhelming, and finish with a weird, tangy volatile acidity that just wouldn't go away. Nursed these bottles/glasses over many hours, but the wine just faded. Strange given some older Monte Bellos I've had that were wonderful and given others seem to have had better recent tastings...
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9/2/2012 - daveste wrote: 91 Points
Still alive and charming, fruit is elegant and long, tannin smooth. Like any old cab, needs decanting or at least a lot of air to let the VA blow off.
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6/10/2012 - Winevestor wrote: 95 Points
There is something about these older, carefully made CA wines that are wonderful and that are distinguishable. I think it is the clarity. This was beautifully delineated, with the fruit still there in abundance and there was almost a sweet cherry taste - remarkable. The balance is terrific, with the tannins totally integrated. I bought this at auction, so I was lucky. However even with the buyers' fee this was the same price as today's Monte Bello. Now you cannot say that about Bordeaux. Wonderful experience, and a big tip of the hat to Ridge's Paul Draper.
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5/20/2012 - Foodievines wrote: 93 Points
I would have said this was an aged Bordeaux. Excellent nose of dirt, mushroom, hay, and a hint dried currant. Wonderful in the mouth and quite textured and excellent finish of dirt and leather.
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5/19/2012 - drwine2001 wrote:
Ridge Monte Bello Red and White-New Releases and Library Wines (Ridge Vineyards, Cupertino, California): Mature looking. Funky, mushroomy nose. Light with a similar underripe quality to the 1994. Here, however, there is still some appealing fruit underneath with discernible sweetness and a decent finish. Bordeaux style. Not bad and still very much alive for being 30+ years of age, but not nearly as good as the 2 youngest wines.
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5/19/2012 - kosinski wrote:
Powerful nose of cherries and cedar hope chest with a touch of green tobacco. Lovely integrated flavors of black cherry, lavender, cedar, tobacco, graphite and probably a few other components I can't identify. Fully mature but not over the hill. Tannins are completely soft and mature. Gorgeous wine.
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5/19/2012 - llink wrote:
Note: Tons of sediment, so make sure you decant. Killer mature nose showing cedar, some funk and some dusty/dried red currants. the palate is liquid silk, very supple and surprisingly rich given the age and vintage. The finish lingers. Very impressive and worth a search to find some.
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11/12/2011 - coremill wrote: 94 Points
David Turns 30 -- 1981 Cabs: Fantastic and easily WOTN. A bit funky at first but that blew off. Really beautiful black fruit, with a distinctive dusty/brambly quality that I usually find in Monte Bellos. Plenty of nice secondary nuances too, with slight herbal qualities and fully integrated oak. Silky and perfectly balanced, as the tannins are mostly resolved and some nice acid still hanging around. Just everything you would want in an aged Cab.
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10/21/2011 - cooberp wrote: 90 Points
WS NY Wine Experience 5th Floor (Marriott Marquis Times Square): Mature and drinking nicely. Restrained tobacco nose, surprisingly tangy (maybe an orange undertone?) and not-too-dark fruit. Tannin resolved. Understated.
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10/13/2011 - jeff nowak wrote:
not blind. 72% jimsomare, 28% monte bello. i read the ridge disclaimer, so hope this is right. not in perfect shape, but approachable. dried tobacco and brown tea. everyone raves about old ridge. looks like i'll have to continue to wait for a pristine example.
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7/12/2011 - Rupert wrote:
Ridge Monte Bello 1981-1999 (Gauthier Soho): Densest of this flight (sediment shaken on the journey in?), but wonderfully fresh, and mixed in with the vanilla and berries was earth and game - glorious.
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7/12/2011 - rayq wrote:
Monte Bello Cabernet Offline (Gauthier London): Certainly a case of saving the best till last!
Wonderful nose of classic mature cab. Very Bordeaux like.
Cigar box, pencil lead. Mature. Velvet textured palate.
Great length. Superb. Really showing perfectly.
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5/7/2010 - WetRock wrote:
Lovely big seamless nose showing a strong SC Mountains green streak. Acids balance the fruit on a palate showing its age. Best served with a meal and probably a better 5-10 years ago but still in a great place. Terrific.
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6/30/2009 - Rupert wrote: 94 Points
Ridge Monte Bello vertical 1964 - 2002 (Institute of Directors, London): 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]
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1/27/2009 - cortoncharlie wrote: 88 Points
This bottle probabaly past its prime. Sweet fruit and not much else.
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12/5/2007 - PaulH wrote: 90 Points
Celebrating Repeal Day with Twelve California Wines (1968-2005) (Acme Chophouse, San Francisco, CA): Color was dark garnet, almost opaque. The nose was quite advanced age-wise, but clean and without faults. The wine had a medium body with brambly fruit and tastes of dark chocolate. Structure was classic, with good acid and tannin balance. Finishes well, and without any bitterness. Not terribly complex.
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1/23/2006 - Russell Faulkner wrote: 95 Points
The Full Monte - 35 Year Monte Bello Vertical (Alba Restaurant, London): 92% CS, 8% M, 12% Alcohol
Slight bricking but a pure almost inky ruby core, a hint of brett but upfront black cherries overpower it on the nose, well perfumed, great poise, excellent. Maintains a real classy texture, amazing given the low alcohol.
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8/25/1989 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 85 Points
With MPL and BLR at Singer & Foy. Very dark ruby. Nice bouquet. Good blackcurrant fruit, slightly vegetal. On the palate, round and elegant; still some unresolved tannins. Good, not great. 5-9-15-6: 85/100.
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