Have you ever removed the foil cap on a wine only to discover there's no cork underneath? Well, this 1974 Monte Bello had no cork. The hard foil top was pristine. Fill level was lower than ideal, which is why the owner kept the bottle rather than re-selling it. Upon finding no cork below the foil or in the bottle, we expected the worst. Instead, beautiful smell suggesting it wasn't spoiled. The taste was excellent for almost 50 years of life. Given all that, I doubt this bottle is representative, but it definitely gave great drinking pleasure.
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Ridge Monte Bello Retrospective (Porter House): A few weeks ago we were at an auction where this came up and sold for more than >$3k and that was on my mind when I was drinking this wine. This is a great wine - beautiful and elegant and black fruits and floral and almost this nice cutting edge to it that is the acid tying it up at the end. It was very lovely. Hard to say that much more lovely than the other wines we tried which were also super spectacular, but definitely a real treat (esp in the side by side 74 line-up which was killer).
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TobI's Firework (Berens am Kai 1 star Restaurant): blind for me a bit too evolved for a 74 but with great great acidity and tannin structure. Black currant still present and some ethereal notes not that explosive as Marha's vineyard. In same with 1984 I preferred a touch the latter one. At his peak. Other at the table rated 74 with higher points (till 100). 96
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Ughh!!! Not corked, not VA, not even tired...just an off bottle. We begged and pleaded and waited, but it just never came around...the ultimate tease!!!
Served in flight with Heitz Martha’s and Mayacamas of the same 74 Vintage.
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(Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello) Slightly bricking dark red violet color; mature, aromatic, ripe black currant, black cherry, blackberry flavored tobacco nose; silky textured, youthful, black cherry, black raspberry, black currant palate; long finish (12.9% alcohol) 97+ points
(Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello) Dark red violet color; cassis and plum nose; mature but deep palate of tart plum, berry, black cherry; medium-plus finish
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2/2/2024 - G_H wrote: 96 Points
A 1974 Napa Retrospective (Zunfthaus zur Waag Zürich): Beautiful nose that has an intriquing mix of floral notes and an intense dark black fruit with some super ripe black cherries. What a fantastic nose.
The palate backs this up with a dense, velvety body and a long finish.
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8/13/2023 - Montesquieu Likes this wine: 95 Points
Have you ever removed the foil cap on a wine only to discover there's no cork underneath? Well, this 1974 Monte Bello had no cork. The hard foil top was pristine. Fill level was lower than ideal, which is why the owner kept the bottle rather than re-selling it. Upon finding no cork below the foil or in the bottle, we expected the worst. Instead, beautiful smell suggesting it wasn't spoiled. The taste was excellent for almost 50 years of life. Given all that, I doubt this bottle is representative, but it definitely gave great drinking pleasure.
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11/2/2021 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Ridge Monte Bello Retrospective (Porter House): A few weeks ago we were at an auction where this came up and sold for more than >$3k and that was on my mind when I was drinking this wine. This is a great wine - beautiful and elegant and black fruits and floral and almost this nice cutting edge to it that is the acid tying it up at the end. It was very lovely. Hard to say that much more lovely than the other wines we tried which were also super spectacular, but definitely a real treat (esp in the side by side 74 line-up which was killer).
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10/18/2020 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 96 Points
TobI's Firework (Berens am Kai 1 star Restaurant): blind
for me a bit too evolved for a 74 but with great great acidity and tannin structure. Black currant still present and some ethereal notes not that explosive as Marha's vineyard. In same with 1984 I preferred a touch the latter one. At his peak. Other at the table rated 74 with higher points (till 100). 96
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3/3/2020 - La Flama Blanca wrote: flawed
Ughh!!! Not corked, not VA, not even tired...just an off bottle. We begged and pleaded and waited, but it just never came around...the ultimate tease!!!
Served in flight with Heitz Martha’s and Mayacamas of the same 74 Vintage.
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