2020 Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello
Grape
82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc
Its Origins
Ridge Vineyards makes wines that compete in terms of quality and desirability with Bordeaux First Growths and Grand Cru White Burgundies. Winemaker Paul Draper has crafted 43 vintages at Ridge and his practical, hands-off, “pre-industrial” approach to winemaking has resulted in an exceptional and highly sought-after range of wines. Although a vineyard was first planted near the top of Monte Bello Ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains in 1885, it lay abandoned until four Stanford Research Institute engineers bought it in 1959. Ridge Vineyards was formed in 1962 and Paul Draper was appointed as winemaker in 1969. After stunning the world by their triumph in the 1976 Judgement of Paris tasting, Ridge Vineyards shot to fame and gained cult status almost overnight. Since then, Ridge has concentrated on producing fine Bordeaux blends and Chardonnays from Monte Bello's exalted terroir as well as renowned Zinfandels from the Lytton Springs and Geyserville vineyards in Sonoma County.
What The Critics Say
99/100 James Suckling (2019 vintage)
This is a very powerful Monte Bello with currants and blackberry, black licorice and smoked meat. Mint. Some sesame seed, too. It's full-bodied with incredible darkness and saltiness like volcanic salt. Umami. Grilled seaweed. Flavorful and captivating. It goes on for minutes. Try after 2025, but this may age forever.
98/100 Vinous, Antonio Galloni (2019 vintage)
"The 2019 Monte Bello is a wild, exotic wine. Huge, soaring aromatics meld into a core of heady, exotically ripe fruit. Not a shy wine by any means, the 2019 is atypically opulent, and yet all of the classic Monte Bello structure is there, underneath all of that fruit. The 2019 needs time in bottle to shed its baby fat, but there is a lot to look forward to. I imagine it will always be a pretty exuberant wine. Inky red fruit, blood orange, espresso, sweet American oak, cedar and pipe tobacco leave a lasting impression. In a word: magnificent!” Drink 2029 - 2059
18/20 JancisRobinson.com, Richard Hemming (2019 vintage)
“82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc. Confected but not sickly black fruit. Wonderful smoke, chocolate and earth character on the palate – this really stands apart from their other wines. There's delicious mintiness that lingers on the palate, as well as sophisticated oak spice. So finely tuned, and so gratifying to drink now, although it will age well. Absolutely gorgeous – and proudly California in profile. (RH)."Drink 2022 - 2039
| Variety | Cabernet Sauvignon |
|---|---|
| Region | California |
| Closure | Cork |
| Volume | 750ml |
| Alcohol | 13.70% |
| Maturity | 2022 - 2059 |
This Wine Goes Well With
Taste
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If for any reason you are not entirely happy with your order or you suspect that they may be affected by a quality issue, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will remedy the problem straight away. Contact us on 0800 422 767.