Santa Cruz Mountains

Yields of just over a ton per acre have resulted in one of our most concentrated vintages ever. Intense black fruit, a pronounced mineral component, and subtle floral notes, combined with rich tannins, give the 2005 potential for greatness. Though it is difficult to identify another vintage of similar characteristics this early on, the exceptional 1996 might come closest.
Paul Draper - Winemaker - Ridge Vineyards

This impressive 2006 is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (68 percent), Merlot (20 percent), Petit Verdot (10 percent) and a handful of Cabernet Franc (two percent). This is an extremely concentrated wine with powerful aromas and an expansive palate bursting with black forest fruit, mocha, juniper and sweet spice flavours, whilst fine tannins provide impeccable structure. As one expects of Ridge’s wines, this should age for a further thirty years or so.

Ridge Vineyards makes wines that compete in terms of quality and desirability with Bordeaux First Growths and Grand Cru white Burgundies. Founder Paul Draper has practised and engendered a practical, hands-off approach to winemaking at Ridge, one that has resulted in an exceptional and highly sought-after range of wines.

The 1993 Ridge Monte Bello (already bottled) is a tightly-wrapped, densely-colored, pure, rich, full-bodied Cabernet with moderately intense aromas of vanilla, black-raspberries, currants, and minerals. This rich wine cuts a deep path on the palate, with high tannin, adequate acidity, and a long, muscular, formidably-endowed finish. Extremely unevolved and young, it needs 7-10 years of cellaring. When young, this wine rarely reveals its full potential. Having said that, the last three vintages of the Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon (1993, 1994, and 1995) are immensely impressive, with perhaps the 1994 the least expansive - for now.
Robert M. Parker, Jr. - 26/04/1996

A brilliantly focussed, classical Cabernet blend, approaching the moment when the fruit will blossom into the multi-layered complexity of a great Monte Bello. Decant well in advance of serving.

"A wine of great balance, finesse and grace. Well-focused, the ripe, tart, rich blackberry and currant fruit is intense yet elegant, picking up earthy, mineral and sage notes, and finishing with fine, well-integrated tannins. Cab. Sauvignon, Merlot, Cab. Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2012."
92/100 pts. (Wine Spectator - Oct 2002)

In the words of Antonio Galloni of Vinous.com – “I don't think there is a finer California Cabernet Sauvignon today at this price, but if there is, I would like to taste it!”. Ridge vineyards has scored highly again at a London re-run of the Judgement of Paris, 40 years on from the original tasting. The 2005 Ridge Monte Bello came 3rd out of 11 wines beating the likes of Chx. Montrose, Mouton-Rothschild & Léoville las Cases.

The superbly crafted Estate Cabernet Sauvignon joined the range in 1979 to offer a softer, earlier drinking companion to the famed Monte Bello, produced from vines deemed to be too young for the Monte Bello proprietary red. 

The bonus with this wine is that it may be from declassified “Grand vin” grapes whereby affording the drinking a taste in the form of a “Baby Monte Bello” but at a 1/3 of the price. The wines of Ridge confirm that they can compete with the best in the world. 

A second year of drought led to a mild winter, and February budbreak. The unusually early start, small crop, and warm summer, moved the harvest from October to September for the first time in fifty years. Tannins extracted quickly, and we pressed at five days to maintain balance. We selected and combined seventeen lots which were then aged in new and one-year-old american oak for twenty months.

This fine vintage has intensity, firm acid, and a complex mineral element. Enjoyable now, it will develop fully over the next decade to 2026.
75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc

A great vintage for a perennially high class ‘Californian Cabernet’ has produced a wine of intense colour with ripe, dark fruit, well balanced tannins and a lovely seductive sweetness at the finish. Jancis Robinson goes so far as to describe it as “almost Lafite like in its raciness”.

Paul Draper has over 30 years experience in producing one of Californias true greats. This exceptional Bordeaux blend, produced high up on the Monte Bello ridge will drink now to 2025.

100% Merlot. Rich, bright red fruits dominate this cuvee, with a density on the core of cherry and licorice. Tannins are rich and round with the sweetness form the American oak evident. Long length and concentrated.
Fiona Hayes, Wine Buyer

A blend of 75 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 14 percent Merlot, six percent Petit Verdot and five percent Cabernet Franc, the grapes for this wine come from Ridge’s iconic Monte Bello vineyard in the Santa Cruz mountains. The complex terroir and the elevation of the Monte Bello property, combined with meticulous attention to detail in the vineyards and winery enable the Ridge wines to age remarkably, while also offering accessibility in youth. This 2014 has a generous profile with a mix of red and black fruits. Sweet and savoury spice aromas combine with cloves, while a herbal top-note adds complexity and depth to this Bordeaux blend. It has a velvety texture with ripe but broad tannins and refreshing acidity. Drink now or keep for a further six to eight years (2024-26).
Fiona Hayes, Wine Buyer

From a terrific vintage, as evidenced by the tightly coiled, brilliantly intense, exhilarating raspberry red & cranberry aromas of this Cabernet Sauvignon 58% & Merlot 42% blend from the lofty Santa Cruz Mountain AVA south of San Francisco. The ride is equally gripping on the palate, which is decked out with pure, crunchy & pacy red & blackcurrant fruit. Drinking now till 2015, scintillating. To match with roast lamb.
(David Berry-Green - BBR Buyer)

Monte Bello 2008 is the first vintage with only Cabernet and Merlot in the final blend. 'We think press wines can really make all the difference.' Very firm and savoury with a trace of lively, savoury US oak on the nose at the moment. Beautiful texture, rich and round.
Jancis Robinson MW, jancisrobinson.com - March 2010

The 2011 Monte Bello (87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc) emerges from the glass with tobacco, grilled herbs, smoke, incense and plums melding together in this soft, beautifully textured Monte Bello. The 2011 is a wine of exceptional textural finesse. The 100% new oak is totally integrated. In 2011, Ridge used a total of 18 of a possible 24 lots for the final blend. The presence of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon is the highest since the 1980s. I expect the 2011 to be a relatively early drinking Monte Bello, but time will be the judge.
Antonio Galloni - Wine Advocate - Issue#202 Aug 2012

Ridge Vineyards makes wines that compete in terms of quality and desirability with Bordeaux First Growths and Grand Cru white Burgundies. Founder Paul Draper has practised and engendered a practical, hands-off approach to winemaking at Ridge, one that has resulted in an exceptional and highly sought-after range of wines.

This impressive 2013 is a Cabernet Sauvignon blend with less Merlot than usual, after the drought of 2013. This is an extremely concentrated wine, with powerful, seamless aromas of cassis and violet. A big wine, for sure, but drinking nicely from 2019 and onwards.

The just-bottled 2010 Monte Bello combines pure structure and power in a rich, full-bodied style for this wine. Waves of dark red fruit, crushed rocks, flowers, mint and grilled herbs wrap around the long, insistent finish. Today, the 2010 is slightly more reticent than it was last year, but the wine comes to life the more it sits in the glass. Always classy, the 2010 Monte Bello impresses for its impeccable balance. Count me among those who will be thrilled to own this magnificent California classic. The 2010 is a decidedly virile, powerful Monte Bello, qualities winemaker Eric Baugher attributes to a year with a very cold summer and periods of heat that arrived only towards the tail end of the growing season. In 2010, the blend is 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2040.
Antonio Galloni - Wine Advocate - Aug-2012