Ridge Vineyards

Estate Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

9.2

The 2022 release is a hit!
Deep purple color. Aromas of black cherry, cola, dried herbs and cedar. Black and blue fruit on the palate, herbs and oak on the finish.

🏅97 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
🏅94 Points - @Dr. Owen Bargreen — 22 days ago

Lisanne, Tom and 13 others liked this

Bergström Wines

Silice Pinot Noir 2018

Alan Hyde

9.2

Also at Elsa’s 40th — 25 days ago

Paul liked this

Cheval des Andes

Mendoza Malbec Blend 2022

Alessandro Dalle Carbonare

9.7

This is a really serious wine. This year Cheval des Andes has the highest proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon than ever before. And this made it turned out into an incredibly complex and especially deep wine. Wow! Serious and great. — 2 months ago

Jeroen, Peter and 2 others liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Estate Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot Blend 2016

Sam Friedland

9.0

Very good, still a lot of tannins. Should be better I three to five years. — 3 days ago

Rhys Vineyards

Horseshoe Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014

KCG

9.3

Neighborhood wine :-) — 3 days ago

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Ridge – Monte Bello 2017
Santa Cruz Mountains – California, USA 🇺🇸
Blend: 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc

Overview
One of California’s most legendary wines, Ridge Monte Bello has been estate-grown, produced, and bottled entirely in-house since the 1960s. The 2017 vintage reflects a Bordeaux-inspired blend from the cool Santa Cruz Mountains, offering both structure and elegance. (Educational note: Monte Bello’s higher-altitude vineyards give cooler temperatures, yielding more restrained, ageworthy wines compared to Napa Valley powerhouses.)

Aromas & Flavors
Blackberry, cassis, and red plum at the core, accented by cedar, graphite, and cocoa. Hints of tobacco, dried herbs, and floral notes bring depth and complexity.

Mouthfeel
Medium to full-bodied with polished tannins and refreshing acidity. A graceful, layered wine that “dances on the palate,” finishing long and harmonious with both power and finesse.

Food Pairings
Perfect with grilled lamb, prime rib, or braised short ribs. Also pairs beautifully with mushroom risotto or aged cheeses.

Verdict
A benchmark California classic — Bordeaux in inspiration, but with a Santa Cruz identity all its own. The 2017 Monte Bello is elegant, expressive, and deeply satisfying. 🍷

Did You Know?
Ridge’s Monte Bello gained international fame in the 1976 Judgment of Paris tasting, where it ranked among the world’s top Cabernets, cementing California’s place on the fine wine map.

Collector’s Rarity 📌
Highly allocated and cellared by collectors worldwide, Ridge Monte Bello is a vertical-worthy wine with decades of aging potential. — a month ago