2018 Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello Magnum

The 2018 Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello Magnum is a landmark red wine from the famed Monte Bello vineyard high in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains. Bottled in a generous 1.5L format, this is a collector’s wine built for decades of graceful evolution. As the flagship of Ridge Vineyards, Monte Bello has long been considered one of America’s great, ageworthy reds, standing shoulder to shoulder with top Bordeaux while retaining a distinctly Californian character.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2018 Monte Bello shows a deep, opaque ruby core with subtle garnet highlights, hinting at its concentration and long life ahead. The nose is intensely layered and continually evolving: aromas of wet clay, cocoa powder, dried meat, pepperoncini, and eucalyptus unfurl with air, joined by dark berry notes, graphite, and a touch of savory spice. It is a bouquet that becomes increasingly complex over time, rewarding patience in the glass. On the palate, this is a beautifully balanced, medium to full-bodied wine with impressive depth. The blend of Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc delivers dark plum and blackcurrant fruit wrapped in firm, gritty yet refined tannins that provide both structure and energy. There is a striking interplay between concentrated intensity and an almost classical restraint, leading to an extraordinarily long, savory finish. As it sits open, the wine begins to close down after a few hours, a clear sign of its formidable aging potential. In magnum, this 2018 Monte Bello is built for the very long term, best left undisturbed for 10–12 years, with an anticipated drinking window extending to around 2070 and a potential peak at 40–50 years of age.

Production
Sourced from the historic Monte Bello vineyard in the cool, high-elevation reaches of the Santa Cruz Mountains, this wine reflects a unique mountain terroir of limestone-rich subsoils, rocky slopes, and maritime-influenced breezes from the Pacific. The challenging terrain naturally restricts yields, concentrating flavor and structure in the fruit. Grapes are hand-harvested at optimal ripeness, parcel by parcel, to capture the nuance of each block. In the cellar, Ridge is known for its restrained, traditional approach: careful sorting, fermentation by lot, and thoughtful blending of Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc to achieve balance, complexity, and longevity. Aging takes place in carefully selected oak, with a focus on preserving the purity of fruit and the signature Monte Bello character rather than overt wood influence.

Food & Serving
This powerful yet elegant Monte Bello is at its best alongside rich, refined dishes. Think dry-aged ribeye, roast lamb with rosemary and garlic, duck breast, slow-braised short ribs, or game such as venison. It also pairs beautifully with earthy mushroom dishes, truffle-infused preparations, and aged hard cheeses like Comté, aged Gouda, or mature Cheddar. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F) for optimal expression. In its youth, decant generously for 2–3 hours to allow the aromatics and tannins to soften and open; for well-cellared bottles approaching maturity, a gentle 60–90 minute decant is usually sufficient to let this iconic wine show its full complexity.

Producer
Ridge Vineyards is one of California’s most respected and influential wineries, with a history at Monte Bello that reaches back to the late 19th century and a modern era defined by meticulous, vineyard-driven winemaking. From its perch in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Ridge helped prove that California could produce red wines of world-class stature and longevity, particularly with Monte Bello, which has earned a place among the most revered Cabernet-based blends in the world. The estate is known for its thoughtful, transparent approach—both in viticulture and in labeling—and for championing mountain-grown, terroir-expressive wines. Over the decades, Monte Bello has amassed a remarkable record of critical acclaim and aging performance, cementing Ridge’s significance not only in its region, but in the wider story of American fine wine.

We deliver within 2 - 6 business days. You can choose whether it should be to a parcel shop or home delivery. Free delivery to both parcel shops and your front door. Our store partners primarily use GLS, DPD, UPS and DHL for deliveries. We cover deliveries to the majority of countries in Europe.