Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello 2016

Ridge Monte Bello 2016 is a benchmark California red from one of the state’s most celebrated mountain sites. Made from a classic Bordeaux-inspired blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot, it combines power, finesse, and remarkable aging potential in a vintage widely regarded as one of California’s greats.

Tasting Notes
Deep, concentrated in color and typically showing the dark, almost opaque intensity expected from Monte Bello, this wine opens with layered aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, cedar, graphite, and dried herbs, with hints of tobacco, violet, and subtle mountain spice. On the palate it is full-bodied and deeply structured, yet notably refined, with ripe cassis fruit, savory complexity, firm but polished tannins, and a vibrant line of acidity that keeps the wine balanced and lifted. The 2016 vintage has the concentration and structure to age beautifully for decades. While already impressive for its richness and aromatic detail, it should continue to evolve, gaining additional nuance, softness, and complexity over the next 10–20 years and beyond.

Production
Monte Bello comes from Ridge’s high-elevation vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains, where steep slopes, rocky soils, and cool marine influence create ideal conditions for producing structured, ageworthy Cabernet blends. The 2016 growing season was marked by low yields, warm and very dry weather, and the need for precise picking decisions to preserve freshness and balance. Ridge is known for its careful, vineyard-driven approach, with harvesting done by hand and vinification focused on preserving purity, structure, and the natural character of the site.

Food & Serving
This is a superb wine for grilled or roasted beef, rack of lamb, venison, and other richly flavored dishes, as well as hard aged cheeses. Serve at around 16–18°C and consider decanting for 1–2 hours if drinking young, as this will help open the wine’s aromatic complexity and soften its structure.

Producer
Ridge Vineyards is one of California’s most respected producers, with a long-standing reputation for crafting site-specific wines of extraordinary quality and longevity. Best known for Monte Bello, Ridge helped establish California’s credibility on the world stage through wines that combine meticulous viticulture with minimal-intervention winemaking. The estate has become a reference point for elegant, ageworthy Cabernet-based wines from California.

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