Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello 2019

Ridge Monte Bello is one of California’s great benchmark reds, a wine that has been revered for decades for its precision, depth, and remarkable sense of balance. First released in 1962, it draws on a winemaking legacy at Monte Bello Vineyards that dates back to 1886, making it both historically significant and consistently sought-after among serious collectors.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2019 Monte Bello shows a dark ruby color with impressive density and vibrancy. The nose is layered and expressive, offering ripe plums, blackberries, espresso, black truffle, anise, crushed stone, and well-integrated oak spice. The palate is powerful yet composed, with concentrated dark fruit at the core and a finely tuned structure that keeps everything in balance. Despite its richness, the wine remains elegant rather than heavy, and while already impressive, it is still very young. With time in cellar, it has the potential to develop even greater complexity and finesse over many years.

Production
Monte Bello comes from the Santa Cruz Mountains in California, where the vineyards benefit from cool elevations and a terroir that lends freshness, tension, and minerality to the wine. The blend is built primarily on Cabernet Sauvignon, with Merlot and Cabernet Franc contributing additional texture and aromatic lift. For the 2019 vintage, winemaker Eric Baugher aged the wine for 17 months in 100% new, air-dried oak barrels, a meticulous approach that helps shape the wine’s depth and structure without overwhelming its natural elegance.

Food & Serving
This is a wine for richly flavored dishes such as grilled ribeye, lamb, braised short ribs, or roast venison, and it also pairs beautifully with aged hard cheeses. Serve at around 16–18°C, and consider decanting for at least 1–2 hours to allow the bouquet and texture to fully open, especially given the wine’s youthful intensity.

Producer
Ridge Vineyards is one of California’s most respected producers, known for its unwavering commitment to site expression, classic winemaking, and exceptional longevity. Monte Bello has become a flagship wine for the estate and a reference point for premium California Cabernet blends, earning a reputation for both critical acclaim and collectability over the years.

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