Ridge Monte Bello 2004
-
Spectator
Wine -
Spirits
Wine &
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Blend: 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot,8% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc
"A mix of elegance and power, with deep, dark, concentrated cherry cassis, spicebox and cedar notes. Chewy, rustic nuances of herb, eucalyptus, leather and sage flavors fill out on the finish."
Wine Spectator
Barrel Sample: 92-94 Points
"Ruby-red. Brooding aromas of cassis, blackberry, minerals, bitter chocolate, tobacco and fresh herbs. Fat, broad and sweet, with nicely integrated acidity and complex hints of leather, herbs, licorice, chocolate and minerals. This cheek-coating wine is a bit more filled in than the 2003 release. Finishes with superfine tannins and lovely subtle persistence."
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
Barrel Sample: 91-94 Points
Professional Ratings
- Wine Spectator
- Wine & Spirits
Other Vintages
2020-
Wong
Wilfred
-
Suckling
James - Decanter
-
Parker
Robert -
Wong
Wilfred -
Spirits
Wine & -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Spectator
Wine
-
Wong
Wilfred -
Spectator
Wine -
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert - Vinous
-
Spirits
Wine & -
Guide
Connoisseurs'
-
Wong
Wilfred -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Suckling
James -
Journal
The Somm -
Spirits
Wine & -
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine -
Guide
Connoisseurs'
-
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert -
Spirits
Wine & -
Suckling
James - Decanter
-
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Guide
Connoisseurs' -
Spectator
Wine
-
Suckling
James - Decanter
-
Parker
Robert -
Wong
Wilfred
-
Parker
Robert - Decanter
-
Wong
Wilfred -
Spirits
Wine & -
Spectator
Wine
-
Wong
Wilfred -
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert -
Spirits
Wine & -
Guide
Connoisseurs'
-
Spirits
Wine & - Decanter
-
Parker
Robert -
Suckling
James
-
Spirits
Wine & -
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Guide
Connoisseurs'
-
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine -
Spirits
Wine & -
Enthusiast
Wine
-
Parker
Robert -
Suckling
James -
Spectator
Wine -
Enthusiast
Wine
-
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert -
Spirits
Wine & -
Spectator
Wine
-
Parker
Robert -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Suckling
James -
Spirits
Wine &
-
Parker
Robert -
Spirits
Wine & -
Guide
Connoisseurs' -
Spectator
Wine
-
Parker
Robert -
Spirits
Wine &
-
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine
-
Parker
Robert -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Spectator
Wine
-
Parker
Robert
-
Spectator
Wine
-
Parker
Robert
-
Parker
Robert
-
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert
-
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine
-
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert
-
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine
-
Parker
Robert
-
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine
-
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert
-
Spectator
Wine
-
Parker
Robert
Ridge's history begins in 1885, when Osea Perrone, a doctor and prominent member of San Francisco's Italian community, bought 180 acres near the top of Monte Bello Ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains. He planted vineyards and constructed a winery of redwood and native limestone in time to produce the first vintage of Monte Bello in 1892. The historic building now serves as the Ridge production facility.
Though Ridge began as a Cabernet winery, by the mid-60s, it had produced several Zinfandels including the Geyserville. In 1972, Lytton Springs joined the line-up and the two came to represent an important part of Ridge production. Known primarily for its red wines, Ridge has also made limited amounts of Chardonnay since 1962.
The Ridge approach is straightforward: find the most intense and flavorful grapes, guide the natural process, draw all the fruit's richness into the wine. Decisions on when to pick, when to press, when to rack, what varietals and what parcels to include and when to bottle, are based on taste. To retain the nuances that increase complexity, Ridge winemakers handle the grapes and wine as gently as possible. There are no recipes, only attention and sensitivity.