Ridge Monte Bello 2010
-
Spirits
Wine & -
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Guide
Connoisseurs'
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Blend: 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
-
Wine & Spirits
The vine, rooted in that same limestone, provide a massive wine, substantial in its structure, generous in its vibrant fruit flavors, gracious in its tannins. While fruit is at the center of the wine, it's savory and sophisticated rather than overtly sweet. The flavors touch on small berries - black currants, wild blueberries - and also hint at herbs (terragon, tobacco). This is a terrific vintage of Monte Bello: It feels healthy and sound, with tension and drive that will sustain it for decades in the cellar.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Ridge's flagship offering, the 2010 Monte Bello, composed of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc (13.2% alcohol), was harvested in October and yields were under two tons of fruit per acre. Boasting a deeper ruby/purple color than the Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, it exhibits attractive aromas of creme de cassis, dark berries, earth and spice. Firm, rich, structured and broodingly backward, it needs at least 7-8 years of bottle age, and should keep for three decades. Certainly outstanding, although not one of Ridge's greatest Monte Bellos, time will favor its further development.
Rating: 91+ -
Wine Spectator
One of the lowest-alcohol prestige Cabs on the market, Ridge's 2010 bottling is dry, softly tannic and light in body for a Cabernet Sauvignon. Yet it’s complex in flavor, offering tiers of blackberries, cherries, currants, herbs and spices.
-
Wine Enthusiast
One of the lowest-alcohol prestige Cabs on the market, Ridge's 2010 bottling is dry, softly tannic and light in body for a Cabernet Sauvignon. Yet it’s complex in flavor, offering tiers of blackberries, cherries, currants, herbs and spices.
-
Connoisseurs' Guide
This year’s version of what has become one of California’s iconic Cabernets is introduced in the nose by a fine combination of juicy young fruit, black olives and undisguised oaky sweetness, and its mannerly, multi-layered flavors follow suit. It is surprisingly supple for a wine of its age, and its gentle tannins firm without being intrusive, but a distracting, vaguely toothpicky pucker emerges at the end and warns against hasty drinking. Allow for at least five years of patience, and, given its pedigree, we would not be surprised if it continues to improve for a decade or more.
Other Vintages
2020-
Wong
Wilfred
-
Suckling
James - Decanter
-
Parker
Robert -
Wong
Wilfred -
Spirits
Wine & -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Spectator
Wine
-
Wong
Wilfred -
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert -
Suckling
James - Vinous
-
Spirits
Wine & -
Guide
Connoisseurs'
-
Wong
Wilfred -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Suckling
James -
Spirits
Wine & -
Journal
The Somm -
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine -
Guide
Connoisseurs'
-
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Spirits
Wine & -
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert -
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
-
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
-
Spirits
Wine & -
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert
-
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.