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  • Country ranking ?

    192
  • Producer ranking ?

    2
  • Decanting time

    3h
  • When to drink

    2025-2040
  • Food Pairing

    Roasted venison, grilled rib-eye & salty cheeses

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The Story

In 1886, high in the Santa Cruz Mountains, the first Monte Bello vineyards were planted, and winery construction begun. A first vintage from the young vines followed in 1892. During Prohibition (1920-1933), the vineyard was not fully maintained; some vines survived into the late 30s, but by the 1940s they were effectively abandoned. Eight acres of cabernet sauvignon were replanted in 1949. These were the source of the first Ridge Monte Bello (...

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Wine Information

BLEND: 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc

ALC: 13.2%

VINTAGE 2010 REPORT: A long winter gave way to a cool growing season. The vines bloomed a month late, but caught up by September, and all twenty-four parcels were harvested in October. Fruit was destemmed, but not crushed, the whole berries sorted to remove stem fragments. Natural fermentations were vigorous; we pressed at day seven, on average. Unin...

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Latest Pro-tasting notes

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Written Notes

The 2010 Monte Bello is a highlight of the flight, with rocking energy, dense black currant and blackberry fruit and loads of singed wood thoroughly embedded throughout. Juicy bramble, alder and bay notes chime in, with a mouthwatering mineral spine buried deeply on the finish.– James Molesworth, Wine Spectator 98p (June 2019)

  • 98p

The 2010 Monte Bello is just as stunning as it has always been. Today, the 2010 appears to be entering a closed phase, so it is best left alone for at least another 5-10 years, perhaps longer. The signatures are super-ripe, exotic fruit, sweet aromatics and firm tannins, all of which ensure the 2010 will be utterly magnificent in a few decades. The growing season was characterized by mostly cold weather, with an unexpectedly intense heat spike in mid-October that gave the fruit a final push. One of the things that makes this vintage so compelling is the interplay of firm structural elements from the cold year and a high level of ripeness that was achieved late. In my view, the 2010 is one of the most thrilling recent Monte Bellos, however it won't be ready to drink for a number of years and it won't peak for quite some time beyond that.

Antonio Galloni. Tasting date: June 2015

 

  • 97p
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Information

Origin

Cupertino, Santa Cruz

Grapes

20% Merlot
74% Cabernet Sauvignon
4% Petit Verdot
2% Cabernet Franc

Drinking temperature

17-18C

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