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Wine Description
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 (...
Wine Information
BLEND: 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot
ALC: 12.0%
VINTAGE 1981 REPORT: This fine vintage was smaller in quantity than the 1980 and produced elegant varietal character. Given the claret style of the wine, we aged part in new French oak, and the rest in our traditional air-dried American oak. Virtually all of our small estate vineyards at Monte Bello were included, and their distinct qualities, along with that of our Merlot, contribute c...
