x
  • Country ranking ?

    414
  • Producer ranking ?

    26
  • Decanting time

    2h
  • When to drink

    Now-2030
  • Food Pairing

    Grilled beef, Roasted lamb saddle & smoked Pork Ribs

The Tb points given to this wine are the world’s most valid and most up-to-date evaluation of the quality of the wine. Tastingbook points are formed by the Tastingbook algorithm which takes into account the wine ratings of the world's best-known professional wine critics, wine ratings by thousands of tastingbook’s professionals and users, the generally recognised vintage quality and reputation of the vineyard and winery. Wine needs at least five professional ratings to get the Tb score. Tastingbook.com is the world's largest wine information service which is an unbiased, non-commercial and free for everyone.

Close

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 (1962) and subsequent vintages until 1974 when younger blocks replanted in the 1960s were considered for inclusion. Since then, the historic vineyards on the ridge have gradually been replanted.

The Monte Bello (originally Monte Bello Cabernet; until 1975, 100% cabernet) is the wine that introduced Ridge to the world, and the world to Ridge. Today it is a blend of bordeaux varietals in which cabernet sauvignon still predominates. Exhaustive tasting of test blends during assemblage determines how much — if any — merlot, petit verdot, or cabernet franc will be included in the finished wine. Almost every vintage (an unbroken chain from '62 on) has something substantive to recommend it. Each decade has its high points, but year after year Monte Bello proves to be a consistently outstanding wine. There's structure, there's complexity, there's balance. And it develops for a long, long time. 

The vineyards are grown organically.
 

Close

Wine Information

BLEND: 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot

ALC: 13.3%

VINTAGE 2002 REPORT: 

Rainfall: 36.7 inches.  
Bloom: June. 
Weather: Frost in April (rare). Cold, rainy May. Fine summer.

131 tons from 108 acres. After an unusually early start to 2001’s growing season, 2002 settled back to normal. The merlot crop was reduced by May rains during set, but cabernet yields – making up for last year – were extravagant, and we thinned rigorously to ensure ripening. We harvested the thirty parcels as flavors developed, dividing them into thirty-six separate lots of three to six tons each. Color and tannin developed easily, so in order to prolong the natural-yeast fermentations, we radically reduced circulation of juice over the cap. Delaying the first assemblage until March allowed the wine to stabilize. We initially chose ten of the most intense lots for the Monte Bello, adding four more in May, at the second assemblage. Eighty-seven percent of the wine aged in new, air-dried american oak barrels; as our ongoing control, thirteen percent – an uncommonly large proportion – aged in new french oak. To moderate the firm tannins, we made numerous experimental fresh-egg-white finings, deciding only this month that the unfined wine was more classically Monte Bello. Beautifully structured and balanced now, it will reach another level of complexity with six to eight years in bottle, and age fully over the next twenty. PD (1/04)

 

WINEMAKING: 

Harvest Dates: 30 September – 22 October
Grapes: Average brix 24.7; average pH at crush 3.38.
Fermentation: Gentle destemming, no crushing. (In thirty-six separately-fermenting lots, roughly half the berries remained unbroken.) Natural-yeast primary and secondary fermentations. Pressed at eight days on average.
Barrels: 87% new, air-dried american oak, 13% new french oak
Aging: Eighteen months in barrel

 

PRESS:

The Wine Advocate (May 2018): 98 Points. “The 2002 Monte Bello is stunning, bursting from the glass with an expressive nose of ripe blackcurrants, crème de cassis, dried cherries, burning embers, pencil lead, loamy soil and a perfumed top note of lavender. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, lavish and expansive, cutting a broad swathe across the palate, with a deep, concentrated core of succulent fruit that’s framed by ripe, plush tannins, concluding with a lingering finish. At age 16, the 2002 is truly singing, so anyone with bottles in their cellar is due for a treat. The blend is 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot and 8% Petit Verdot, and it attained 13.3% alcohol. Unusually, fully 13% was matured in new French oak—with the balance, as usual, in new American oak.” – William Kelley

Wine Spectator (June 2019): 96 Points. “The 2002 Monte Bello is fully in its second phase, with a gorgeous core of mulled red currant and boysenberry fruit, long, supple threads of singed alder and sage brush, all backed by a subtle chalky minerality through the finish. It’s very perfumed, without losing its sense of power.” – James Molesworth

Wine Advocate (Issue #201, June 2012): “The 2002 Monte Bello Proprietary Red is a blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot and 8% Petit Verdot. It tastes as if it hasn’t changed since I first sampled it in late 2003 and then again in bottle two years later. The color is healthy ruby/purple, and the wine displays some dusty, oaky, vanillin notes that jump out of the glass along with a touch of white chocolate as well as red and black currants and hints of cedar and forest floor. Extremely young and full-bodied, with some wood char still present, it is unevolved and tastes like it could be a barrel sample, except that it has been in bottle for nearly ten years! This is a blockbuster Ridge Monte Bello that still needs a minimum of another 10 years of bottle-age and should keep for 50+ years. Only for the young and patient!

As most passionate amateurs of California wine know, this is one of the longest-lived red wines produced in California. Having reviewed close to 40 vintages of their flagship wine, the mostly Cabernet Sauvignon blend from their Monte Bello vineyards, I can only concur that this wine ages as well as a great first-growth from Bordeaux. It can often need a good 20 years minimum before it sheds its overlay of wood and tannin. Anticipated maturity: 2022-2072″ -Robert Parker Rated: 95+

Wine Advocate (26 Dec 2005): “Ridge’s Monte Bello is one of California’s most classic, backward wines, and generally develops a Bordeaux-like personality with extended aging. Contrary to some reports, the basic character of Monte Bello has not changed, although it now includes some Merlot and Petit Verdot in the blend. The 2002 Monte Bello exhibits aromas of tar, cedar, damp earth, white chocolate, black cherries, and sweet black currants. This full-bodied, dense, tannic 2002 is even more closed this year than it was last. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2037” Rated: 94

Wine Advocate (28 Feb 2005): “The 2002 Monte Bello Proprietary Red is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot, with more of the Cabernet component than the 2001 possesses. Aromas of white chocolate, charred oak, black currants, tar, cedar, and earth are followed by a full-bodied, tannic red that is not as fleshy or fat in the mid-palate as its older siblings. This structured, age worthy 2002 should be consumed between 2011- 2030.” Rated: 94+

International Wine Cellar (Jul/Aug 2004): “Deep, full ruby. Explosively perfumed nose combines black raspberry, violet and dark chocolate. Wonderfully layered and penetrating, with expressive flavors of raspberry, currant, bitter chocolate, spices and tobacco. Still an infant, but already offers a rare combination of sweetness and inner-mouth energy. Finishes very fresh and very long, with big, dusty tannins and great lift. This is high in alcohol for Ridge at 13.3%, but a full degree or more lower than virtually any other collectible California cabernet from this vintage.” Rated: 94

Close

Tasting note

color

Deep, Purple and Clear

ending

Long, Smooth and Lingering

flavors

Vanilla, Floral, Cassis, Chocolate and Spice

nose

Intense, Complex and Generous

recommend

Yes

taste

High in Acidity, Warming, Medium tannin, Perfectly balanced, Concentrated, Well-structured, Medium-bodied, Elegant and Silky tannins

Verdict

Intelligent

Information

Origin

Cupertino, Santa Cruz

Grapes

18% Merlot
74% Cabernet Sauvignon
8% Petit Verdot

Drinking temperature

17-18C

Other wines from this producer

Buchignani Ranch Zinfandel

Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard

Estate Chardonnay

Estate Merlot

Fiddletown Zinfandel

Hearts Desire Selection Zinfandel

Lytton Springs Zinfandel

Monte Bello Merlot

Pagani Ranch Zinfandel

Ridge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Ridge Geyserville

Ridge Mataro Bridgehead

Ridge Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon

Ridge Monte Bello Chardonnay

Ridge York Creek Zinfandel

Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Sauvignon

Syrah Lytton Estate

Zinfandel Ponzo Vineyard

Incorrect Information
If you found some information that is wrong, let us know
Are you sure you want do delete this wine? All information will be lost.
Are you sure you want to recommend this wine?
Are you sure you want hide this written note ?
Are you sure you want show this written note ?
UPGRADE MEMBER PLAN
Upgrade your membership now, it's quick and easy. We use PayPal, the world's largest payment system, it accepts all credit cards. Once you've chosen your membership level, you'll go directly to PayPal. You can cancel your membership at any time.
Thank you for your support!
 

Pro Member

 

Winemerchant Member

 

Winery Member

 

User

 

HOW TO USE TASTINGBOOK?

We recommend you to share few minutes for watching the following video instructions of how to use the Tastingbook. This can provide you a comprehensive understanding of all the features you can find from this unique service platform.

This video will help you get started



Taste wines with the Tastingbook


Create Your wine cellar on 'My Wines'



Explore Your tasted wines library



Administrate Your wine world in Your Profile



Type a message ...
Register to Tastingbook
Sign up now, it's quick and easy.
We use PayPal, the world's largest payment system, it accepts all credit cards.
Once you've chosen your membership level, you'll go directly to PayPal, where you can sign up for a free 7-day trial period. You can cancel your membership at any time. We wish you a rewarding journey to the world of Fine Wines.

Free 7 days Member trial

 

Member

 

Pro Member

 

Winemerchant Member

 

Winery Member

 

User

  Register