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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: 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot
VINTAGE 1988 REPORT: Excessive heat just prior to harvest affected color and flavor in many fine vineyards. The cooler climate of the Santa Cruz Mountains, however, moderated temperatures and gave us an ideal vintage. We included the first press and most of the second. The wine is beautifully balanced and, with its full, round tannins, immediately accessible. It will continue to deve...
Vintage 1988
The 1988 California wine vintage was a long, exceptionally cool, and late-harvested year across Napa Valley and Sonoma County that yielded structured, elegant, and restrained Cabernet Sauvignons and well-balanced Chardonnays. Following a dry winter that brought drought concerns, a cool spring led to uneven flowering and reduced overall crop yields, setting the stage for a mild, cloud-covered summer devoid of major heatwaves. The extended hang-...