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  • Country ranking ?

    388
  • Producer ranking ?

    21
  • Decanting time

    3h
  • When to drink

    2025-2040
  • Food Pairing

    Grilled duck & roasted Guinea Fowl

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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: 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc

ALC: 12.8%

VINTAGE 2012 REPORT: A long winter delayed the growing season. Summer temperatures remained cool as persistent fog covered much of Northern California. Monte Bello, whose elevation kept the grapes in full sun, was an exception. Following an October rain, two weeks of warm weather ripened the fruit for harvest before the next storm. Extraction of color and tannin requi...

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Latest Pro-tasting notes

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Written Notes

The 2012 Monte Bello is also providing a tantalizing look at its development. Sappy in feel and tightly grained in structure, it’s a bit taut overall, but the black fruit core is evident, and the long mineral edge is a bit brighter and more detailed in what was the first of California’s recent drought run of vintages. – James Molesworth, Wine Spectator 94p (June 2019)

  • 94p
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Information

Origin

Cupertino, Santa Cruz

Grapes

8% Merlot
88% Cabernet Sauvignon
4% Cabernet Franc

Drinking temperature

17-18C

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