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  • Country ranking ?

    396
  • Producer ranking ?

    23
  • Decanting time

    -
  • When to drink

    Now
  • Food Pairing

    Antipasti

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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: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

ALC: 13.5%

VINTAGE 1970 REPORT: The grapes produced on Monte Bello Ridge in 1970 were in the tradition of the big years (e.g. ’64, ’68) of the last decade. By completing a malolactic fermentation immediately following the harvest and by effecting a racking schedule along Bordeaux lines, we produced a wine that has Monte Bello’s richness and depth yet is softer in style. It could be ready to try in two years...

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Tasting note

ending

Medium, Round and Pure

taste

Average in Acidity, Balanced, Complex, Developing, Medium-bodied, Round, Perfumed and Refined

Verdict

Transparent and nice but not special

Written Notes

Perhaps a bit of palate fatigue was setting in, as I have great memories of 1970 Ridge Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon, but this bottle wasn’t one of them. Pekka found it ‘a bit peculiar, but I like it.’ There was glue and paint on top of cedar and anise aromas, with flavors of hot earth and minerals (92).
  • 92p

Paul Draper’s first solo vintage and a famous wine. This seemed miraculously youthful and concentrated – especially next to the 1978. Very deep ruby. Lots of development on the nose. One whiff of it brought back an era of California Cabernet when other producers' wines had this sort of balance and sophistication. Thick then a little dusty and dry on the finish. Complete. Very straight backed – in fact rather 1970-bordeaux like. Pure, cassis. This has lasted amazingly, (Spurrier chose the more elegant 1971 for the Judgment of Paris, to Draper's regret.) All of the vines for this would have been planted in the 1940s. A little more severe than the 1978. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.

  • 96p
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Information

Origin

Cupertino, Santa Cruz

Grapes

100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Drinking temperature

16-18C

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