1995 Ridge Monte Bello
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Tasting notes
69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot. 83 tons from 62 acres. Welcome spring rains delayed the growing season. The already moderate crop was thinned, and warm October weather brought the fruit to ideal ripeness. Indigenous-yeast fermentation and it was immediately apparent that this would be a year of very highly coloured Cabernet. Fifteen of the 25 parcels were chosen in February and assembled over the following months. Biggest tannins of the nineties so far. Aged almost entirely in new, air-dried American oak Very dark indeed. Possibly the darkest of all! Really gorgeously seductive and ripe on the nose. Sweet and sinewy and possibly very typical Monte Bello. Saline and super-fresh. Really lifted and lovely. SO refreshing! (JR)
Critic scores
The Wine Advocate
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Still plenty of punch on the nose, this has held its form and shape, not quite the soft generosity of the 1985, acidity feels a little higher here, with mandarin peel, mint and bitter almond notes against waves of blueberry and blackberry fruits, with a violet curl. Good quality, still feels young and intact, well structured, the tannins are holding everthing in place, with black pepper spice in evidence on the finish. Enjoyable, a little edgy. Almost entirely new American oak, rest new French oak.
69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc. Beautifully integrated aromatics with hints of eucalyptus and sandalwood, a bit of floral lift and back notes of white mushroom and forest floor, and a snap of fresh, broken pea pod. The palate is juicy and full of succulent fruits, even still fresh – why am I even still surprised by the freshness when Monte Bello consistently ages so long? – and a persistent spice through the palate. Still firm tannins though quite fine-grained and well balanced by the acidity for impressive length. (ECB)
The most aromatically exotic vintage of the decade, the 1996 Monte Bello is superb, bursting from the glass with an extravagant bouquet of cassis, cigar box, rich soil, roasted meats and decadent oriental spices. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, richly tannic and very intense, with a deep and tight-knit core and a bright line of acidity, concluding with a long, youthful finish. The 1996 vintage saw rain during flowering—which reduced yields at this address to less than one ton per acre—followed by a warm summer. The result is a super concentrated Monte Bello that hasn't even reached its plateau of maturity yet. Choosing between this and the formidable 1995 will always be a challenge, but I suspect the 1996 has the greater upside. (WK) 96+
About the producer
Best known for its iconic Monte Bello, Ridge Vineyards makes some of California’s finest wines – particularly Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel. Long a pioneer of sustainable farming and minimal-intervention winemaking, Ridge makes an extensive range from Sonoma County and the Santa Cruz Mountains.