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1996 Ridge Monte Bello

Proprietary Blend: 750ml

$169.99

about this wine:

In 1886, high in the Santa Cruz Mountains, the Monte Bello estate vineyard was planted, and the winery constructed. A first vintage from the young vines followed in 1892. During Prohibition (1920-1933), the vineyard was not fully maintained; by the 1940s it was effectively abandoned. Eight acres of cabernet sauvignon were replanted in 1949. These were the source of the first Ridge Monte Bello (1962). Since then, the original vineyards have gradually been replanted.

See Ratings and Reviews
points awarded:
ST 93 WA 95

95 points,

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, December 1998

The 1996 Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello (80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, and 9% Petit Verdot that reached 13.4% alcohol) represents a severe selection of only 40% of the vineyard's crop. A blockbuster, powerful, concentrated Monte Bello, it possesses an opaque purple color, plenty of spicy oak in the nose (100% American oak has always been used for aging Monte Bello), and a deep, layered, concentrated style. There is plenty of tannin, but it is sweeter than that found in the 1997, and the wine is more concentrated and extracted. There is a touch of oak in the flavors, which are otherwise dominated by minerals and jammy black fruits. This is a terrific Monte Bello that will have 30+ years of life.


93 points,

Stephen Tanzer's IWC, June 1999

aturated ruby. Explosive nose of black raspberry and dark chocolate, complicated by exotic spices, roast coffee and steak sauce. Enticing sweetness on entry, then firmly structured, with good density and lovely delineation of flavor. Finishes with chewy, dusty tannins. The alcohol here is 13.2%, on the high side for Monte Bello


95 points,

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, December 1998

The 1996 Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello (80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, and 9% Petit Verdot that reached 13.4% alcohol) represents a severe selection of only 40% of the vineyard's crop. A blockbuster, powerful, concentrated Monte Bello, it possesses an opaque purple color, plenty of spicy oak in the nose (100% American oak has always been used for aging Monte Bello), and a deep, layered, concentrated style. There is plenty of tannin, but it is sweeter than that found in the 1997, and the wine is more concentrated and extracted. There is a touch of oak in the flavors, which are otherwise dominated by minerals and jammy black fruits. This is a terrific Monte Bello that will have 30+ years of life.


93 points,

Stephen Tanzer's IWC, June 1999

aturated ruby. Explosive nose of black raspberry and dark chocolate, complicated by exotic spices, roast coffee and steak sauce. Enticing sweetness on entry, then firmly structured, with good density and lovely delineation of flavor. Finishes with chewy, dusty tannins. The alcohol here is 13.2%, on the high side for Monte Bello


About Winery

Indiana Jones and I have one thing in common - a fear of snakes. That is why every time I see the sign in the Ridge parking lot that reads "Beware of rattlesnakes," I get a little uneasy. So it's quickly into the tasting room for me. Winemaker Eric Baugher and his team have prepared a great tasting covering all of the Ridge classics, plus a few smaller-production bottlings I am tasting for the first time. This is a sublime set of new releases from one of this country's greatest heritage wineries. It's hard to know where to start, but the highlights are the 2009 Monte Bello, followed by the 2010, which will be released this year, plus some of the Zinfandels and Zinfandel-based wines. The 2010 harvest was not an easy one. The summer was very cold, as it was throughout California. Ridge was severely affected by August heat spikes that were crippling for Zinfandel. The wines that were bottled are the result of a severe selection of the best fruit that survived the heat.

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