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The renowned trio of vineyards, Monte Bello, Geyservillle and Lytton Springs account for the majority of Ridge's production, with the remainder coming from the estate's East Bench site and a number of key contract growers.
Montebello is situated at around 2600 ft. above sea level in the Santa Cruz Mountains, a few miles south of San Jose. The history of the Monte Bello vineyard and winery dates back to the 1880s.
All of the Bordeaux varieties are grown on the Monte Bello vineyard. Those plots that have been shown to provide the most age worthy, complex wines go into the flagship wine, which bears the vineyard's name.
The remaining parcels, which tend to produce relatively approachable, youthful wines, are earmarked for the Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Blind tastings confirm the selection and the wines are blended over two sessions in the following February and May.
| Varietal | Cabernet Sauvignon |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 1974 |
| Rating | 100 RP |
| Bottle Size | 750 ml |
| Bottle Quantity | 1 |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Location | Central Coast |
| Producer | Ridge |
| Color | Red |
| Wine Type | Table |
| Robert Parker | 100 RP - The 1974 Monte Bello is a spectacular wine that's in its prime today, soaring from the glass with an exuberant bouquet of ripe cherries, plums, cigar box, black truffle and petroleum jelly. On the palate, it's full-bodied, broad and powerful, with a dramatically lavish attack, considerable mid-palate amplitude and a deep core of ripe, succulent fruit framed by melting tannins and juicy acids. There's still some chalky grip on the long, savory finish, and I'd expect this to drink well for another decade or two. 1974 was a great vintage for California Cabernet Sauvignon, and Ridge's Monte Bello is right up there with the likes of Heitz's Martha's Vineyard and Phelps's Insignia as one of the year's qualitative pinnacles. |
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| Wine Spectator |
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| Burghound |
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| Varietal | Cabernet Sauvignon |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 1974 |
| Rating | 100 RP |
| Bottle Size | 750 ml |
| Bottle Quantity | 1 |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Location | Central Coast |
| Producer | Ridge |
| Color | Red |
| Wine Type | Table |
| Varietal | Cabernet Sauvignon |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 1974 |
| Rating | 100 RP |
| Bottle Size | 750 ml |
| Bottle Quantity | 1 |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Location | Central Coast |
| Producer | Ridge |
| Color | Red |
| Wine Type | Table |
| Varietal | Cabernet Sauvignon |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 1974 |
| Rating | 100 RP |
| Barrels |
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| Style |
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| Owners |
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| Region | California |
| Location | Central Coast |
| Producer | Ridge |
| Winemaker |
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| Production |
| Robert Parker Rating | 100 RP - The 1974 Monte Bello is a spectacular wine that's in its prime today, soaring from the glass with an exuberant bouquet of ripe cherries, plums, cigar box, black truffle and petroleum jelly. On the palate, it's full-bodied, broad and powerful, with a dramatically lavish attack, considerable mid-palate amplitude and a deep core of ripe, succulent fruit framed by melting tannins and juicy acids. There's still some chalky grip on the long, savory finish, and I'd expect this to drink well for another decade or two. 1974 was a great vintage for California Cabernet Sauvignon, and Ridge's Monte Bello is right up there with the likes of Heitz's Martha's Vineyard and Phelps's Insignia as one of the year's qualitative pinnacles. |
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| Burghound Rating |
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