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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 | 1996 |
| Rating | 96 RP |
| Bottle Size | 750 ml |
| Bottle Quantity | 1 |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Location | Central Coast |
| Producer | Ridge |
| Color | Red |
| Wine Type | Table |
| Robert Parker | 96 RP - 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. |
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| Wine Spectator |
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| Burghound |
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| Varietal | Cabernet Sauvignon |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 1996 |
| Rating | 96 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 | 1996 |
| Rating | 96 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 | 1996 |
| Rating | 96 RP |
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| Region | California |
| Location | Central Coast |
| Producer | Ridge |
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