2008 Ridge Vineyards, Monte Bello, Santa Cruz Mountains, California, USA

The 2008 Monte Bello is marked by the drought vintage, which not only made a more concentrated crop but also deprived the blend of all supporting varieties, as only Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot handled the dry conditions sufficiently gracefully to make the final cut. At age ten, this muscular Monte Bello is finally beginning to unwind, offering up rich aromas of black cherry, cassis, dried mountain laurel, loamy soil and burning embers. On the palate, it's full-bodied, expansive and powerful, its generous, sweetly fruited attack giving way to a taut, firm mid-palate that doesn't show as much finesse as the 2010 or 2012, concluding with a long, stony finish. Baugher observes that in its youth, the 2008 was monolithic and more angulara mouthful of tannin. A decade later, it's beginning to soften, but it still requires another 5 or 6 years of bottle age.William Kelley - 31/05/2018

Monte Bello 2008is the first vintage with only Cabernet and Merlot in the final blend. 'We think press wines can really make all the difference.' Very firm and savoury with a trace of lively, savoury US oak on the nose at the moment. Beautiful texture, rich and round. jancis_robinson_mw MW, JancisRobinson.com - March 2010

The 2008 Monte Bello is a blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon and 28% Merlot. More successful and higher in quality than the 2007, it exhibits a thicker, deeper, richer purple color, medium to full body, beautifully pure blackberry and cassis fruit, and attractive spicy, earthy notes. This velvety-textured, rich, impressive offering appears to be a strong success. robert_parker -Wine Advocate # 187 Feb 2010