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2011 Ridge Vineyards, Monte Bello, Santa Cruz Mountains, California, USA

  • Red
  • Dry
  • Full Bodied
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
Ready, but will improve
Antonio Galloni
93-95/100
Product: 20118005188
2011 Ridge Vineyards, Monte Bello, Santa Cruz Mountains, California, USA

Description

The 2011 Monte Bello (87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc) emerges from the glass with tobacco, grilled herbs, smoke, incense and plums melding together in this soft, beautifully textured Monte Bello. The 2011 is a wine of exceptional textural finesse. The 100% new oak is totally integrated. In 2011, Ridge used a total of 18 of a possible 24 lots for the final blend. The presence of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon is the highest since the 1980s. I expect the 2011 to be a relatively early drinking Monte Bello, but time will be the judge.
Antonio Galloni - Wine Advocate - Issue#202 Aug 2012
Colour Red
Sweetness Dry
Vintage 2011
Alcohol % 13
Maturity Ready, but will improve
Grape List Cabernet Sauvignon
Body Full Bodied
Producer Ridge Vineyards

Critics reviews

Antonio Galloni 93-95/100
The 2011 Monte Bello (87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc) emerges from the glass with tobacco, grilled herbs, smoke, incense and plums melding together in this soft, beautifully textured Monte Bello. The 2011 is a wine of exceptional textural finesse. The 100% new oak is totally integrated. In 2011, Ridge used a total of 18 of a possible 24 lots for the final blend. The presence of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon is the highest since the 1980s. I expect the 2011 to be a relatively early drinking Monte Bello, but time will be the judge. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2031.antonio_galloni - 31/08/2012
Drink 2018 - 2031
Antonio Galloni, RobertParker.com (Aug 2012)

About this wine

Cabernet Sauvignon

The most famous red wine grape in the world and one of the most widely planted.
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Ridge Vineyards

Ridge Vineyards makes wines that compete in terms of quality and desirability with Bordeaux First Growths and Grand Cru White Burgundies. Winemaker Paul Draper has crafted 43 vintages at Ridge and his practical, hands-off approach to winemaking has resulted in an exceptional and highly sought-after range of wines. Although a vineyard was first planted near the top of Monte Bello Ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains in 1885, it lay abandoned until four Stanford Research Institute engineers bought it in 1959. Ridge Vineyards was formed in 1962 and Paul Draper was appointed as winemaker in 1969. After stunning the world by their triumph in the 1976 Judgement of Paris tasting, Ridge Vineyards shot to fame and gained cult status almost overnight.
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