Ridge Vineyard Monte Bello Vintage 2018

About the wine

In 1886, high in the Santa Cruz Mountains, the first Monte Bello vineyards were planted, and winery construction begun. A first vintage from the young vines followed in 1892. During Prohibition (1920-1933), the vineyard was not fully maintained; some vines survived into the late 30s, but by the 1940s they were effectively abandoned. Eight acres of cabernet sauvignon were replanted in 1949. These were the source of the first Ridge Monte Bello (1962) and subsequent vintages until 1974 when younger blocks replanted in the 1960s were considered for inclusion. Since then, the historic vineyards on the ridge have gradually been replanted. The 1971 vintage was included in the Judgement of Paris tasting helping to raise the profile of the wine outside of the USA.

Typical blend Cabernet Sauvignon,  Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc. 75cl bottle. 14% Abv

Bottle condition, capsule excellent, label excellent, wine level high fill

Critic tasting note:

 "The sumptuous vanilla tones of American oak frame the tart blackberry notes on the nose beautifully. The palate comes in with exquisite freshness and more of that alluring, ripe but tart blackberry fruit and baking spice. There is verve and brightness here, and a lovely sinuousness that shows off the elegant, firm tannins and the aromatic nuance of the fruit. Such a classic. AK" - Falstaff

What happens next

Your bottle will be carefully hand-packed in our mail-safe wine boxes to ensure it arrives in perfect condition. We dispatch all standard orders using Royal Mail 48-hour Tracked & Signed, so you can follow its journey right to your door.

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Order before 3:30 pm and select Express Delivery for next-day arrival (Monday - Thursday). We’ll send it via Royal Mail Guaranteed Next Day or APC Overnight - trusted services for safe, timely delivery.

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