We had these three Ridge MonteBellos at our Pig+Fig tasting last week:
1.. Ridge Calif Cab Sauv Montebello (12.8%; EG Monte Bello 2300'-2600'; Bttld: Oct 75; Drk: 6/80-??: PD) 1973: Dark color w/ some browning; strong cedary/pencilly/oldRed some blackcurranty/CS bit herbal/bell pepper rather over-mature/complex some attractive/interesting nose; bit soft rather metallic/tangy fairly cedary/pencilly/oldRed somewhat dried out some oxidized little fruit flavor w/ drying/astringent tannins; bit oxidized rather tired/dried-out & over the hill. $nc (BSvSG)
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2. Ridge MonteBello Calif (12.5%; 69% CabSauv/18% Merlot/10% PetiteVerdot/3% CabFranc) 1995: Very dark color w/ some bricking; fairly strong blackcurranty/CS/herbal some dusty/OV rather toasty/Ridge oak classic MB fairly complex nose; lightly tart strong toasty/Ridge oak/coffee bean strong blackcurranty/CS/herbal bit chocolaty complex flavor w/ strong rugged tannins; very long/lingering strobg blackcurranty/CS finish w/ fairly rugged tannins; still a youthful expression of MB & showing only a little complexity & maturity.
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3. Ridge Monte Bello SantaCruzMtns (13.5%; MonteBelloVnyd; 64% CabSauv/31% Merlot/
5% PetiteVerdot; 63 tons from 51 acres; bttld June 2023; Drk: %/23-5/43-5/48: JO) 2021: Med.dark color; very strong toasty/smokey/pungent/cedary/Ridge oak strong blackcurranty/CS/licorice classic young MB lovely nose; fairly tart/tangy/metallic strong blackcurranty/CS/licorice/bit herbal some dusty/OV classic MB youthful flavor w/ some rough/chewey tannins; very long finish w/ ample chewey tannins; a bit on the light side for a young MB but much depth & grip & clearly needs age. $165.00 (MBCC)
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More mollerfritz from TheBloodyPulpit:
1. The '73 was a very interesting MB. It was opened & decanted & tasted immediately. The btl had 1/3'rd ullaged away & fill was well below the shoulder. Yet there was not a lot of oxidation showing & it was in much better condition than I expected. The '73 vintage was a somewhat weaker vintage for Ridge across the board.
The wine was left overnight in the decanter. Tried the next morning, the nose really blossomed & showed a lot of the licorice/blackcurranty nose w/ lots of cedary classic MB CS character w/ light gentle tannins; rather smooth & fully mature MB CS. Clearly a fully mature MB but rather better than I expected. It should have been dead & gone.
Tom