8/11/26 - 

We're thrilled to offer today a stunning vertical of the Ridge Monte Bello. With a storied history of appearing at the 1976 Judgement of Paris, to winning an identical tasting that was held 30 years later, the wine has achieved a legendary status standing up to the best that Bordeaux has to offer.

Monte Bello Ridge was purchased by Stanford research engineers in 1959, with their first commercial vintage in 1962. The original wine maker, Dave Binnion, championed a minimal intervention approach, touting native yeast fermentation and sustainable farming practices. Ridge takes great pride in their wines and their website is dedicated to vintage notes, tech info, and recommended drinking windows. The wine itself is majority Cabernet Sauvignon with varying percentages of Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. It's aged for 17-20 months in majority air-dried American oak. The result is an incredibly powerful offering that is built to last decades while adding layers of detail and finesse.

Monte Bello is hard to talk about without addressing the dramatic landscape it's grown on. It is located in the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, and its vineyards range from 1,300 to a staggering 2,700 feet above sea level. Situated just 15 miles from the ocean, the climate is dynamic, featuring hot days and very cool nights. The terroir consists of decomposed limestone, Franciscan rock, green stone and clay soils. Being a native to the Santa Cruz Mountains, I feel there is something poetic about the similarity of the mountain range and the wine. In a mountain range primarily populated with giant redwoods and stunning views, high peaks and low valleys, these vines at the very top of the mountain produce a wine that is restrained, expressive, dramatic and delicious.

On offer today are vintages from 2006-2020. Whether you drink today, or many years down the road, these special wines will deliver an experience you do not want to miss.

-Kaelen Ghandhi

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