Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Ridge – Monte Bello 2017
Santa Cruz Mountains – California, USA 🇺🇸
Blend: 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc

Overview
One of California’s most legendary wines, Ridge Monte Bello has been estate-grown, produced, and bottled entirely in-house since the 1960s. The 2017 vintage reflects a Bordeaux-inspired blend from the cool Santa Cruz Mountains, offering both structure and elegance. (Educational note: Monte Bello’s higher-altitude vineyards give cooler temperatures, yielding more restrained, ageworthy wines compared to Napa Valley powerhouses.)

Aromas & Flavors
Blackberry, cassis, and red plum at the core, accented by cedar, graphite, and cocoa. Hints of tobacco, dried herbs, and floral notes bring depth and complexity.

Mouthfeel
Medium to full-bodied with polished tannins and refreshing acidity. A graceful, layered wine that “dances on the palate,” finishing long and harmonious with both power and finesse.

Food Pairings
Perfect with grilled lamb, prime rib, or braised short ribs. Also pairs beautifully with mushroom risotto or aged cheeses.

Verdict
A benchmark California classic — Bordeaux in inspiration, but with a Santa Cruz identity all its own. The 2017 Monte Bello is elegant, expressive, and deeply satisfying. 🍷

Did You Know?
Ridge’s Monte Bello gained international fame in the 1976 Judgment of Paris tasting, where it ranked among the world’s top Cabernets, cementing California’s place on the fine wine map.

Collector’s Rarity 📌
Highly allocated and cellared by collectors worldwide, Ridge Monte Bello is a vertical-worthy wine with decades of aging potential. — a day ago

Boris Mathiszik

8.9

For hot climates, like here on the Outer Banks, I love chilled Pinot Noir for all day drinking. This Marlborough Pinot has the right acidity to stand up to the spices and heat of the NC summer. — a month ago

Janice in Livermore

9.0

2019 Cab at Kuumbwa Jazz Club in Santa Cruz. Raul Midon concert. — a month ago

Elmars

9.0

This wine is of exceptional quality. While it may have been slightly premature to consume (released in 2021), it exhibited pronounced tannic characteristics. — 5 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Light lemon color with aromas of citrus, tropical fruits and floral notes. On the palate flavors of grapefruit, green apple and pear fruit flavors, slight grassy tones, lively acidity. Medium+ finish ending with fruit, herbal, floral, citrus and mineral notes. Do not over chill so you can experience all of the nuances while you sip this fine wine. Nice, consistent. — 25 days ago

Pooneet K

9.0

Not as good as the bottle we had 2 years ago. All of the great lemon peel and minerality and texture and acid are still there - but this is oddly lacking on the mid palate, so you get a nice entry and exit but not a lot of meat in the middle. — 2 months ago

John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

9.2

Nose was shy, beautiful palate! See @Delectable Wine’s review. — 3 days ago

Ericsson

9.2

Current release. Still need much time in the bottle, but will show well in about a decade. — 13 days ago

Todd Anderson

9.2

Lovely delicate fruit balanced with some complexity. In a good drinking window. Paired well with grilled salmon for dinner — a month ago

Matt Perlman

9.1

Decent but could use a little more oomph — 2 months ago