Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

History begins in 1885, when Osea Perrone, a doctor in San Francisco's Italian community, bought 180 acres near the top of Monte Bello Ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains. This is 100% Zin! Deep red almost purple. Aromas of cherry fruit and unmistakable Zin spice! In the palate, blackberry and cherry flavors with peppery herb spice integrated with dusty tannins. Lively acidity shows up in the medium finish ending with a big fruit finish. Nice! — 8 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.4

Perched high atop the North Atlantic plate in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Ridge’s Monte Bello property boasts a rich lineage that goes all the way back to the 1880s. Even today, the drive up the winding roads that lead to the top of Monte Bello is arduous. It’s virtually impossible to imagine what conditions must have been like 130 years ago. Ridge's 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is fabulous. Beams of tannin and acidity make a strong opening statement, but there is more than enough fruit to fill out the wine's frame. This is an especially dark, virile Estate. Then again, that is 2013. Inky blue-purplish fruit, licorice, sage, exotic spices, and lavender grace the exquisite finish. This is an absolutely delicious mountain Cabernet endowed with real pedigree and class. It is also arguably the single greatest value in California Cabernet Sauvignon. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, Jul 2016) — 9 years ago

Nico J. Snyman

9.6

Tried the '90 recently, spoke of how amazing a producer of Californian Cabernet it is, but just needed a little more time, this '85 is well & truly on point, everything is in balance, there's fruit intensity yes, but the development/complexity/layers are really shining through, outstanding stuff. — 9 years ago

Renato Hoyle

9.2

Great acid, not huge, will develop well over time — 10 years ago

Kevin O'Connor

9.4

I bow down at Mr. Drapers feet! — 11 years ago

Michael Washabaugh

9.1

Paired well with a lamb, eggplant purée, fava beans, piquolo pepper. Would also pair with a medium rare magret duck or other game. — 11 years ago

Joe Hernandez

8.9

It's a little young still but is very soft and supple. It's luscious on the palate with a smooth finish. — 11 years ago

Scott e

9.1

Love ridge. Great producer over 6 decades. Showed we'll finish a bit short. Otherwise great — 12 years ago

Max Coane

9.0

Delicious. Bitter as a homeless man's unwashed ballsack, but tasty — 13 years ago

Chris Sussman

8.9

Good Italian wine! — 13 years ago

Francisco Figueroa

9.4

A lovely wine to try years down the road. — 8 years ago

Katy Pine

9.2

Christmas wine—ditto on the reviews — 9 years ago

Jordan Yu

9.1

Big for a merlot, very typical Ridge style — 9 years ago

Jeff Vejr

9.4

Cellared well. Tasting legendary. — 10 years ago

Devin Bostick

9.2

Raspberry, lots of acid, bit of strawberry, deep red, black cherry in middle, refreshing, cranberry in sour — 10 years ago

Tobin Trevarthen

9.1

Big jammy bomb, effervescence. Blackberry. Definite Santa Lucia Highland profile. — 10 years ago

Rick K

9.3

Powerful, aromatically beautiful. Oak nicely integrated. Really nice singular California Merlot. — 11 years ago

Mike

9.1

Quirky but nice — 11 years ago

Stefan Lindberg

9.6

Fantastic Barrel sample 👌 2014 — 11 years ago

Phil Stice

9.1

Reminds of Monte Bello — 12 years ago

Reza Malekzadeh

9.6

Awesome local Cab! — 13 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

History begins in 1885, when Osea Perrone, a doctor in San Francisco's Italian community, bought 180 acres near the top of Monte Bello Ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Aromas of zesty fresh fruit and berries. Blend of 65% Zinfandel, 17% Petite Sirah, 14% Carignan & 4% Grenache. The palate shows raspberry and cherry flavors. Rich with firm tannins, oak and spice. An easy drinking and enjoyable wine for about $25, reflects a good value. Three Valleys wine would go nicely with a wide variety of foods. — 8 years ago

Aaron Means

9.2

I like the traditional Monte bello better — 9 years ago

Antonio Capurso

8.9

Colour: almost no transparency, dark red, violet.
Nose: quite ripe and concentrated nose of red and black fruit (raspberry, red/black cherries, plums), notes of violet and red pepper, old wood bark, pine wood, vanilla, Mediterranean spices, bay leaves.
Palate: medium body, moderate acidity (not a lot), quite warm at the palate but not too much. Red fruit coming through (raspberry, red cherries), tannins quite evident, and quite strong, wool-like tannins and astringency. Rustic feeling. More astringent in the finish. — 9 years ago

Colin Cahoon

8.9

Straw color. Very oaky with lemon. Buttery texture with modest acid peaking through at the finish. If you like oak in chards, this is the wine for you. — 10 years ago

with Susan

Francis Huicq

9.2

2010 vintage. French wood maturing for about 17 months. Super sweet black currant fruit with a hint of mint, tea leaves and spices. Ripe tannins, full-bodied and medium-ish acidity. On the 2nd day, more volatile/balsamic in character, no fruit left with a bouquet dominated by Cuban tobacco (liquid Monte Cristo No 2). High acidity on the palate making the tannins sharper/more angular. Good wine overall. — 10 years ago

John DeCarlis

9.3

Cola, black raspberry and some toasty oak. Dark violet color with soft tannins. — 11 years ago

Denis Roudenko

8.9

16/20 (89/100)

Пряные травы, лавр, мята, можжевельник, майоран, сухое дерево, кожа, замша, черника, очень пряно. Красиво, не тяжело, фрукты во вкусе и много пряных трав. Очень мощные танины, сухие, плотные. Держать.
— 11 years ago

Gary Westby

Champagne & Sherry buyer K&L Wines

9.7

Our K&L Redwood City staff party at LB steak was fantastic- nothing smaller than magnum allowed! This double mag has been in our cellar since release and has hardly moved at all! Big, powerful, Mountain fruit! — 12 years ago

Joyce Perrelli

9.7

Delicious--highly recommended — 13 years ago