Ridge Vineyards : Monte Bello 2022

Characteristics and tasting advice for Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello 2022

Tasting

Appearance
Beautiful ruby hue, suggesting impressive depth.

Nose
The nose reveals intense notes of blackberry, blackcurrant, fennel, dry chaparral, tobacco leaf, crushed stone, and toasted oak.

Palate
The palate stands out with generous flavors of mountain berries and blackcurrant. The tannins are polished, lending a silky texture to this full-bodied wine. A naturally firm acidity supports the whole, leading to a long finish marked by limestone minerality.

The structure and aromatic expression of a Californian red wine

The estate

A visionary, Doctor Osea Perrone acquired land in 1885 in the Dry Creek Valley area and planted vines on clay-limestone soils. The first vintage was produced in 1892. Acquired in 1959 and renamed in 1962 “Ridge Vineyards,” the estate expanded its vineyard holdings and enlisted Californian winemaker Paul Draper to elevate the property among the icons of great Californian wines. Ridge Vineyards cultivates an exceptional vineyard, managed according to organic farming principles, renowned for the quality of its non-interventionist winemaking that highlights the purity of the fruit.

The wine

Monte Bello by Ridge Vineyards is a Californian wine from vineyards planted on clay-limestone soils within the Santa Cruz Mountains appellation.

Winemaking and aging

Harvesting is done by hand with full destemming before whole-berry fermentation with native yeasts. Malolactic fermentation occurs naturally. Aging lasts 21 months in exclusively new barrels (95% American oak, 5% French oak).

Blend

Cabernet Sauvignon (86%), Merlot (10%), Petit Verdot (2%), and Cabernet Franc (2%).