2011 Ridge Monte Bello, USA, California, Santa Cruz, Wine Review

Monte Bello is one of the great wines of California. 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc. Though 2011 was a difficult vintage in most of California, Ridge hit a home run (again) with Monte Bello. It might be drinking a bit earlier than other vintages, but it is a fantastic wine. Purple in color. The nose has cassis, cigar box, plums and char. Very nice. On the palate, this has a wonderful texture that is lush and full bodied but not over the top. Plenty of cassis and plum fruit with underlying earthiness and slight char. Good finish. Works with medium and heavier foods. This is just delicious now but should improves with some more time in the bottle.

Grade:

Score:

Vintage:

2011

Top 50 California Cabernet Sauvignons to Try Before You Quit Drinking (a non-dump bucket list if you will!)

In putting together a list of the top California Cabernets, there is sure to be some disagreement. I tried to include those wines that have a track record, the wineries still making great wines, those that seemed to have the commitment for the future and some personal favorites. I am sure I left some out. 1. Shafer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select – It’s always hard to name the number one wine. But this has a track record that’s very long. Even in less than stellar vintages, it is an outstanding wine. They just don’t seem to make a dud. My only complaint is the price at over $200 a bottle. But, in comparison to other Napa Cabs or elsewhere in the world, this is a fair price.

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Which California Cabernet Sauvignons Deserve "First Growth" Status?

In 1855, the Exposition Universelle was held in Paris to showcase all that was good in France. Emperor Napoleon III requested the leading Bordeaux merchants to rank the best wines . The top wines were rated as First Growths. Over the years, many people in the rest of the world have discussed what wines from their country would be First Growths. I am often asked what I think the First Growths of California are. It is an interesting conversation with lots of room for debate.

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2012 Ridge Monte Bello, USA, California, Santa Cruz, Wine Review

Vintage:

2012

Score:

Grade:

A+

Current Price:

$175.00USD

One of the great wines of the world. This was tasted right after a huge Aussie Shiraz and it took a sip or two to re-calibrate, but once that was accomplished, this wines class shown thru. Still a young wine, this has a long future ahead. A blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose has cassis, cedar, an herbal note (in a good way), spice and slight forest floor. On the palate, this has a wonderful texture. Full bodied but by no means brawny or a fruit bomb. Nice purity of cassis fruit over some roas

Heidi Peterson Barrett: Napa's Wine Diva on Winemaking, La Sirena, and the Legacy of Screaming Eagle

Heidi Peterson Barrett As arguably the most celebrated, respected, envied, and in-demand winemaker in America today, Heidi Peterson Barrett is one of only a handful of winemakers who can legitimately lay claim to "superstar" status. Her wines at both Dalle Valle and Screaming Eagle resulted in multiple 100 point scores from Robert Parker (Parker himself dubbed her the "First Lady of Wine") and helped redefine both the meaning and value of "cult" wines. She rocked the wine world at the 2000 Napa Valley Wine Auction as a 6-liter bottle of her 1992 Screaming Eagle sold for $500,000, in the process setting a world record for the highest price ever paid for a single bottle of wine (a vertical offering went for $650,000 at the 2001 Napa Valley Wine Auction). Heidi Peterson Barrett is currently winemaker for Amuse Bouche, Paradigm, Revana, Barbour, Lamborn, Fantesca, as well as her own label La Sirena . I recently had the pleasure of catching up with Heidi to talk about winemaking, her own La Sirena label, and the legacy of Screaming Eagle.

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2009 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, USA, California, Santa Cruz, Wine Review

Vintage:

2009

Score:

Grade:

A-

This bottle is doing well and while not quite up to the level of a bottle a couple years ago, that seems more bottle variation or just a different day. Purple in color. The nose is deep with cassis, and spice. Perhaps a bit more air would have allowed the wine to open more. On the palate, this has a nice energy. Cassis, a roasted herbal note and slight tannins. Worked well with food. This still seems like it easily could coast for another decade. A nice way to get a great Cab in the house style without paying for the Monte Bello.

2011 Ridge Monte Bello, USA, California, Santa Cruz, Wine Review

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Which California Cabernet Sauvignons Deserve "First Growth" Status?

2012 Ridge Monte Bello, USA, California, Santa Cruz, Wine Review

Heidi Peterson Barrett: Napa's Wine Diva on Winemaking, La Sirena, and the Legacy of Screaming Eagle

2009 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, USA, California, Santa Cruz, Wine Review