RidgeVineyardsMonteBello2020

Monte Bello is produced from a mosaic of high-elevation vineyard parcels on the Monte Bello Ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, shaped by a cool, maritime-influenced climate and a long growing season. Vineyards are planted between approximately 400 and 820 metres above sea level, often above the fog line, with marked diurnal variation that slows ripening and preserves natural acidity. Soils vary significantly across the ridge, combining fractured greenstone, clay, and decomposed limestone, an unusual geological mix in California that contributes structure, mineral tension, and longevity.rrThe modern expression of Monte Bello emerged after the ridge was acquired in 1959, with the first Ridge Monte Bello bottled in 1962 and the style refined following Paul Draper’s arrival in 1969. Draper recognised the importance of the site’s diversity, managing Monte Bello as a collection of distinct vineyard blocks with differing elevations, exposures, and soil profiles. These parcels are farmed and vinified separately, with only the most balanced and expressive lots selected for the final blend. The vineyards have been certified organic since 2006, reinforcing a low-intervention approach that allows Monte Bello to consistently express its complex mountain terroir.rrWeather in 2020: Mild temperatures in March prompted an early bloom that coincided with the spring rains. This resulted in a smaller crop that, accompanied by more summer fog than usual, allowed for slow, steady ripening into September. After assembling thirty-six of fifty-eight lots, the wine was returned to barrel for a further twelve months. As a classic Monte Bello, it will benefit from a decade of aging and develop over another twenty years.rrTechnical Information: rVineyard: Monte BellorGrapes: 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot & 1% Cabernet FrancrAppellation: Santa Cruz MountainsrAlcohol: 13.5 %rTA: 7.24 g/LrpH: 3.47rBarrels: 95% air-dried American oak, 5% French oak (100% new)rAgeing: Twenty months in barrelrrTasting Note: Deep lustrous crimson. Very complex balsam, sage and ripe Cabernet, including blackcurrant leaf, on the nose. Extremely subtle and layered. Quite marked acidity on palate entry and then supple tannins enclose the fruit. Definitely worth stashing away for many a long year but nowhere near ready. If it has a fault, it’s that it lacks a very long finish. â€?Tasted by Jancis Robinson