1977 Monte Bello

In the spring of 1977 winds and rain interfered with the set of the grapes in our cool region and produced the shortest crop in the twenty years that we have owned the vineyard. The wine was slow to develop and not until its second year in wood did it show the multiplicity of facets that give it unusual depth of character. As with any fine Cabernet made in the claret tradition, it will need four or five years of bottle age to begin to open up.

Ridge wine is made with an emphasis on quality and naturalness that is rarely attempted. Our grapes are grown in select vineyards (usually identified on the label), where they are left to ripen to peak maturity, often at some loss of quantity. We let the wine settle and age in small barrels, with only rare cellar treatment other than racking. Varieties are not blended unless so indicated on the label. Near Black Mountain on Monte Bello Ridge, our main vineyard is 10 miles south of Palo Alto, 15 miles inland from the ocean, and over 2000 feet in elevation.

Average Rating: 92.1

No. of Tasting Notes: 23

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