2022 Monte Bello

Saturated ruby color. Intense aromas of blackberry, black currant, fennel, dry chaparral, tobacco leaf, crushed stone, and toasted oak. On the palate, rich mountain bramble and cassis, polished tannins, and full bodied. Natural firm acidity leads to a long finish showing limestone minerality. JO (11/24)

A third year of drought accompanied by a heat wave during ripening, reduced yields. To manage tannins, all grapes were fermented as whole berries, pressed once dry, and transferred to American oak for natural malolactic. Eighteen of thirty-one lots were selected by blind tasting and, after assemblage, spent an additional twenty months in barrel. This classic Monte Bello will evolve over the next twenty to twenty-five years. JO (10/24)

In 1886, high in the Santa Cruz Mountains, the first Monte Bello vineyards were planted, and winery construction begun. A first vintage from the young vines followed in 1892. During Prohibition (1920-1933), the vineyard was not fully maintained; some vines survived into the late 30’s, but by the 1940s they were effectively abandoned. Eight acres of cabernet sauvignon were replanted in 1949. These were the source of the first Ridge Monte Bello (1962) and subsequent vintages until 1974 when younger blocks replanted in the 1960’s were considered for inclusion. Since then, the historic vineyards on the ridge have gradually been replanted.

Rainfall: 28 inches (below normal)
Bloom: Late May
Weather: 2022 was another drought year, with just enough spring rains to help the vines through the season. Two heat spells, one in late July and the other in late August, pushed the vines to an early harvest.

Harvest Dates: 13 September – 10 October
Grapes: Average Brix 23.6˚
TA: 9.13 g/L
pH: 3.36
Fermentation: Grapes de-stemmed, 100 whole-berry fermentation. Fermented on the native yeasts. Natural malolactic.
Selection: Eighteen Monte Bello parcels
Barrels: 100% new oak (95% American, 5% French)
Aging: Twenty-one months in barrel

Hand-harvested; estate grown Monte Bello Vineyard grapes, destemmed and sorted; fermented on the native yeasts; full malolactic on the naturally occurring bacteria; oak from barrel aging; minimum effective sulfur (35 ppm at crush, 114 ppm during aging); depth filtered at bottling. In keeping with our philosophy of minimal intervention, this is the sum of our actions.

OwenBargreen.com: 99 Points “A totally stunning wine from a warm vintage, the 2022 Ridge ‘Monte Bello’ combines nearly all Cabernet Sauvignon (86%) with 10% Merlot and small parts Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot from their estate vineyard high atop the Santa Cruz Mountains. Silky tannins frame a generous core of dark currants, roasted figs, dark chocolate shavings, anise seed and shades of black licorice on the palate. The remarkable power, intensity and minerality leads to a mouth-watering effect on the palate. A dazzling and dense wine that has some great cellaring potential, try to resist this beauty for another year. Drink 2026-2046.” -Owen Bargreen (March 2025)

Wine.com: 98 Points “I have savored the Ridge Monte Bello Red Wines from the winery’s first vintage in 1962, and my love affair with them continues to this day. The 2022 vintage presents itself as expected, with aromas and flavors of ripe blackberries, toasty oak, and hints of earthly delights. Invite your closest wine pals and serve this treat with a duck breast topped with a cherry sauce. (Best Served: 2028-2042)” – Wilfred Wong (March 2025)

JebDunnuck.com: 98 Points “Aged in 100% new oak, the 2022 Monte Bello blends 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc, selected from 18 of 21 lots by blind tasting. After assemblage, the wine spent 21 more months in barrel. The vineyard starts at 1,600 feet and goes up to 2,700 feet at top, and is spread out across 4 different ranches, Klein, Rousten, Torre and Perrone, the wines getting more tightknit and ageable as the vines move up the mountain. By the end of harvest, Monte Bello is split into 55 different blocks, which are then picked and fermented separately. Year after year, this is a “wow” wine, herbal, lightly spiced in oak, with a lovely creamy, velvety texture and a backbone of well-resolved tannin supporting a medium-bodied, balanced spirit of mountain garrigue. These wines typically age 20-25 years or more.” -Virginie Boone (April 2025)

Vinography.com “Very dark garnet in the glass with purple highlights, this wine smells of black cherry, plum, dried minty herbs, and a touch of whisky barrel. In the mouth, gorgeously supple, fine-grained tannins coat the mouth and drape a core of black cherry, plum, plum skin, blueberries, and licorice root. Fantastic acidity keeps the wine bright and lithe across the palate, with no heaviness to accompany its intense fruit. Lovely and poised, with the oak very well integrated even at this young stage, this wine will get better and better for the next 15 years. Outstanding. Contains 10% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. 13.8% alcohol. Score: 9.” -Alder Yarrow (April 2025)

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