2022 Ridge - Monte Bello (750ml)

Ridge Monte Bello 2022, presented in a 750ml bottle, embodies the rugged elegance of California’s Santa Cruz Mountains. The Monte Bello estate’s long-running legacy began in 1885, endured Prohibition, and rose again to become one of Ridge’s most celebrated wines. The 2022 vintage arrives after a third consecutive drought, yielding small, concentrated berries that sharpen both density and poise in the final blend. Estate grown across four ranches at elevations roughly 1,600 to 2,700 feet, the vines benefit from limestone soils and cooling Pacific winds that give Monte Bello its distinctive mineral character. Each of the vineyard’s 55 blocks is picked and fermented separately before a blind tasting selects the final blend, ensuring depth and precision in every bottle.

The Vintage and Blend

The 2022 Monte Bello is built around 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, with Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc completing the mix. The wine spends close to two years in new oak, allowing the fruit to retain its core while gaining texture and elegance from the barrel regimen.

Terroir, Viniculture, and Craft

Monte Bello’s estate model spans four ranches, each contributing to a wine that reflects its hillside limestone soils and the cooling influence of the Pacific. Harvest is a meticulous process: fruit from 55 distinct blocks is fermented separately, then assessed in a rigorous blind tasting to determine the final blend. This approach yields a wine with remarkable structure, balance, and aging potential that resonates with critics and collectors alike.

Tasting Notes

The aroma opens with dark currant, roasted fig, and cedar, layered with hints of dark chocolate, anise, and dried mountain herbs. On the palate, it delivers real density and a mineral-driven backbone, framed by silky tannins and a long, savory finish that hints at decades of graceful development.

Aging and Oak

Aged entirely in new oak for close to two years, this Monte Bello deepens its texture and adds aromatic complexity without masking the fruit’s core, preserving the wine’s signature balance between power and refinement.

Food Pairings

• dry aged ribeye
• braised lamb shank
• rich beef Wellington

These dishes echo the wine’s concentration and tannic structure, allowing the Monte Bello’s savory notes and mineral drive to unfold with each bite.

Why Monte Bello Stands Out

Monte Bello is not just a wine—it's a storied California legend that helped put Ridge on the world stage, with early recognition dating back to its 1962 release and a celebrated placement at the Judgment of Paris. The 2022 vintage continues that tradition: a vineyard-driven expression of site, climate, and meticulous care that rewards patience and thoughtful enjoyment.