1984 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello (750ml)

The wine that declared California's ambition to the world — and the 1984 stands as one of the high points of an otherwise complicated decade for Ridge. A great, great vintage of Monte Bello — the beautiful nose jumps from the glass in a mix of black cherries, a touch of pomegranate, a gorgeous array of spice tones, a marvelous base of soil, discreet notes of cigar smoke, American oak, and hints of fruitcake one might find in a mature Château Rayas; pure and full-bodied on the palate with excellent mid-palate depth, impeccable balance, fine-grained tannins, and a long, focused, and very complex finish. Still showing brilliantly at 40 years — cigar box, cassis, black cherry, bay leaf, and mint on the nose, with soft velvety tannins offering real grip, racy acidity, and a persistent finish delivering forest floor, dried fruit, and fresh leather. Made at 2,300 feet elevation on fractured limestone — the terroir that sets Monte Bello apart from every other California Cabernet. Drink now–203