William Kelley, the North America Correspondent for Decanter Magazine, has written a wonderful piece on his blog about the uniqueness of Monte Bello.
In it he writes:
“Ridge Vineyards’ Monte Bello has maintained a record of consistent brilliance unrivalled in California. Indeed, this cuvée has won widespread recognition as a de facto first growth, its dependable longevity and classical balance endearing it to domestic and international collectors alike.
But while Monte Bello’s excellence is often celebrated, its singularity is more often alluded to—sometimes with a passing reference to the site’s unusual limestone bedrock—than grappled with; and since Monte Bello is one of the Californian wines I know best, it’s a subject I’d like to address today.”
William also contributes to other publications including Noble Rot and The Robb Report.