2011 Monte Bello

Saturated ruby/purple color. Marvelously-scented rich mountain bramble fruit, intense anise/fennel, ginger, cardamom, flint. Black currant/cassis entry, coffee, forest floor, crushed rock. Full body, elegant chalky tannins, refreshing acidity in a lengthy finish.

A long winter delayed the growing season. Summer temperatures remained cool as persistent fog covered much of Northern California. Monte Bello, whose elevation kept the grapes in full sun, was an exception. Following an October rain, two weeks of warm weather ripened the fruit for harvest before the next storm. Extraction of color and tannin required extended pump-overs. At first assemblage in February, seventeen of twenty-four parcels were selected. In May, two cabernets were added, and in late fall, a rich press wine. This exceptional example of the 2011 vintage is classic Monte Bello. Beautifully balanced now, it will continue to evolve over the next thirty years. EB (3/13)

In 1886, high in the Santa Cruz Mountains, the initial plantings of the Monte Bello estate vineyard were set out, 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). Since then, the historic vineyards on the ridge have gradually been replanted.

Rainfall: 36 inches (above average)
Bloom: Late June
Weather: Moderate summer and fall

Harvest Dates: 19 October – 8 November
Grapes: Average Brix 23.9
Fermentation: Grapes destemmed, 100% whole berries. Automated berry sorting followed by hand sorting. Fermented on native yeasts. Pressed at eight days. Natural malolactic (15% in tank, 85% in barrel).
Barrels: 99% new air-dried american oak; 1% new french oak (for comparison)
Aging: Sixteen months in barrel
Ingredients: Hand harvested, sustainably grown grapes; native yeasts; naturally occurring malolactic bacteria; calcium carbonate; minimum effective SO2.

78 tons from 56 acres, Nineteen of twenty-four Monte Bello parcels selected. Estate-grown Monte Bello grapes, hand harvested. Destemmed and sorted. Fermented on the native yeasts, full malolactic on the naturally-occurring bacteria. 0.21 g/L calcium carbonate to moderate the unusually high natural acidity in twelve of the nineteen parcels; minimum effective sulfur 30ppm at crush, 121ppm during aging). Pad filtered at bottling. In keeping with our philosophy of minimal intervention, this is the sum of our actions.

Wine Advocate: 95 Points “A superb example of this chronically undersung harvest, the 2011 Monte Bello strikes me as a more contemporary version of the 1985, combining a pleasantly herbal profile with a tensile, understated core and just enough streamlined polish. It opens with a distinctly herbal, open-knit bouquet energized by streaks of menthol, underbrush, dried tobacco and chalky overtones, and it concludes with a succulent, gentle and fine-grained finish. While I don’t expect this to enjoy the extraordinarily long drinking window of Monte Bello’s more structural and assertive renditions—although this example was served from magnum—it is a fantastic example of a modern vintage drinking near its peak, and I suspect it will hold for the better part of a decade.” -Matthew Luczy (April 2026)

International Wine Report: 94 Points “The 2011 Monte Bello is another superb showing which can be added to the long list of excellent wines from Ridge Vineyards. This immediately bursts open with intoxicating aromas of black cherries, ripe cassis, graphite, vanilla, violets and sweet spices. On the palate it delivers velvety layers of full-bodied richness, along with excellent concentration and balance. There is also a wonderful touch of mouthwatering acidity providing this lift as it heads into the long, voluptuous, finish. Even at this early stage this is flat-out delicious and hard to resist, but as many know Monte Bello has the reputation to age extremely well and this is no exception. This is composed of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc. (Best 2015-2030)” (September 2014)

Vinous Media: 94 Points “Ridge’s 2011 Monte Bello shows beautifully, even next to some of the more important vintages that are part of this vertical. Dark red cherry, plum, smoke, spices and graphite form an attractive core of flavors and textures. The 2011 is a bit slender and likely to mature earlier than some of the more structured vintages, but that only contributes to its near and medium-term accessibility. Hints of sage, lavender and black fruits add the final shades of nuance. This is one of the better showings of the 2011 from bottle.” -Antonio Galloni (July 2015)

Wine Spectator: 92 Points “The 2011 shows the cool aspect of the vintage, with more obvious maturity and a range of bay, tobacco, singed sandalwood and perfume notes leading the way, while the core of fruit is mainly red in profile. It’s the most drinkable of the young vintages currently, but no rush.” – James Molesworth (June 2019)

Decanter: 92 Points “Bursting with blackcurrant and blackberry fruit, the nose is very ripe and seductive. The attack is elegant rather than explosive, but the wine is concentrated though not to excess. The tannins seem slightly dusty but not tough, and the finish is poised, subtle, and delicate rather than powerful or complex. Finely balanced and long, it should nonetheless be long-lived.”

Quarterly Review of Wines: Five Stars “Big, deep, rich, power-packed, black fruit and smoky oak flavors; definitely for the long haul.” -Richard Elia (December 2014)

California Grapevine: “Medium-dark ruby; fragrant, herbal, spicy, dark cherry and blackberry fruit aroma with earthy and mineral notes, and hints of roasted coffee and vanilla; full body; tight, cedary, dark fruit flavors with sharp acidity; full tannin; lingering aftertaste. Developed with airing, though needing another five years of bottle aging. Very highly recommended.” (Vol. 41, January 2015)

Jancis Robinson.com: 18 Points (out of 20) “Minerally, dry (drier than most California Cab) and fine. A really sinewy wine with muscle. Overall, despite its American-oak ageing, it tastes so European!” -Jancis Robinson (May 2022)

Average Rating: 93.8

No. of Tasting Notes: 221

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