Monte Bello 2004 - Ridge (magnum, 1.5 l)

Monte Bello 2004 — Ridge Vineyards, Magnum

The Monte Bello 2004 from Ridge Vineyards, presented here in magnum 1.5 L, is one of California’s most iconic red wines. Sourced from the heights of the Santa Cruz Mountains, it combines mountain Cabernet Sauvignon depth with freshness, tension and mineral precision.

The 2004 vintage offers an elegant, now mature expression that still retains its structural backbone. Blackcurrant, blackberry, cedar, sweet tobacco, liquorice, graphite, cocoa and wet stone shape a deep, refined and persistent wine with a long, fresh and subtly spiced finish.

Terroir and winemaking

Monte Bello comes from Ridge’s historic vineyard, planted at altitude in the Santa Cruz Mountains. This cool, limestone-influenced and windswept terroir produces wines that are more restrained than solar, with natural structure, firm acidity and remarkable ageing potential.

The 2004 blend is composed of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc. The wine was aged for 18 months in barrel, in Ridge’s traditional style, preserving fruit precision, mineral tension and the depth of the Monte Bello site.

Tasting notes

The 2004 vintage and service

The 2004 vintage produced a Monte Bello that is less massive than some more powerful years, but remarkable for its balance, precision and almost Bordeaux-like profile. The magnum format adds further interest, encouraging slower evolution and a more harmonious expression at maturity.

Serve at around 16 to 17°C. Careful opening is recommended: favour gradual aeration in bottle or a short decant, in order to preserve the wine’s aromatic finesse and freshness.