Monte Bello (1982)

About this wine

The 1982 Monte Bello from Ridge Vineyards is a blend of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Merlot, crafted during a cool growing season that resulted in grapes maturing at lower sugar levels. This wine presents a deep ruby color and offers aromas of cassis, fennel, cola, clove-nutmeg spice, toasted oak, wet crushed stone, black tea, and sweet dry chaparral. On the palate, it delivers ripe cassis, blackberry, and mountain bramble flavors, supported by lively acidity and polished, velvety tannins. The full-bodied structure leads to a long finish, showcasing limestone minerality and forest floor notes. Ridge Vineyards, established in 1959, is renowned for its traditional winemaking techniques and commitment to expressing the unique terroir of the Santa Cruz Mountains.

About the grape

In the 1982 Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello, Cabernet Sauvignon made up 96% of the blend, with Merlot contributing 4%. Cabernet Sauvignon, known for its thick skins and hardy vines, thrives in the cool, mountainous climate of the Santa Cruz Mountains, developing deep flavors and firm tannins. Merlot, with its softer profile, adds a touch of suppleness to the wine. The 1982 vintage experienced a cool growing season, leading to grapes maturing at lower sugar levels, which resulted in a wine with balanced acidity and moderate alcohol content.

Quick facts

• 🍇 The 1982 Monte Bello from Ridge Vineyards is composed of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Merlot, showcasing a classic Bordeaux-style blend.
• 🍷 This vintage has an alcohol content of 11.5%, which is relatively low for a Cabernet Sauvignon, reflecting the cooler growing season of that year.
• 🏔️ The Monte Bello vineyard is situated at elevations ranging from 1,300 to 2,700 feet in the Santa Cruz Mountains, providing a unique terroir influenced by the Pacific Ocean.
• 🏆 Ridge Vineyards' Monte Bello gained international acclaim when the 1971 vintage placed fifth in the 1976 'Judgment of Paris' tasting, elevating the status of California wines.
• ❄️ The 1982 vintage was noted for its cool growing season, resulting in grapes that matured at lower sugar levels, contributing to the wine's balanced acidity and aging potential.

Palate profile

Producer

Ridge Vineyards, located in the United States, has a rich history dating back to 1885 when Dr. Osea Perrone, a prominent member of San Francisco's Italian community, purchased 180 acres on Monte Bello Ridge in California's Santa Cruz Mountains. He terraced the slopes, planted vineyards, and constructed the Monte Bello Winery, producing the first vintage under that name in 1892. In 1959, four scientists from the Stanford Research Institute—David Bennion, Hewitt Crane, Charles Rosen, and Howard Zeidler—acquired the property, re-bonded the winery in 1962, and began producing wines that emphasized single-vineyard expressions. Ridge Vineyards gained international acclaim when its 1971 Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon placed fifth in the 1976 Judgment of Paris, a blind tasting that pitted California wines against French classics. The winery is renowned for its commitment to sustainable farming practices and minimal intervention winemaking, producing wines that reflect the unique terroir of their vineyards.