Ridge Monte Bello 2006 Ridge Vineyards

🏷️ Ridge Vineyards – Monte Bello 2006

📍 Santa Cruz Mountains – California, USA

🧾 Type: Dry Red Wine
🍇 Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon (main), Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc
🌱 Farming: Sustainable / Organic (uncertified)
🕰️ Aging: 18–22 months in American & French oak
🍷 Alcohol: 13–14% vol
🌡️ Serving Temp: 16–18°C / 60–65°F
📦 Bottle Size: 750 ml

👃 Aromas

Blackcurrant, blackberry, graphite, cedar, tobacco, spices.

👄 Taste

Elegant structure, fine tannins, deep and age-worthy (20+ years).

🍽️ Pairings

Grilled ribeye, game, roasted meats, aged cheeses.

Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello: The Icon of Californian Cabernet Sauvignon

History and Philosophy

Monte Bello by Ridge Vineyards is one of California’s greatest red wines and an iconic Cabernet Sauvignon globally. Its history dates back to 1885, when Italian-American physician Osea Perrone planted the first vines on the Monte Bello Ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains. However, it was in 1962, with the arrival of Ridge Vineyards and the leadership of Paul Draper, that Monte Bello became a global benchmark.

Ridge has always followed a minimalist and natural winemaking approach, with minimal intervention both in the vineyard and in the cellar. Monte Bello is produced using organic and sustainable farming practices, indigenous yeasts, and a winemaking process that fully respects the vintage and terroir.

Its definitive recognition came in 1976, during the famous Judgment of Paris, where the 1971 Ridge Monte Bello competed against the top Bordeaux wines and proved that California could rival the best in the world.

Vineyard and Terroir

Monte Bello is made exclusively from vineyards located between 400 and 800 meters (1,300-2,600 feet) above sea level, planted on limestone and shale soils, a rarity in California. The cool, breezy climate of the Santa Cruz Mountains allows for a slow, balanced ripening, ensuring a perfect equilibrium of power, acidity, and finesse.

Yields are intentionally kept low to maximize concentration and terroir expression. The blend varies slightly by vintage but is always Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant, often complemented by Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc, in a Bordeaux-inspired style.

Winemaking and Aging

Monte Bello is crafted using an artisanal, low-intervention approach:

• Spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts, without artificial additives.

• Aging in American and French oak barrels, used moderately to enhance complexity without overshadowing the fruit.

• Minimal filtration and fining, preserving purity and integrity.

• Extended barrel aging for 16 to 22 months, refining structure and depth.

Monte Bello is a wine built for long-term aging and can evolve beautifully for decades, developing extraordinary depth and complexity.

Tasting Notes

Monte Bello is an elegant, long-lived wine with a complex and refined profile:

• Color: Deep ruby red, with garnet reflections over time.

• Aroma: A layered bouquet of blackcurrant, dark cherry, and blackberry, with hints of tobacco, graphite, sweet spices, and earthiness, evolving into truffle and leather with age.

• Palate: Powerful, structured, yet vibrant, with silky tannins and remarkable freshness. The finish is long and mineral-driven, revealing spices and deep complexity.

Grape Varieties

• Cabernet Sauvignon (75-90%)

• Merlot (5-15%)

• Petit Verdot (2-7%)

• Cabernet Franc (1-5%)
  (Varies by vintage.)

Serving Temperature & Alcohol Content

• Serving temperature: 16-18°C (60-64°F), to enhance its full aromatic complexity.

• Alcohol content: Around 13.5-14.5% ABV, depending on the vintage.

Food Pairings

Monte Bello pairs exceptionally well with rich, flavorful dishes:

• Grilled or roasted red meats, such as ribeye steak or filet mignon.

• Game and braised dishes, ideal with venison, wild boar, or slow-cooked lamb.

• Aged cheeses, such as Pecorino, Comté, or Parmigiano Reggiano.

• International cuisine, pairing beautifully with French braised dishes or Texas barbecue.

Conclusion

Ridge Monte Bello is more than a wine; it’s a legend in the wine world. A Cabernet Sauvignon that embodies elegance, purity, and longevity like few others. With over 60 years of history, it remains a pillar of Californian winemaking, merging Bordeaux finesse with California’s bold character in perfect harmony.

See all products of Ridge Vineyards

Ridge Vineyards: Excellence and Tradition in Californian Winemaking

History and Philosophy

Founded in 1962, Ridge Vineyards is one of the most respected and iconic wineries in California. Located on the Monte Bello Ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains, the winery has built its reputation on a winemaking philosophy focused on expressing terroir with minimal intervention.

The soul of Ridge was shaped under the guidance of Paul Draper, the legendary winemaker who defined the estate’s style. From the beginning, Ridge Vineyards has embraced a vision that merges tradition and innovation, emphasizing natural fermentation, balanced oak aging, and minimal winemaking interference.

A pivotal moment in Ridge’s history was the 1976 “Judgment of Paris”, where the 1971 Ridge Monte Bello competed against top Bordeaux wines and emerged as one of the best, solidifying Ridge Vineyards as one of the world’s great wineries.

Vineyards and Terroir

Ridge Vineyards owns two main vineyard sites, each with exceptional conditions for crafting complex, long-lived wines:

• Monte Bello Estate (Santa Cruz Mountains): At over 800 meters in altitude, this region is known for its limestone-rich soils, cool climate, and constant ventilation. It is home to the legendary Monte Bello, a wine of extraordinary depth and elegance, often compared to Bordeaux’s finest crus.

• Lytton Springs (Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma): The heart of Ridge’s Zinfandel production, featuring century-old vines planted in gravelly, clay-rich soils, which contribute to the wine’s remarkable concentration and structure.

The winery follows organic and sustainable farming practices, with a focus on soil health and biodiversity.

Winemaking Philosophy

Ridge Vineyards adheres to a natural and minimal-intervention approach, ensuring that the wines reflect their origins with precision and purity. Key principles include:

• Spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts, without commercial additives.

• Minimal use of sulfites, only when necessary for stability.

• Aging in American oak barrels, carefully balanced to enhance fruit expression without overpowering it.

• Complete transparency, with detailed winemaking notes printed on every label.

The Wines of Ridge Vineyards

Ridge Vineyards is renowned for producing some of California’s most iconic wines:

Monte Bello

The winery’s flagship, a world-class Cabernet Sauvignon that combines the finesse of great Bordeaux with the intensity and minerality of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Powerful, structured, and built to age.

Lytton Springs

A Zinfandel-based wine blended with small amounts of Petite Sirah and Carignane, sourced from historic old vines. Complex, spicy, and full-bodied, it showcases Zinfandel’s true character.

Geyserville

Another outstanding Zinfandel expression, this time from Sonoma. Elegant, fruit-driven, and well-balanced, with notes of dark berries and pepper spice.

Estate Chardonnay

Produced in small quantities, this Chardonnay is fresh, mineral-driven, and beautifully balanced, with restrained oak influence—one of California’s finest examples.

Conclusion

Ridge Vineyards represents a perfect balance of tradition and modernity, with a philosophy centered on purity, terroir, and craftsmanship. Every bottle tells a story of passion, respect for nature, and an uncompromising pursuit of quality. For lovers of Californian wines, Ridge is a must-know name, crafting some of the most iconic and age-worthy reds in the United States.