Ridge Monte Bello is a prestigious Bordeaux-style red blend from the historic Monte Bello vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains, established in 1886. This wine showcases intense aromas of blackberry, black currant, fennel, dry chaparral, tobacco leaf, crushed stone, and toasted oak. On the palate, it delivers rich mountain bramble and cassis with polished tannins, full body, and natural firm acidity leading to a long finish showing distinctive limestone minerality.

The blend typically features 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc, all organically grown. The vineyard spans elevations from 1,600 to 2,700 feet across four different ranches, with grapes harvested and fermented separately by block. This meticulous approach creates wines with remarkable power, intensity, and a creamy, velvety texture supported by well-resolved tannins.

Ridge Monte Bello is aged in 100% new oak barrels for 21 months, using predominantly American oak with minimal French oak. The wine is fermented with native yeasts and undergoes natural malolactic fermentation, following Ridge's philosophy of minimal intervention. The unique combination of high elevation, cool climate, proximity to the Pacific Ocean, and rare decomposing limestone soils creates exceptional minerality and outstanding aging potential of 20-25 years or more. The wine consistently receives critical acclaim, with recent vintages scoring 96-99 points from leading wine critics.