2016 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 13.0%
Grape Varieties 100% Merlot, organically grown
Classification Historic Vineyard Series
Region Santa Cruz Mountains
Orientation South-Facing Slope
Harvest Dates 24 September 2016
Brix at Harvest 23.5°
Estate Grown Yes
Fermentation Vessels Tank and barrel for secondary fermentation
Indigenous Yeast Yes
Maceration 6 days
Lees Aging 4 months
Oak Details 60% First Fill New Oak
First Fill New Oak60%
Second Fill Oak40%
Oak Types Air-dried American oak
Contains Added Sulfites Yes
Production Details The estate-grown fruit was hand harvested, destemmed and sorted, but not crushed, then subjected to whole-berry fermentation and pressed after six days. Natural malolactic fermentation began in tank and finished in barrel. The wine received 120 days on its lees and seventeen months in barrel; the oak was 60% new and 40% one-year-old air-dried American oak. Sulfur additions were 35 ppm at crush and 41 ppm over aging, and the wine was pad filtered at bottling. Growing-season rainfall was 24.4 inches, below normal, with early-June bloom. The page contains an unresolved planting-date discrepancy: its vintage notes say the Bowl block was planted in 1987, while its history section says 1988.
Tasting Notes Ruby-purple color; ripe bramble fruit, anise, toasted oak and crushed-rock aromas; red cherry and currant fruit, polished tannins, firm acidity, integrated oak spice and a long finish.
Critics Ratings 94
Sources: www.ridgewine.com ↗ · Compare this vintage
2011 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 12.7%
Grape Varieties 100% Merlot
Drinking Window Producer note dated June 2013 anticipated peak development over the following ten to twelve years.
Classification Historic Vineyard Series
Region Santa Cruz Mountains
Harvest Dates 31 October 2011
Brix at Harvest 23.5°
Estate Grown Yes
Indigenous Yeast Yes
Maceration 7 days
Oak Details 100% First Fill New Oak
First Fill New Oak100%
Oak Types Air-dried American oak
Contains Added Sulfites Yes
Production Details Estate-grown Monte Bello fruit was hand harvested, destemmed and sorted, left uncrushed for whole-berry fermentation, and pressed after seven days. Fermentation used native yeasts and was followed by full natural malolactic fermentation. The wine matured for twenty months in 100% new air-dried American oak. Sulfur additions were 35 ppm at crush and 78 ppm over aging, and the wine was pad filtered at bottling. Growing-season rainfall was 36 inches, above average, with late-June bloom and an unusually long, cool season.
Tasting Notes Deep garnet; bramble fruit, tea tree, incense, balsa wood and lavender; medium-bodied with red cherry, tapenade, balanced acidity, savory herbs and lingering red fruit and sweet oak.
Sources: www.ridgewine.com ↗ · Compare this vintage
2009 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 13.7%
Grape Varieties 100% Merlot
Classification Historic Vineyard Series
Region Santa Cruz Mountains
Harvest Dates 29 September 2009
Brix at Harvest 24.0°
Estate Grown Yes
Indigenous Yeast Yes
Maceration 7 days
Oak Details 55% First Fill New Oak
First Fill New Oak55%
Oak Types Air-dried American oak
Contains Added Sulfites Yes
Unfined Yes
Production Details Estate-grown Monte Bello fruit was hand harvested and destemmed for whole-berry fermentation, with natural primary and natural malolactic fermentation, then pressed after seven days. The wine matured for twenty months in air-dried American oak: 55% new and 45% a combined mixture of one- and two-year-old barrels; the source does not divide that 45% between fills. Sulfur additions were 30 ppm at crush and 95 ppm during aging. The wine was unfined and pad filtered at bottling. Growing-season rainfall was 28 inches, below average, with late-May bloom and a cool spring followed by a warm summer and fall.
Sources: www.ridgewine.com ↗ · Compare this vintage
Producer Information
Website
Address
17100 Montebello Road, Cupertino, CA 95014-5435, USA
Phone
+1 408.867.3233
Owner
Private ownership (founding families)
Cellarmaster
John Olney (Head Winemaker & CEO)