Ridge Vineyards, Monte Bello 2021
Product Information
Country USA
Region California
Grape Variety 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot
Vintage 2021
ABV 13.5%
Discover the exquisite elegance of the Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello 2021, a 100-point acclaimed vintage embodying the very essence of refined Napa Valley and Santa Cruz Mountain terroirs. This legendary Cabernet Sauvignon offers an unparalleled expression of luxury, showcasing meticulous craftsmanship and exceptional provenance from the estate-grown Monte Bello Vineyard.
Vintage Highlights
The 2021 vintage was marked by warm August conditions that hastened ripening at the estate’s highest elevations. For the first time, grapes were harvested from the summit of Perrone Vineyard down to the lowest Klein parcels, yielding concentrated, small berries shaped by a drought-reduced crop. This careful selection produced a wine with extraordinary tannin structure and deep colour intensity. Unlike previous vintages, 60% of the wine completed malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks, preserving the vintage’s fresh vibrancy and balance.
Masterful Winemaking
Hand-harvested between September 1 and 24, the Monte Bello grapes were destemmed and fermented whole-berry on native yeasts, maintaining natural authenticity and minimal intervention. Ageing gracefully for 19 months in 100% new oak barrels, predominantly American with a touch of French oak, imparts layers of complexity, from velvety vanilla bean nuances to rich espresso and blackberry depth.
Tasting Notes
Awarded a rare 100 points by JamesSuckling.com, this medium-bodied masterpiece offers intense aromas and flavours of black cherry, espresso, and vanilla bean, underpinned by a taut, linear structure and seamless drive. This Monte Bello vintage is destined to evolve gracefully over the next two to three decades, making it one of California’s most collectible and age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignons.
Discover Iconic California Wines from Ridge Vineyards
Renowned for producing some of the most distinctive and age-worthy wines in California, Ridge Vineyards has earned global recognition among collectors and connoisseurs of premium American wine. From the legendary Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon to celebrated Zinfandel blends like Geyserville and Lytton Springs, Ridge crafts wines that reflect their vineyard origins with purity and precision.
Each bottle begins with meticulously farmed, mature vineyards and is crafted through a philosophy of minimal intervention winemaking. Ridge remains committed to full transparency, listing all ingredients on every label, and uses blind tastings to guide every production decision. This thoughtful, consistent approach has helped Ridge transcend wine trends and establish itself as one of the most respected wineries in California.
Whether you’re searching for collectible California Cabernet, single-vineyard Zinfandel, or minimal intervention wines from California, Ridge delivers quality that’s timeless.
