2012 Ridge Vineyards "Monte Bello" Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Sauvignon

“Captures the stunning ability of Ridge to deliver concentration and richly textured but focused blackberry, cassis and bilberry fruits. As it opens, layers of cocoa bean, slate, cigar and liqourice appear, all delivered in a savoury, restrained package laced with sage, bay leaf and white pepper. This was a structured vintage, and the tannins are very much making their presence felt, meaning the wine is just beginning to reveal its depths, but you can feel total confidence that it is going to slowly but surely join the great vintages of Ridge. Paul Draper winemaker, harvest September 21 to October 16. 98.5% American oak, 1.5% French oak barrels for ageing, all new oak. Natural yeasts, only lightly filtered at moment of bottling.” (11/2022)

“The 2012 is a racy, voluptuous Monte Bello built on a core of sweet red fruit, with striking perfume, silky tannins and fabulous overall balance. The 2012 is of course an infant, and the new oak is still evident. As Vinous readers know, Monte Bello is a wine that really should not be touched until its tenth birthday, and even that requires an optimistic view. The 2012 has been a consistently brilliant wine. Today, it is once again stellar. (AG) 97+” (07/2016)

“Very complex nose of red fruit, spices, pencil shavings and old balsamic vinegar. Rich and fleshy palate with beautifully integrated tannins and a touch of leather at the long, firm finish. A cuvee of 64% cabernet sauvignon, 22% merlot, 8% cabernet franc and 6% petit verdot. Tasted at the Thomas Kammeier Monte Bello vertical. Drink or hold.” (01/2023)

“The 2012 Monte Bello is a beauty, wafting from the glass with complex aromas of plums, blackberries, bitter chocolate, black truffles, cigar tobacco and hints of crème de cassis. Its new oak is already well integrated. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, richly tannic and very deep, with a layered, concentrated core of fruit framed by chalky, fine-grained tannins. The 2012 is still quite youthfully chewy at this early stage, but there's a certain lavishness to its ripe blackberry fruit that suggests this will be a dramatic, even decadent Monte Bello in the style of the 2002 when it reaches maturity. (WK)” (05/2018)

“There's a trace of evolution on the nose, which is still reserved, but has hints of smoke and tobacco as well as brooding black fruits. The attack is suave, with integrated tannins but somewhat raucous acidity that keeps it youthful. There's excellent balance and potential here, as well as ample energy that delivers a very long, zesty finish. (SB)” (10/2022)

“Sappy in feel and tight-grained in structure, this is youthfully taut overall, but the black fruit core is evident and the long mineral edge is bright and detailed, offering accessibility through the finish. *Collectible, Ranked #7 in Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2016* (JM, Web-2019)” (02/2025)

“Very deep purple. Burly and briary with great savour and beautifully managed tannins. Clearly very ripe fruit but great freshness. They say this has more tannin than first growths. Already a pleasure! Must be made with extraordinary skill. Heady, balsam notes. Really sophisticated with no sweetness nor alcohol. Great cleanliness on the end. 18.5/20 points (JR)” (10/2015)