Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello 2023

De ‘Monte Bello’ is veel meer dan een grote wijn – het is een icoon. Al tientallen jaren geldt hij als een van de maatstaven voor Amerikaanse topwijn en bewijst hij jaar na jaar dat elegantie, diepgang en een lange levensduur niet alleen afhangen van herkomst, maar vooral van vakmanschap. De jaargang 2023 verenigt de kracht van Californië met een precisie en frisheid die nu al fascineren en tegelijkertijd een enorm rijpingspotentieel beloven.

The 2023 Monte Bello is the definition of classicism across every metric, seamlessly fusing a slow-moving, even-keeled profile with an enviable combination of charm, assertion and effortlessness. The nose opens with a perfect melange of red and black berries, framed by classically informed toasted, herbal and graphite flourishes, along with youthful vanilla undertones that meld with floral notes after aeration. The palate is simultaneously seamless, supple, juicy and firm, before moving into a long finish that is expansive yet expertly controlled, riding on a chassis of ultra-refined, chalky tannins. I had one bottle open for multiple days and saw nothing but an upward trajectory, with notable oak integration relative to its first-day showing. Additionally, I retasted the wine out of magnum in the context of a vertical spanning back to 1971, which only solidified my belief that this could prove to be one of the all-time grea iterations of Monte Bello. It will be worth cellaring for a decade, at minimum, and should drink beautifully for at least the next three after that.

Haunting aromas of tobacco leaves, iron and graphite lead to potent, concentrated black olive, black cherry, wild sage and cocoa flavors in this fresh, brilliant classic from an elegant vintage. Aged in 100% new oak barrels, about 95% American. It's tight and closed but bursting with potential. Unusually low in alcohol at 13.2%. Drinkable now if you want to, but it’ll be much better with time. Best from 2033.