I hadn’t planned to review another Ridge wine – or at least not for some time – but it just sort of happened. And really, who am I to pass up the opportunity to review the wine that put Ridge on the map – the Monte Bello. I received the bottle as a parting gift when I stopped working in the tasting room at the Healdsburg location several years ago. It was definitely the most expensive bottle I had owned up to that point (and still), both because of its high quality and thus, price; and because it was such a nice wine, I convinced myself that I needed to buy a wine cellar/refrigerator just to store it. So, what could have been a free bottle of a wine retailing anywhere between $90 and $140 turned into a few hundred dollars worth of a wine storage (and the hand truck to move it). But it was worth it! My mom and I lugged that behemoth wine fridge back to my tiny one-bedroom apartment and managed to squeeze it into the closet. And there it stayed, keeping my Monte Bello, and all its other Ridge siblings plus a few stepchildren, at just the right temperature until I was ready to drink it.
That was in 2004. I held onto that bottle, waiting for the perfect special occasion to open it. Interestingly enough, in the next six years I would find myself moving in with my boyfriend, finishing grad school, getting my first “real” job – you know, the one that changes your whole career trajectory, getting engaged, getting married, celebrating our one year anniversary and then turning 30. By any estimation, all of these occasions could have (and probably should have) prompted me to open the Monte Bello. But for one reason or the other, I just didn’t. And then, a few weeks ago, Tim and I found ourselves at home for the first time in several months. We figured that fact alone, along with a freshly-cleaned house, was cause enough to celebrate. So we opened the Monte Bello.
We had also been thinking for quite some time about recreating our best meal in Buenos Aires – lomo a a la pimienta, or beef tenderloin with peppercorn sauce. Of course we knew we would never get steaks as tender and pure as the ones we enjoyed in Argentina, but we were determined to try. We took a little jaunt to our neighborhood butcher, told him of our plan and he set us up with some good-looking, albeit pricey, steaks for our recreation. With some good team work in the kitchen and the help of our good old pal, the internet, we cooked up a fabulous feast that paired exceedingly well with our delicious wine.
Speaking of the wine… let’s get to this. The 1999 Ridge Monte Bello is essentially a Cabernet Sauvignon, although it is blended with Merlot, and the slightest bits of Cab Franc and Petite Verdot. This beautiful Bourdeaux blend was as dark as the night’s sky in the glass. It was deep maroon – even brown at times. Its legs were long and milky, coating the glass with its creamy texture. It looked amazing and I was eager to take it all in.
The nose was light – not overpowering or strong. In fact, I think I detected the slightest hint of sweetness, perhaps berries? But even with the berry undertones, distinct smells of smoke, oak, eucalyptus and chocolate came through. On the whole, I’d say the nose matched the appearance of the wine – dark and dusty. We decanted the wine and let it breathe a fair amount before pouring it into the glass. This was a good move as the first sip was delectable. The mouthfeel was soft and creamy and smooth with only slight tannins and grittiness on the finish, which actually made me think I should have cellared it for another couple of years (and a handful of potential milestones). Even so, it was delicious and the perfect accompaniment to our steaks.The wine showed a mix of sweet and tart on the front palate – a taste I likened to rhubarb. But its complexity came through on the mid to back palate, with equal parts smoke, oak and leather. This wine was so interesting and layered, yet balanced and unpretentious. It didn’t overwhelm the palate, nor did it fall flat. It maintained an intricate mélange of flavors, but still managed to retain its simplicity.
All in all, this wine was a real winner. It is a wine that is meant to be savored and lingered over – it’s comfortable, like hanging out with your best friend or partner. And like any best friend or partner, it has its faults; but you still relish in its familiarity and effortlessness. Tim called it amazing. I called it the perfect wine to share with my husband while attempting to recreate our honeymoon.
Amy Award: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
Spendy Scale: $90 - $140
Best bet: A special occasion meal with the finest steaks you can find or celebrating a quiet evening in a clean house
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great wine, great post!
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