Ridge Vineyards如同其酒莊名稱事實上擁有多處葡萄園，分布在北加州多處精華次產區，而本酒莊的招牌旗艦酒款是生產自舊金山灣西南邊的「聖十字山產區（Santa Cruz Moutains AVA）」的Monte Bello紅酒。19世紀末，一位義大利裔的醫生Osea Perrone在Santa Cruz 山脊頂上買地開始種葡萄釀酒，這也是後來酒莊名稱的原由。他以義大利文命名這處葡萄園為Monte Bello，意為「美麗的山」。這裡海拔高達900公尺，西邊距離太平洋只有15英哩，因此氣候頗為涼冷，東邊則是著名的矽谷；此外這裡的土質是Napa和Sonoma所沒有的綠色石灰岩土壤，造就了此處和北加州的精華產區非常不一樣的風土條件。
本酒莊被Parker選入他的著作「全世界最偉大的酒莊（The World's Greatest Wine Estates）」書中。在陳新民教授的「稀世珍釀 – 百大葡萄酒」和葡萄酒作家劉永智先生的「頂級酒莊傳奇」書中，也都對Ridge Monte Bello有專文介紹。對於美酒鑑賞家們，Ridge Monte Bello是絕對不可錯過的偉大存在！
WA: 95+ Drink: 2025-2050
At this early stage, the 2015 Monte Bello is all about potential. I followed a bottle over several days and only witnessed improvement. The wine unfurls in the glass with a rich bouquet of cassis, ripe plums, espresso roast, black tea and baking chocolate, lavishly framed by minty, spicy new oak—which is often at its most prominent at exactly this stage, when the wine is shutting down after bottling. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with rich, velvety tannins and beautifully succulent, even tangy acidity that lends amazing lift on the finish. The most obvious analogy is the 2005 vintage, though it also evokes a more elegant version of the 1995 Monte Bello. It's a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc that attained 13.5% natural alcohol. Since the wine appears to be shutting down, I'd recommend forgetting it until its tenth birthday. Given its structure and balance, it should enjoy remarkable longevity.
