The Monte Bello vineyard ranges in elevation from 1300' to 2700' above sea level and is composed of unique green stone and clay soils layered over decomposing limestone. Limestone is not found in the well-known Cabernet producing areas of Napa and Sonoma Valleys, making the soil composition at Monte Bello a unique and important contributor to the wine's distinctive character. The combination of elevation, cool climate, and soil produces a wine that is impeccably balanced and destined for long-term aging, with firm acidity and a consistent streak of minerality."
"The 1997 vintage was among the most unusual of Ridge's thirty-sevenyear
history with the Monte Bello Vineyard. From November through
January, torrential storms brought rainfall equaling that of an entire,
very wet, year. From February on, however, there was virtually no
more rain. Temperatures turned mild, allowing flowering and fruit set
to begin much earlier than usual. In turn, this gave us the largest
crop—vine for vine—that our low-yield vineyards have ever
produced. With major assistance from this clement spring weather, the
vines were making up for the short crops of '95 and '96. Despite the
early start, we were concerned that a crop of such size would not
ripen fully in our cool region. So, as usual, we thinned rigorously. On
the lower vineyards (1300'-1990') we dropped fifteen percent of the
merlot and ten percent of the cabernet; on the middle (2070'-2390')
and upper (2550'-2660'), all varieties were thinned by twenty percent,
bringing total yields to two tons per acre. The entire growing season
was a month earlier than usual; Monte Bello merlot was ripe by mid-
September, and harvest complete by the first week of October.
Each vineyard section was kept separate, and fermented on its own
yeast and malolactic culture. The average size of a fermentation was
equivalent to about four tons—more typical of Burgundy than
Bordeaux, where they tend to be much larger. Color was very deep,
and flavors ripe; all thirty-three parcels were candidates for inclusion in
the Monte Bello.
As was Ridge practice in the sixties and seventies, a portion of the
natural malolactics were carried out in barrel. The rest took place in
small tanks held at 68°—more characteristic of the eighties and early
nineties. Ninety percent of the wine was aged in new, air-dried
american oak from eight different coopers, both french and american.
The remaining ten percent aged in new french oak—from two different
regions and two different french coopers. This experimentation with
french oak has been part of Ridge winemaking since 1971. Each year,
it has served to question, and to re-confirm, our commitment to airdried
american oak.
In the final selection, forty-five percent of the Monte Bello wines
were held out of the assemblage; the finished wine therefore
represents fifty-five percent of the vineyards' total production."
Paul Draper
1997 Ridge "Monte Bello"
85% cabernet sauvignon, 8% merlot, 4% petit verdot, 3% cabernet franc. The crop level was around two tons per acre, which was the highest ever at this estate, and the alcohol is 12.9%. "The abundant `97 vintage is one of the ripest of the nineties".
The wine is medium to full-bodied with a rich and intense fruit. A basket of ripe black fruits, mint, coffee&dark chocolate and mineral notes.
Impeccable balance and elegance! A great honour and joy to drink this californian legend. BTW, several years ago I meet Mr. Draper in Berlin, a very charismatic winemaker. Last but not least, give `97 Monte Bello at least 10 more years.
92-93+pts.
soll davon nicht getrübt sein. Ridge macht eigentlich fast durchweg wunderbare Weine. Auch die Zinfandel sind beeindruckend, obwohl ich mich ganz sicher nicht zur Zin-Fangemeinde zählen würde. Ridge ist ein sehr gutes Beispiel, dass auch riesige Weingüter fantastische Weine in fast allen Preisregionen produzieren können. Nun gut, wirklich billige, besser kostengünstige, Weine gibt es meines Wissens eingentlich weniger. Das ist mir in dem Fall auch Wurst! Toller Bericht 
. Ja diese AT Programme sind so ne Sache...