Masters of Wine Visit Monte Bello – RIDGE VINEYARDS

We were honored to host 48 Masters of Wine from all over the world on Sunday, October 21st as part of their extensive California Dreamin’ tour. The visit began with a tour of the historic Monte Bello winery.

We then returned to the Torre Barn, the current location of our tasting room, to taste several vintages of Monte Bello.

MW Matt Deller offered his thoughts on the wines via Twitter:

2015 Ridge Monte Bello blackberry, peat, blackurrant leaf, potpourri, graphite, fresh, crunchy, granitic structure, dense with strong chewy tannins #ridgevineyards #Californiawine #mastersofwine #MWTour
— Matt Deller MW (@DellerWine) October 22, 2018

2005 Ridge Monte Bello (1 tonne per acre) beef tea, cured meats, black tea, red & black fruits, brooding, serious & structured, granitic, fresh, strong chalk tannins #ridgevineyards #Californiawine #mastersofwine #mwtour
— Matt Deller MW (@DellerWine) October 22, 2018

1995 Ridge Monte Bello sandlewood, black tea, blackberry leaf, potpourri, balsamic, seriously tannic and structured, good density #ridgevineyards #californiawine #mastersofwine #MWTour
— Matt Deller MW (@DellerWine) October 22, 2018

1985 Ridge Monte Bello mahogany, incense, cedar, sandalwood, rose petals, rustic, structured, steely acidity, tight, dense, monumental tannins, immortal #ridgevineyards #californiawine #MastersofWine #MWTour
— Matt Deller MW (@DellerWine) October 22, 2018

1975 Ridge Monte Bello elegant, beautiful, potpourri, black tea, rose petal, really pretty and tannins are relatively gentle, still good flesh & energy, wonderful and long #ridgevineyards #californiawine #MastersofWine #MWtour
— Matt Deller MW (@DellerWine) October 22, 2018

1965 Ridge Monte Bello delicate, fragrant, sandalwood, Jamon iberico, anise, rose petal, ethereal, black tea tannins, still vibrant #mwtour #ridgevineyards #californiawine #MastersofWine #
— Matt Deller MW (@DellerWine) October 22, 2018

2013 Ridge Lytton Springs plum, violets, blackberry leaf, licorice, crisp and fresh with rich chewy tannins #ridgevineyards #mastersofwine #californiawine #MWTour
— Matt Deller MW (@DellerWine) October 22, 2018

1999 Ridge Lytton Springs roasting game meats, soy sauce, marmite, exotic spice, fresh and vibrant lots of energy and verve, juicy, quite refined black tea tannins #ridgevineyards #californiawine #mastersofwine #MWTour
— Matt Deller MW (@DellerWine) October 22, 2018

2013 Ridge Geyserville: herby, redcurrant, cranberry, rhubarb, licorice, exotic spice, fleshy but fresh, crunchy, chewy tannins #ridgevineyards #californiawine #mastersofwine #mwtour
— Matt Deller MW (@DellerWine) October 22, 2018

1995 Ridge Geyserville prosciutto, bouquet garni, amaro, black tea, still incredibly fresh and lively with great energy and nice flesh, chewy, chalky tannins #ridgevineyards #mastersofwine #californiawine #MWTour
— Matt Deller MW (@DellerWine) October 22, 2018

Following the tasting, the group gathered at the knoll for dinner. At 2,300 feet elevation, the location was a perfect spot to conclude such an amazing evening.

A truly wonderful evening at @ridgevineyards Monte Bello with their amazing team led by Paul Draper. Tasting older vintages back to 1965 and a fantastic dinner overlooking the Silicon Valley. #ridgevineyards #californiawines #californiaroadtrip #mastersofwine #mwtour pic.twitter.com/XDQUoJq0f8
— Lenka Sedlackova MW (@Lenkster) October 22, 2018