2004 Ridge Vineyards "Monte Bello" Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Sauvignon

SKU #1032562 91-94 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Ruby-red. Brooding aromas of cassis, blackberry, minerals, bitter chocolate, tobacco and fresh herbs. Fat, broad and sweet, with nicely integrated acidity and complex hints of leather, herbs, licorice, chocolate and minerals. This cheek-coating wine is a bit more filled in than the 2003 release. Finishes with superfine tannins and lovely subtle persistence. (ST) (9/2006)

94 points Wine & Spirits

Ridge grows one of the most distinctive cabernets in California at its Monte Bello estate. This vintage represents a selection of 38 percent of the crop, which itself had been naturally restricted by lower than average rainfall, particularly in winter. Ridge doesn't irrigate these vines-nor do they inoculate the juice to start fermentation, which yielded a modest 13.2 percent alcohol in 2004. The fractured limestone in the soil provided just enough moisture to grow this elegant cabernet, with flavors of wild black cherries and black currants. It feels balanced and firm, dense while weightless, a beauty that will mature for two decades from the vintage, perhaps longer. (12/2007)

93 points Vinous

Readers looking for a Monte Bello that is ready to drink should consider the 2004. Just beginning to enter its early plateau of maturity, the 2004 is in a beautiful spot right now. Sweet tobacco, smoke, cedar, licorice and leather meld into a core of dark fruit. The 2004 won't last forever, but it does have enough depth to age beautifully for the another decade, perhaps more. A distinctly floral/savory finish rounds things out nicely. (AG) (7/2014)

91 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

A lighter, more elegant example of Monte Bello, the finesse-styled 2004 does not possess the power one normally sees in this wine. It offers pure fruit, a pretty, St.-Julien-like style, notes of cedar, spice box, herbs, background oak, and red as well as black currants, and silky tannin. It is capable of lasting 15-20 years. (RP) (2/2010)

Jancis Robinson

Particularly dark and dense - strongly marked by Cabernet aromas yet very graceful tannins as well as being so ambitious. Very virile. 19/20 points (JR) (3/2010)

K&L Notes

76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc.