2009 Ridge Vineyards, Monte Bello, Santa Cruz Mountains, California, USA

The 2009 Monte Bello is poured blind from magnum. It is lavish and youthful on the nose; a veneer of luxuriant new oak is proportionate to the concentrated fruit behind it with irresistible vanillary black fruit, cassis and violets. The palate is pure and concentrated, satin-like in texture and glossy merely by dint of its youth. This is a decade at least from its drinking window, but the quality is evident, and the purity on the Margaux-like finish is exquisite. Gorgeous. Tasted at Burns & German's dinner to celebrate The Complete Bordeaux Vintage Guide book at Medlar. Drink 2030 - 2060Neil Martin, Vinous.com.com (September 2023)

The 2009 Monte Bello, 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot is simply magnificent. Layers of dark red fruit, flowers, spices and graphite are all woven together in this utterly impeccable wine. The 2009 is an especially huge, intense Monte Bello, yet a sexy, silky core of fruit lies within its imposing frame. Everything comes together in this glorious, radiant wine. Last year the 2009 had some pretty stiff competition from the 2010, but today it is simply firing on all cylinders. Eric Baugher describes 2009 as a year with cold weather early on, followed by heat in early June and July. The fruit was brought in on October 12, just before an intense downpour swept through the region. There is a purity and silkiness supported by structure in the 2009 that is impossible not to admire. Simply put, this is another utterly magnificent, towering masterpiece from Ridge.Drink 2019 - 2049antonio_galloni, Wine Advocate (August 2012)

The 2009 Monte Bello feels very ripe and lush in its first impression, but the tannins have not softened all that much yet. Game, smoke, licorice and leather gradually open up with a bit of aeration. The 2009 is endowed with tremendous depth of fruit, but the equally imposing tannins need time to soften. All of this fruit was picked before the mid-October rains.Drink 2024 - 2049antonio_galloni, Vinous.com.com (June 2019)