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The Winter 2016 Auction
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1 / 2Lot 2662
Estimate: $120
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Collection name
Reviews
96WSM
"The cool 2011 season turned out a pristine vintage of Monte Bello, made from cabernet (88 percent) grown on a limestone-inflected ridge high above Silicon Valley, blended with some merlot and cabernet franc. The team at Ridge let the fruit recover for two weeks following an early October storm before picking, and were more aggressive in their extraction than normal, drawing as much color and structure as possible from the delicate fruit. The aromas revolve around oak at firstâanise, wood smoke, cedar bark and cinnamonâbut the woodâs contribution is fine and integrated, shading gradually toward bright fruit as the finish lengthens with floral aromas and the tang of tiny, concentrated black currants. Itâs even better with a day of air, as the tannins turn to velvet, allowing red-fruited acidity to take the lead and brighten the wineâs savory, pungent sous bois tones of wet wood and forest mushrooms. Supremely elegant and polished, itâs a wine to put away and forget about for the next ten years or so. Its transparency it will suit game birds as much as beef."
Region
Red
Country
Score
"The cool 2011 season turned out a pristine vintage of Monte Bello, made from cabernet (88 percent) grown on a limestone-inflected ridge high above Silicon Valley, blended with some merlot and cabernet franc. The team at Ridge let the fruit recover for two weeks following an early October storm before picking, and were more aggressive in their extraction than normal, drawing as much color and structure as possible from the delicate fruit. The aromas revolve around oak at firstâanise, wood smoke, cedar bark and cinnamonâbut the woodâs contribution is fine and integrated, shading gradually toward bright fruit as the finish lengthens with floral aromas and the tang of tiny, concentrated black currants. Itâs even better with a day of air, as the tannins turn to velvet, allowing red-fruited acidity to take the lead and brighten the wineâs savory, pungent sous bois tones of wet wood and forest mushrooms. Supremely elegant and polished, itâs a wine to put away and forget about for the next ten years or so. Its transparency it will suit game birds as much as beef."
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The fourth-largest wine producer in the world, led by California. American fine wine is defined by ripe, expressive fruit and a spirit of innovation, with Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon among the most sought-after wines globally.
The world's most planted premium red grape, yielding deeply colored, tannic and structured wines with cassis, cedar and graphite notes. Firm tannins and acidity make it exceptionally age-worthy, whether as a varietal or the backbone of a Bordeaux blend.