1 dozen bottles per lot
Details
Ridge Vineyards, Monte Bello, Cabernet Sauvignon--Vintage 1996
Santa Cruz
In two six-bottle original wooden cases
The 1996 Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello (80 Cabernet Sauvignon, 11 Merlot, and 9 Petit Verdot that reached 13.4 alcohol) represents a severe selection of only 40 of the vineyard's crop. A blockbuster, powerful, concentrated Monte Bello, it possesses an opaque purple color, plenty of spicy oak in the nose (100 American oak has always been used for aging Monte Bello), and a deep, layered, concentrated style. There is plenty of tannin, but it is sweeter than that found in the 1997, and the wine is more concentrated and extracted. There is a touch of oak in the flavors, which are otherwise dominated by minerals and jammy black fruits. This is a terrific Monte Bello that will have 30+ years of life. Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #120 (Dec 1998)
1 dozen bottles per lot
Santa Cruz
In two six-bottle original wooden cases
The 1996 Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello (80 Cabernet Sauvignon, 11 Merlot, and 9 Petit Verdot that reached 13.4 alcohol) represents a severe selection of only 40 of the vineyard's crop. A blockbuster, powerful, concentrated Monte Bello, it possesses an opaque purple color, plenty of spicy oak in the nose (100 American oak has always been used for aging Monte Bello), and a deep, layered, concentrated style. There is plenty of tannin, but it is sweeter than that found in the 1997, and the wine is more concentrated and extracted. There is a touch of oak in the flavors, which are otherwise dominated by minerals and jammy black fruits. This is a terrific Monte Bello that will have 30+ years of life. Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #120 (Dec 1998)
1 dozen bottles per lot