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Tasting notes
What a treat it was to share this bottle with Paul and Maureen Draper and Mel Knox over lunch outside Cotogna in San Francisco on Nick's birthday. This was the vintage Draper wished had featured in the Judgment of Paris rather than the earlier-maturing 1971. It was completely stunning – everything you want a mature bordeaux blend to be, with the backbone of Cabernet and every nuance you could wish for. Sweet fruit but a ramrod straight back of structure and lots of little herby notes round the edges. Still very much alive, and kicking. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
The 1970 Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello showed a fresher, pure, elegant style with impressive depth of fruit, medium to full body, beautiful balance, and a great perfume of black fruits, licorice, and graphite. It’s a gorgeous expression of Santa Cruz Mountains and is a complete, perfectly balanced, classic Monte Bello drinking at point.
Brought to the Cafe Boulud celebration lunch by fellow wine writer Antonio Galloni. Dark crimson and shaded. Very like the 1985 with its graphite. So much more fruit than virtually any 1970 red bordeaux!!!! Not fleshy or sweet but with quite enough density. (JR)
Tragically, corked. (AH)
About the producer
Best known for its iconic Monte Bello, Ridge Vineyards makes some of California’s finest wines – particularly Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel. Long a pioneer of sustainable farming and minimal-intervention winemaking, Ridge makes an extensive range from Sonoma County and the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Product details
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc
Red
Dry