It’s official for me. Cancelled my membership for Monte Bello.
Update : On the same day I cancel my Monte Bello membership I get added to the Rochioli Single Vineyard offer(been waiting 4 years), and I get my first Maybach offer.
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I had the 2019 recently. Quite a different animal to someone who grew up on mid 80s to 91 Monte Bello. Overwhelming wood. The quality is evident but whether it is worth the price is individual. I like more harmonious wines Just my $0.02.
Received a note from Ridge today informing me there will be no 2021 Estate Merlot. It all went into Monte Bello.
The result is you can swap in Jimsomare. Still have to buy three bottles.
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Looks like Ridge listened. Estate wines selection is now adjustable via self service on the web, and they added Jimsomare zin as an option.
Beat me to it 
Was surprised no one had mentioned it yet.
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Agreed. I had to go hunting for the thread.
I logged in to the site. The email stated you have full customization. That’s sorta true. You can customize your shipment but only with the Estate Cabernet, Estate Chardonnay and the Jimsomare Zinfandel. Has to be a minimum of three bottles between the three.
I’ll probably punt the Chardonnay and do two Jimsomare.
I was disappointed about the Merlot - I much prefer it to the Estate Cab. Also - the estate cab is $90??
Worse than that is the S/H for three pack is $39.
Yes, the only disagreement I had with OP was the 10 years. I think it is 20 years (at a minimum). Around that time, I feel that the oak integrates into the MB and the complexity of the wine starts to show. Fortunately I have a decent amount of MB going back to 1999 so I can open bottles I can enjoy from time to time.
Unfortunately, I only started tasting Mount Eden Cab about a little over two years ago (visited there when I was in California visiting my son) and I immediately fell in love with the wines. At my age it is hard to put away new wines for 20-30 years old, but I bought some 2007s and 2011s to get a head start.
I find MB and Mount Eden Cab to have a lot of similar flavors, but Mount Eden does not have the new oak that MB does. This means that I find Mount Eden Cab easier to drink earlier (although I feel guilty when I do so) while the MB really requires the 20+ years. My sense (remember I don’t have that much experience yet with Mount Eden Cab) is that for those (at least younger those) planning to stop buying MB futures but want something similar at a lower price, you could do a lot worse than trying Mount Eden Cabernet.
Had a bit of Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyards years ago. I think the only vintage I ever bought was 1980. When, after some maturity I finally drank them, I liked them a lot but no longer saw them locally and had other wine priorities. Wish I still had some.
But, still, with MB and Mount Eden I have to ask, are the best Napa Cabernet really made in the Santa Cruz Mountains?
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For those who are young, with more patience than money, I would point out that Sandar and Hem are now making Bates Ranch Cabernet.
I have tried some Sandar and Hem wines, but not a Cabernet and I find quality to be excellent. I would assume that a Bates Ranch Cab from them should have the qualities and ageability of those made by other winemakers from this great vineyard. Current release is 2020 for $58. If I was 50 instead of 77, I would be buying this for the cellar by the case.
Dan Kravitz
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Yes.
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O’Shaughnessy? (at least same level of value at Mt. Eden)
When I find mt eden less than retail pricing, I try to snag it. So far have some ‘16s and ‘18s to lay down for a long time. Also snagged some domaine eden as well, to drink while waiting for the others
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Mount Eden Cabernet used to be an incredible deal. BTW, Domaine Eden started out as an estate winery called Cinnabar, in a gorgeous spot above Saratoga. They planted cuttings derived from Chateau Margaux by way of Mount Eden (who got their cuttings from La Questa vineyard).
-Al
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Agree with the recco for Domaine Eden Cabernet. I would say the ageing curve is half that of Mount Eden and quality is consistently fine. Domaine Eden at 10 - 15 years begins to show some nice secondary aromas and flavors while Mount Eden takes much longer.
Dan Kravitz
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That’s some good stuff.
I’m going through stuff, getting ready for a move. I have several files of old wine offers, invoices, etc. I found this for the 1996 MB futures and thought I’d update this list. I’ll edit this if/when I find other older offerings.
- 1996: $50
- 2006: $80
- 2007: $80
- 2008: $80
- 2009: $80
- 2010: $85
- 2011: $90
- 2012: $95
- 2013: $98
- 2014: $105
- 2015: $110
- 2016: $115
- 2017: $124
- 2018: $132
- 2019: $141
- 2020: $145
- 2021: $155
- 2022: $175
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I can fill in 2000/2001 for you - both vintages were $65
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Thanks for posting this, very good illustration of how supply and demand have developed. ~25 years between the winery requiring to purchase half a case, minimum, and causing frustration by limiting allocations to four bottles per customer (drought year of course, but still).
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The average since 2010 is only 6% a year… it’s only when you’re looking at straight numbers (rather than % increase) that it seems like a lot.