Delete.
We are still drinking Chards from 1990-2010.
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Have you formed any opinions about the relative quality and ageability of the MB chard versus the estate? I enamored with the MB chards Iāve tried but the estate is easier to find.
Not who you asked, but from what Iāve had of young and mature MB Chards, most have a āfunnyā note I donāt care for. Maybe thatās a specific American oak they donāt use in their other winesā¦? The Estates, which Iāve had much more often, show (normal) oak on release, which integrates with maturity. At peak, they are among the best CA Chards. So, Iāve never bothered with the MB over the decades, and never had my mind changed (though a couple home runs got my attention, one mature and one youngish).
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Part of it was they (and Mount Eden) werenāt getting hype from critics or elsewhere (like wine fora). Laube under-rated SCM wine as a rule. Parker stopped rating Ridge when they took him at his word that he didnāt need to be provided samples to rate wines. Loyal customers aged and younger winos were buying the latest thing. So, Ridge and Mount Eden prices were stagnant. With Parker getting barraged with questions on his forum about the lack of Ridge reviews, and the Ridge staff getting the same, he ended up going for a tasting, with a vertical of MB plus a selection of current release wines (in 2010?) Ah, proper reviews. Then Galloni took over, loving these and other SCM wines. Attention was back, and prices started going up.
Another factor with Ridge is their newer, expanded plantings had gotten mature. The SCM Cab was crazy cheap, and insiders knew it was a steal, but the market didnāt. For the '01-'03 vintages they tried inserting a middle tier (Home Ranch), but marketed it terribly. Then they rebranded the SCM to āEstateā. Then created a new middle tier when there were suitable lots for their Historic Vineyard Series. (Oh, back in the day the young vine estate grapes went into a third tier for restaurants and Trader Joeās āCoast Rangeā.) The SCM Cabs had been $20. The current release Estate Cab is $85.
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I just entered my allocation, also 4 bottles, but since I have the luxury of living in CA my cost all-in is $193.75
For anyone interested in freeing up capital, I have interest for a 750ml and 1.5L of 2016 and 2019 Monte Bello as birth year wines for the girls. Right now they have Greer and Beta, and Iād like to toss in a couple Ridge in there. I can provide a shipping label.
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The Chicago Wine Company has a 2016 lot of 3 bottles currently on auction. Bid is $510 for the lot but move fast because the auction closes at 4pm today (Central Time I believe).
The Chicago Wine Company also has 12 bottles of 2019 in stock (non auction) but they are $239 ea. I donāt buy Monte Bello but this seems a bit steep.
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Yeah, I was considering that previously. Itās reaching the point where the futures price isnāt an automatic bargain, you may find it comparable at retail.
Yup, one more decent price increase and Iām out - the prices are going up so fast at the winery they are quickly catching up to aftermarket. Iām going to watch carefully
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Fwiw, Ridge offered 2016 MB today for something like $375.
Saw that, nice try, Ridge
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Ridge has always charged a high price when they offer older vintages.
-Al
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Yep. I think their high library price helps ensure their inventory while allowing access. It doesnāt work for a collector wanting to buy a bunch of bottles, but it works for things like an out of town visitor wanting a special bottle to bring to dinner.
This might be my last year with ridge cabs all together. Iāve been buying MB futures since 2010 and have a pretty healthy stash at this point. Iām guessing the 2023 will be in the $185/$190 range which would put it at north of $200 after tax in CA, which is probably when Iāll pull the rip cord.
The scm/estate cab is getting up there in price too. Iāve got vertical of 05-19, 05-07 are the scm estate and ridge switched to the estate cab with the 08. As Wes mentioned, those scm estate wines were in the $30 range originally and a great value. Even when they switched over to the estate cab, they only crept up a bit in price but have consistently ticked up over the past few years with a pretty sizable jump with the 2020.
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I agree with this. It also allows them to pour older vintages on site. When we last visited a few months ago in Healdsburg, they were pouring the 2018 and 2014 Monte Belloās, for $20 and $40, respectively. Last year, they were pouring the 2013 for $40 and it was spectacular, albeit very young.
I have to say, as Ridge is apparently increasing their own price for the Monte Bello, the aftermarket/auction price of Monte Bello seems to have been plummeting in recent years. Just from my own observation, you can find plenty of back vintages of the MB in the $200/bottle range. When you consider how long these need to age that seems highly competitive with the release price.
Iām skeptical that a comparatively acidic (as compared to lush Napa Valley cabs), cool weather, long aging Cab made in reasonable quantities could ever sustain really high end premium prices in the US cabernet market
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Where are prices āplummetingā? Every one I see, except for the recently released 2020, is selling well above its futures offering price.
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2019 available at bottle barn for $185, good price, basically the futures price when accounting for inflation
