I would like to try to put together a fairly comprehensive Ridge event, with particular focus on the Monte Bellos.There are a lot wines (in fact I just bought some some early Chardonnays and Zinfandels grown at Monte Bello). Although a few should be included, the emphasis will be on the Cabernets.
Possibles
Mark G + 2:
1985 Ridge Monte Bello Cabernet
1978 Ridge Monte Bello Zinfandel
1974 Ridge Monte Bello Zinfandel
1973 Ridge Monte Bello Chardonnay
1974 Ridge Monte Bello Chardonnay
1976 Ridge Monte Bello Chardonnay
Mark Franks
Craig Ganzer +1 1978
Peter Metzger 1994 or 1996
Cindy and Gary
Mark Jahnke
Mike Pogeba
Chris Kravitz
Steve Eisenhauer From 84, 85, 90, 96. 97. 99 and 01-06.
Jay Hack +1 1987
Mike Reff
Jeff Lewis
D. Zylberberg
Mike Shor
H. Sauer 92/94/96 Montebello
Jon lawrence 1991 + 1984 and 1993
As each person tells me what they have, will add them to this post. Then we will see what the gaps are, and fill a few.
How does May 4th work for everybody?
I want in. Unfortunately I own no RMB . However I have a friend that used to be a broker for Ridge and has a crazy large collection of MB, I’ll see if he is interested, he’d be good to have at the tasting, he knows more about Ridge than you can imagine…going back to the beginning.
Great idea. I just placed a couple bids on the AMC Internet auction for 1980s and 1990s vintage lots of Monte Bello. I’m sfraid all the old vintages I used to own are long gone.
Possibles
Mark G +2
Mark Franks
Peter Metzger
Cindy and Gary
Mark Jahnke
Mike Pogeba
Chris Kravitz
Steve Eisenhauer
Jay Hack
Mike Reff
Next thing is to firm up a date and then see what wines we have available. Do we want to do it around the Beserker event and do it towards the end of April.
I would be very interested in this event (indeed, I registered just to post this message). I’d have to source anything older, unless I can convince my girlfriend to return to me the 1993 I gave her as a gift earlier this year.
EDIT: I have to note, in the most recent AMC online auction, I put what I thought was a reasonable bid for the lot of 81,90, and 91 MB, slightly above low estimate (which is generally where MB has sold in the online AMC auctions). I was kind of miffed to find the bidding go up to high estimate- I’ve been enjoying the reasonable prices on MB at the AMC auctions cause its me and my girlfriend’s favorite wine (I brought a 1993 to a BYO place on a second date without telling her it was fancy, and she took one sip and…needless to say, we’re still dating 3 years later). Anyways, 1981 is my birthyear, so I was very interested in the lot and couldn’t figure out why the bidding went so high when the condition of the wines didn’t sound that remarkable. Now I look on this thread and realize that you guys were probably bidding against me!
I did not get the lot either. I had already discussed it with Mark and I was bidding to buy the three bottles for this event, but someone outbid me and when I tried to get back in to buy the lot at the last minute, AMC’s server crashed. Well, I got 3 bottles of the 1987, and I will have those available for this event if it happens. My uncle has been buying Montebello for 20+ years and maybe I can get an older bottle from him, and there’s always next month’s auction, but you guys had better stay out of my way because I do not take kindly to being outbid. I’m still trying to find out who Michel22 is so I can kick him in the ass. Abood claims it’s not him. Anyone know who Italophile is? He spiked me at the last minute on a lot I need for the Lugeresque dinner and I need to use a champagne sabre on his chin.
. However I have a friend that used to be a broker for Ridge and has a crazy large collection of MB, I’ll see if he is interested, he’d be good to have at the tasting, he knows more about Ridge than you can imagine…going back to the beginning.