1980-1996 Ridge Monte Bello Vertical

[Bucko]

In a continuing effort to destroy a plethora of brain and liver cells, we opened a 1980-1996 Monte Bello vertical over the holidays, not once but twice.

We were among four wine couple friends celebrating the holidays at Acacia's guest house in Carneros for three days. A lot of very nice wines were opened, culminating in the vertical tasting.

From Carneros, Carole and I headed up to the OR coast, where we stayed with more wine friends at their beach home, along with two other couples. What a nice way to see in the millennium. We toasted in the New Year with old Bordeaux wines and 83 Dom, then opened the Monte Bello vertical the next day.

Not surprisingly, the notes were very consistent between the two groups. I will not bore you with tedious notes, rather the stars
and the duds of the tastings:

The clear duds of the vertical -- 1980, 1981, 1982. All were thin, tart and tannic, offering little pleasure.

The clear standouts were the 1984, 1985, and 1990. 1990 was the overall winner in both groups. These wines were just stunning.

The most controversial - 1986. Many people thought that I had slipped in a Bordeaux ringer.

Overall, an interesting vertical. Happy New Year to all.

Bucko

[winoweenie]

Gracious Bucko, I`m sure that if you had a more diverse group of tasters, the results would have been more conclusive. ( I`m always available on short notice ) Don`t know of a heck of a lot of 80-81-or 82`s that have held up. ( or 83`s ). I`ve managed to drink every bottle from those forgettable vintages that was cellared. Happy !! Winoweenie