1986 Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon | Santa Cruz Mountains | 750ml

The 1986 Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon is a rare mature vintage from one of California’s most historic and collectible wine estates. Produced in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Ridge Monte Bello is known for structure, elegance, longevity, and a style often compared to classic Bordeaux.

The 1986 vintage delivers a developed expression of Monte Bello, combining dark fruit, savory complexity, mineral depth, and polished age. With decades in bottle, this wine shows classic mature Cabernet character with cassis, cedar, tobacco, leather, graphite, and earthy detail.

On the nose, expect cassis, blackberry, plum, dried cherry, cedar, tobacco, leather, graphite, dried herbs, spice, and subtle earth. The palate is mature and structured, showing dark fruit, refined tannins, polished oak, mineral notes, savory herbs, and a long balanced finish.

The 1986 Ridge Monte Bello 750ml is ideal for collectors, birth-year gifting, anniversary celebrations, private cellars, and lovers of aged California Cabernet. Its historic producer, Monte Bello vineyard pedigree, and mature vintage profile make it a standout bottle for serious wine collections.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Cassis, blackberry, plum, dried cherry, cedar, tobacco, leather, graphite, herbs, and spice
• Palate: Mature dark fruit, polished oak, mineral depth, savory herbs, refined tannins, and earth
• Finish: Long, elegant, structured, and mature with lingering cedar, tobacco, graphite, spice, and black fruit

Product Details

• Type: Red Wine
• Style: California Cabernet Sauvignon
• Producer: Ridge Vineyards
• Expression: Monte Bello
• Vintage: 1986
• Region: Santa Cruz Mountains
• State: California
• Country: United States
• Bottle Size: 750ml
• Taste Profile: Mature, structured, dark-fruited, earthy, mineral, savory, and collectible

Why You’ll Love It

• Mature 1986 Ridge Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon
• Collectible California wine from the Santa Cruz Mountains
• Historic estate with strong reputation for age-worthy Cabernet
• Developed profile with cassis, cedar, tobacco, leather, graphite, and spice
• Excellent for collectors, anniversaries, birth-year gifting, and cellar placement
• A refined alternative for lovers of mature Bordeaux-style reds

Serving Recommendation

Serve at around 60–65°F. Because this is a mature vintage bottle, allow it to stand upright before opening. Decant gently only if sediment is present, and let the wine evolve slowly in the glass.

Food Pairing

Pairs beautifully with dry-aged steak, roasted lamb, prime rib, duck, veal, braised short ribs, mushroom risotto, truffle dishes, aged cheddar, and classic steakhouse cuisine.