Ridge Vineyards
Monte Bello
Santa Cruz Mountains AVA
2015
Vintage
Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
ABV
Where it is, June 2026
At Peak: in the heart of its drinking window (2025-2045).
In 2026 the wine is inside its peak window and just starting to open. The tightly wound cassis-and-espresso character is softening, and the secondary notes (plum, black tea, and baking chocolate) are beginning to emerge. Decant 90 minutes to 2 hours for best current expression. There are 20 years of peak ahead.
The ‘15 Monte Bello.
From a celebrated vintage of one of California's longest-lived Cabernets: structured, mineral, and built for the multi-decade arc.
Drinking window
Tasting note
Deep garnet with a slowly receding crimson rim. The nose leads with cassis, blackcurrant, iron, and crushed stone, layered over graphite and a whisper of sweet cedar from the American oak. The palate is full-bodied with firm but fine-grained tannins (8/10) and bright acidity (7/10) that keeps the wine vertical. Cassis, black plum, and bay leaf are supported by an earthy, savory undertow. The finish is long, saline, and finishes on a note of warm stone and dark chocolate.
The 2015 vintage
2015 in the Santa Cruz Mountains produced wines of structured, classical proportions: moderate alcohol, vibrant acidity, and the kind of firm tannic architecture that defines Monte Bello's best ageable vintages. Ridge's American-oak aging program particularly suited the vintage's restraint.
About Ridge Vineyards
Ridge Vineyards has produced Monte Bello from the same ridgeline above Cupertino since 1962. The wine is fermented with native yeasts, aged in American oak (a Ridge hallmark, in contrast to the French-oak norm of most premium California Cabernet), and bottled with minimal intervention. Monte Bello is one of only a handful of California wines with a genuine multi-decade aging track record.
From the cellar: pair with
Dry-aged ribeye with bone marrow
The wine's iron and graphite notes echo the Maillard crust, while firm tannins cut through the marrow's richness.
Slow-braised short ribs with wild mushroom jus
Long-braised red meat softens the still-firm tannins and brings out the wine's savory depth.
Aged Comté with walnut bread
Nutty, crystalline aged cheese mirrors the wine's mineral spine without overpowering its structure.
Service & cellaring
- Serving Temp
- 62-64°F (16-18°C)
- Decanting
- 90 minutes to 2 hours in 2026. By 2032, 45-60 minutes is sufficient.
- Cellar Storage
- 55°F (13°C) with 60-70% humidity, bottle on its side.
The drinking window on this bottle is calculated with the Cellared Ageability Index (CAI) v1.0, a 10-factor model. Try the free drinking window calculator on any wine, or read when to drink wine for the practical signals.
More Cabernet Sauvignon
Frequently Asked
Is 2015 Ridge Monte Bello ready to drink?
Yes. The wine entered its peak window in 2025 and is showing beautifully in 2026 with proper decanting. The peak runs through approximately 2045. There is no rush.
How long will 2015 Monte Bello age?
Top Monte Bello vintages routinely age 30+ years. The 2015 has the structure to match: expect peak between 2025 and 2045, with graceful decline through 2055.
Should I decant 2015 Monte Bello?
Yes. 90 minutes to 2 hours in 2026. The wine is approachable but still structured enough to reward significant air. By 2032, 45-60 minutes will be enough.
Why does Ridge use American oak instead of French?
Ridge has used American oak for Monte Bello since the 1960s as a deliberate stylistic choice. American oak imparts notes of sweet cedar, dill, and coconut that French oak does not, and it interacts differently with Cabernet's tannin profile. The result is a Monte Bello signature that is distinct from French-oak-aged California Cabernet.