Ridge Vineyards
Monte Bello
Santa Cruz Mountains AVA
2018
Vintage
Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
ABV
13.3%
Where it is, May 2026
Approaching Peak: drinkable, but best years are ahead.
In 2026, the wine is still young and primary. Dense cassis and graphite dominate, with tannins that remain firm and grippy. Drinkable now with 2+ hours of decanting, but you are opening a bottle that hasn't yet told you what it is. The oak is still visible. Another 4–6 years in the cellar and the secondary notes (cedar, dried tobacco, forest floor) will start to emerge.
The ‘18 Monte Bello.
One of California's longest-lived Cabernets. 2018 is a classically structured vintage built for the long haul.
Drinking window
Tasting note
Deep garnet core with a slowly receding purple rim. The nose leads with blackcurrant, iron, and crushed stone, layered over graphite and a whisper of sweet cedar from the American oak. On the palate, the wine is structured and vertical: firm but fine-grained tannins, bright acidity, and a mineral spine that runs from first sip to finish. Flavors of cassis, black plum, and bay leaf are supported by an earthy, almost savory undertow. The finish is long, saline, and already hinting at the complexity to come.
The 2018 vintage
2018 was a near-textbook vintage for the Santa Cruz Mountains: a long, cool growing season with no heat spikes and a late, even harvest. The resulting wines show classical proportions: moderate alcohol, vibrant acidity, and the kind of firm tannic architecture that defines Monte Bello's best ageable vintages. Paul Draper and his team often point to 2018 as sitting in the lineage of 2001 and 2013, wines that demand patience and reward it generously.
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), 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, rare
The wine's iron and graphite notes echo the Maillard crust, while firm tannins cut through the fat.
Slow-braised short ribs
Long-braised red meat softens the still-youthful tannins and brings out the wine's savory depth.
Aged Gruyère or Comté
Nutty, crystalline aged cheese mirrors the wine's mineral spine without overpowering its fruit.
Service & cellaring
- Serving Temp
- 62–64°F (16–18°C)
- Decanting
- 2–3 hours if opening in 2026. Beyond 2032, reduce to 45–60 minutes.
- 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.
Frequently Asked
Is 2018 Ridge Monte Bello ready to drink?
Technically yes, but it's not showing its best. In 2026 the wine is still in its primary phase with firm tannins. It will begin entering its peak window around 2030 and hold beautifully through 2042.
How long will 2018 Monte Bello age?
Based on the track record of prior classically structured Monte Bello vintages (2001, 2013), expect a 25–30 year aging curve. The projected drinking window runs from 2025 to 2048, with peak expression between 2030 and 2042.
Should I decant 2018 Monte Bello?
If you open a bottle in 2026, yes. 2 to 3 hours in a decanter. The wine is tightly wound and benefits significantly from air. From about 2032 onward, 45–60 minutes is typically enough.
What is the ideal storage temperature for Monte Bello?
Store at a consistent 55°F (13°C) with 60–70% humidity. Avoid temperature swings, which are far more damaging to long-term aging than a slightly warm but stable cellar.