The Monte Bello vineyard is located in the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA. Ridge practices natural, low-tech winemaking, using native yeasts, small fermentors, and air-dried American oak barrels. The Monte Bello Estate, at an elevation of 2,300 feet, is considered the spiritual home of Ridge. Ridge’s flagship Monte Bello historically has borne comparison to two Bordeaux first growths, Haut-Brion and Latour; that most certainly is the case with the 2019 vintage. The hot bricks aromas characteristic of Haut-Brion are here, and they are supplemented by slight herbal notes. The palate shows intense cassis fruit with a noble austerity of texture and structure brought about by plenty of tannin and acid — and thus evoking the comparison with Latour. This vintage has a significantly higher percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon than usual at 82% (along with 9% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot, and 1% Cabernet Franc), thus making the Latour comparison even stronger. Some will enjoy drinking the wine already for the ebullience of its fruit, but for maximum pleasure, I’d wait at least a decade.