Monte Bello – 2008 and way back

Eric Baugher, winemaker at the estimable Ridge Vineyards south of San Francisco, happened to mentioned to his boss Paul Draper that he was planning a holiday trip in Bordeaux. The result was that for the first time ever we Brits were treated to a tasting of their flagship, single-vineyard Bordeaux blend Monte Bello before bottling. The 2008 was supplemented by some other recent vintages – 2005, 2004, 2003 and 1998 – currently available in the UK via importers Morris & Verdin. I have added the odd supplementary fairly recent tasting note of vintages I happen to have tried recently.

High...