4488: A Ridge Blog

I very recently had the opportunity to prepare, serve, and taste a rather preposterously fine vertical of Monte Bello: the 2011 first assemblage, a 2010 barrel sample, and the 2009, (which is in bottle, but not yet released), plus the 1978, the 1984, the 1985, and the 1992.

For a crazy inside-the-velvet-rope insider’s look at the very exclusive inner workings of preparing a tasting of this caliber, please consider viewing the following video …

And as to tasting notes; how best to describe this singular display of magic mojo juju funktasticness? Haiku, of course …

2011 Monte Bello

In these years, when winds
howl cold, and kindness cowers,
such focus, such pride.

2010 Monte Bello

Delivered, I knew
you already, small child; and
already so wise!

2009 Monte Bello

Tenor saxophone
says listen — king of Kansas —
I am the big Jazz.

–

1992 Monte Bello

Hummingbird stops to
simply sit, sees dawn kiss the
dew; such perfection.

1985 Monte Bello

Noir hero, hard-boiled,
this case defines you; now we
know your deep justice.

1984 Monte Bello

Can it be, with all
this soulful knowledge, you should
 still dance like a child?

1978 Monte Bello

What we all should strive
to be ; past striving. Not old,
not young, simply true.

Tags: 1978 Monte Bello, 1984 Monte Bello, 1985 Monte Bello, 1992 Monte Bello, 2009 monte bello, 2010 Monte Bello, 2011 Monte Bello, Monte Bello, Ridge Vineyards, tenor saxophone

This entry was posted on February 19, 2012 at 3:39 pm and is filed under Bordeaux varietals, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Monte Bello, Petit Verdot, Tasting Flights, Tasting Notes, Varietals & Blends, Video, Wine & Poetry. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.