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Santa Cruz Mountains

Santa Cruz Mountains AVA includes high elevation territory in the counties of Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and San Mateo. The AVA follows the coast line from San Francisco to Monterey with elevations from 400 feet to 3,000 feet above sea level. There are 1,500 vineyard acres and the AVA was established in 1981. Despite the challenging terrain in these rugged mountains and hills, highly esteemed wineries have been located here since the early 20th century, when Paul Masson, a Frenchman by birth, started making sparkling wine in the area. By the 1970s vineyards were growing Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Numerous microclimates within the AVA offer viticulturists diverse growing conditions, and many varietals are grown successfully.

1967 Ridge Monte Bello

Capsule condition issue; top shoulder fill; heavy label condition issue

1967 Ridge Monte Bello

Capsule condition issue; mid shoulder fill; label condition issue

1976 Ridge Monte Bello

Light capsule condition issue; base neck fill; light label condition issue

WA  92   
MB  ****   

1985 Ridge Monte Bello

Light capsule condition issue; very top shoulder fill; light label condition issue

WS  95   
ST  95   
RP  94   

1993 Mount Eden Estate Chardonnay

Light label condition issue

ST  92   

1994 Ridge Monte Bello

Light label condition issue

ST  95   
WS  93   
RP  90   

1994 Mount Eden Estate Chardonnay

Light label condition issue

RP  92   

1995 Mount Eden Estate Chardonnay

Light capsule condition issue; light label condition issue

WS  91   

1996 Mount Eden Estate Chardonnay

Light capsule condition issue; 3 cm ullage; light label condition issue

RP  95   
WS  91   

1998 Mount Eden Estate Chardonnay

3 cm ullage; light label condition issue

1999 Mount Eden Estate Chardonnay

Light label condition issue

WS  91   

2001 Clos LaChance Pinot Noir

2001 Clos LaChance Pinot Noir

Light label condition issue

2002 Mount Eden Estate Chardonnay

Light capsule condition issue; 3 cm ullage; light label condition issue

RP  92   
WS  90   
ST  90   

2003 Ridge Monte Bello

RP  94+    
JS  94   
ST  92+    
JR  17.5   

2003 Mount Eden Estate Chardonnay

Light label condition issue

RP  90   
ST  90+    

2003 Clos LaChance Pinot Noir

2 available
Bid *

2008 Ridge Monte Bello

WA  97+    
VN  97+    
JS  95   
WS  92   

2008 Mount Eden Estate Chardonnay

3 cm ullage; light label condition issue

WA  95   
WS  95   
VN  93   
WS  #13 of 2011   

2009 Rhys Horseshoe Vineyard Syrah

WA  93   
VN  93   

2009 Mount Eden Cabernet Sauvignon

Lightly elevated cork

VN  93   

2009 Mount Eden Estate Chardonnay

Light capsule condition issue; lightly depressed cork; label condition issue

WS  94   
WA  93   
WS  #26 of 2012   

2010 Ridge Monte Bello

375ml

WA  96+    
VN  96   

2010 Mount Eden Cabernet Sauvignon

VN  94+    

2010 Mount Eden Estate Chardonnay

3 cm ullage; light label condition issue

VN  93