2023 assemblage: 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot, and 1% Petite Verdot.

"2023 was a vintage of many challenges and was a true test of patience. It required stamina and clever decision making. Paul Draper told me that he thought that the 2023 vintage was the most unique and challenging he has seen in his 50+ years at Monte Bello.

In total, we fermented 122 individual small lots from 98 parcels. Picking was strategic, prioritizing the blocks with higher pH numbers. The lots ranged in size from 1 - 14 barrels. All varieties fermented out with incredible color, extraction and quality. Some of the best lots of the vintage are those which were picked toward the end of the harvest. The extra time allowed the vines to release their water and regain their balance of sugar, acid and tannins. Fortunately, the Bordeaux varieties were closer to normal for yields this year.

The first assemblage tasting took place on February 14th and resulted in a blend of nine lots. This "core" or base blend was used as our control for the second assemblage tasting. We looked at eight lots using our "in & out" method of tasting. We tasted each of the eight lots against the control, with one glass having the potential lot in the blend and one glass having the potential lot out of the blend (control wine only). These wines were tasted blind and rated by each of the ten tasters on the panel. Three of the wines stood out, showing clear Monte Bello potential, including a press fraction lot of cabernet sauvignon. At the end of the day, we had decided on our final blend which consists of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot, and 1% Petite Verdot.

In keeping with tradition, we end our second assemblage tasting with a blind comparison to older Monte Bello wines. We do this to confirm that our newly created blend is consistent in style and quality with past vintages of Monte Bello. The vintages tasted were a vertical of the 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 Monte Bello. The consensus was that the final 2023 Monte Bello assemblage blend is in line with the traditional style and high quality that Monte Bello is known for.

Despite the challenges of cool temperatures and rain, we are excited about the quality of the wines we have been able to make in 2023."

Trester Goetting, Monte Bello Winemaker (May 15th 2024)