"Baby Monte Bello"

$81.99 on 6+ (code: 6saves3)
$84.99 reg

In 1886 the first blocks of the Monte Bello vineyard were planted and construction on the winery begun. The first vintage was the 1892. In the early 1940s, the last of the old vineyard was abandoned; in the late forties a few blocks were replanted. Those cabernet vines—now over sixty-five years old—produced the first Ridge Monte Bello (1962) and subsequent vintages until 1974. By then other abandoned blocks had been replanted and their fruit considered for use in the Monte Bello. A number of those consistently produced a more accessible wine that developed its full complexity earlier, and these were combined as the “Santa Cruz Mountains.” With the 2008 vintage, the name of this stylistically distinct wine became the Ridge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, stressing the principal varietal and the Monte Bello estate vineyard as its source.

• 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot
• 13.3% abv
• Fermentation: Grapes de-stemmed, and sorted; 100% whole berries fermented on the native yeasts.
• Barrels: 100% air-dried American oak barrels (50% new and 50% one year old).
• Aging: Nineteen months in barrel
• Hand-harvested, estate-grown grapes; destemmed and sorted; fermented on indigenous yeast; calcium carbonate; full malolactic on the naturally occurring bacteria; minimum effective sulfur (35 ppm at crush,158 ppm during aging). In keeping with our philosophy of minimal intervention, this is the sum of our actions.

Owen Bargreen.com: 95 Points “This 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the Monte Bello Vineyard and combines 84% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder Merlot. Stored in mainly American oak with coconut and black currants that combine with mocha, tar and beautiful dark florals. The palate is soft and refined with beautiful elegance. Deep and rich, with wonderful structure and a generous core of saline drenched dark fruits, pipe tobacco and escrows grounds, this is a glorious effort that will drink well for another fifteen plus years. Drink 2024-2040.” – Owen Bargreen (May 2024)

Robert Parker Wine Advocate: 92+ Points “Blended with 16% Merlot and bottled at 13.3% alcohol, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is immediately layered and expressive on the nose. Aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, cocoa nibs and charred wood lead to a vibrant, satiny palate that is fresh and light on its feet. The finish combines juicy, muddled berry flavors with tense, chocolaty tannins of good length. This is delicious already but should improve for the next decade.” -Matthew Luczy (April 2024)