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 caber¬net 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 replant¬ed 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.
Fermentaion: Grapes destemmed, and sorted; 100% whole berries fermented on the native yeasts. Pressed at five days. Natural malolactic initiated in tank, finished in barrel with additional 12 weeks of lees contact. Barrels: 100% air-dried american oak barrels (35% new, 20% one year old, and 45% two years old). Aged seventeen months in barrel
77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc
Saturated purple in color. Aromas of cassis, blueberry, cola, licorice, and sweet oak. Ripe blackberry fruit entry, full bodied, rich textures, exotic spice and toasted oak. Complex, long, sensuous finish.
The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Monte Bello Vineyard is blended with 21% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. The nose is still tightly wound, taking plenty of air to reveal deep aromas of cassis, tobacco, licorice and coffee with top notes of violet and graphite. The palate is full-bodied and powerful, with a firm grain and concentrated fruits, and it finishes very long, layered and uplifted. This will require more time in bottle than the Klein Cabernet. 4,250 cases produced.
94 points Erin Brooks robertparker.com Drink 2022-2035
Product/Service Sold Out | Yes |
---|---|
En Primeur | No |
New Arrivals | No |
Wine Type | Red Wine |
Wine Style | Certified Organic |
Country | USA |
Region | Sonoma Country |
Varietals | Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot |
Vintage | 2017 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Wine Points | 94-95 |