Ridge, Santa Cruz Mountains (California) 2016

 I tasted this wine twice —  once as a stand-alone, and once in a blind flight where, unbeknownst to me, it was alongside another 2016 wine I recently gave a perfect score.  While I was inclined to give this the big number initially, the blind flight served to confirm it.  I scored both wines equally when tasting blind, and I’d give a personal preferential nod to the Monte Bello.  It’s so quintessentially California in every way, in what you might call the old school style that only a handful of producers continue to embrace.  There’s plenty of fruit, but the balance of spice and herb tones that join in make for a wine of depth, energy and finesse that few can match.  It’ll likely outlive me – and I’m not THAT old.  Classic in every sense!   Contains 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 10% Petite Verdot and 6% Cabernet Franc.  13.7% ABV.