The grapes from this wine come from the same vineyard as the famous Monte Bello. The winemaking team at Ridge noted that grapes from some vineyard blocks produced precocious wines that were approachable and showed more complexity earlier than the star. They started bottling the wine as the Estate Cabernet Sauvignon in 2008. It is a supple and approachable wine, with the complexity, but not the weight the Monte Bello. Lots of rich, ripe black currant and a slight herbal note.
Ridge Vineyards, Santa Cruz Mountains (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
By Rebecca Murphy