96 points, “True to the vineyard’s mountain site, up to 814m (2,670ft} in altitude, exposed to the cold Pacific, the wine has vivid cassis purity and a touch of green sage. 16 months in 58% new American oak may have rounded the edges of the wine, but none of that oak shows up in the wine’s flavour—exquisite structure and balance. Ridge’s Estate Cabernets come from old blocks in the Monte Bello Vineyard, but blocks that Paul Draper and John Olney feel tend to produce a wine that’s more accessible young than the blocks used for Ridge’s top wine, Monte Bello. Be that as it may, the Estate Cabernet blend comprised of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot and 1% Petite Verdot drinks like a sophisticated age-worthy wine.” – Decanter
Now here’s a complex drop from Ridge. The Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is considered the second wine to the immense Monte Bello. The 2019 is a rich and dark affair. Think black cherry, black tea, black plum, blackberry, black olive, dark chocolate, graphite, leather, roasted meat, vanilla, mint, cedar, blood orange, pomegranate, dried herbs, exotic spices and toasted oak. There’s so much joy to be found by just pouring a glass and slowly picking apart all the flavours and aromas. We recommend decanting this for an hour or so, or tucking it into the cellar for five years.
The wines produced at Ridge Vineyards have transcended their cult following to now rival Bordeaux First Growths and Grand Cru Burgundy in quality and demand. The vineyard at Monte Bello Ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains was first planted in 1885 and changed hands several times before being abandoned. That was until four engineer friends from Stanford Research Institute bought it in 1959. Paul Draper was appointed winemaker at Ridge Vineyards in 1969, despite never being formally trained in either vine growing or winemaking. Paul always had a strong belief in the importance of terroir and a passion for the European way of making wine. Today, he’s one of the best-known and most highly regarded winemakers in the world, proven by him being named ‘Winemaker’s Winemaker’ by the Institute of Masters of Wine.
Ridge Vineyard – found in one of the coldest terroirs in California – shot to fame in 1976 when Monte Bello 1971 outperformed Château Leoville Las Cases 1971 and almost beat Château Haut-Brion 1970 at a blind tasting by French wine experts organised by Stephen Spurrier – known as “The Judgement of Paris”. At the 30th anniversary re-tasting of The Judgement of Paris, Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello 1971 won the competition, proving what incredible longevity the wines have. Ridge vineyard turned to organic farming methods in 1999 and the wines have never been better.
SKU No.: 3513002
Style No.: 900219
Region: California
Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon,Merlot,Petit Verdot
Closure: Cork
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 13.8%
Volume: 1500ml
Allergens: Sulphites
96 points, “True to the vineyard’s mountain site, up to 814m (2,670ft} in altitude, exposed to the cold Pacific, the wine has vivid cassis purity and a touch of green sage. 16 months in 58% new American oak may have rounded the edges of the wine, but none of that oak shows up in the wine’s flavour—exquisite structure and balance. Ridge’s Estate Cabernets come from old blocks in the Monte Bello Vineyard, but blocks that Paul Draper and John Olney feel tend to produce a wine that’s more accessible young than the blocks used for Ridge’s top wine, Monte Bello. Be that as it may, the Estate Cabernet blend comprised of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot and 1% Petite Verdot drinks like a sophisticated age-worthy wine.” – Decanter
Now here’s a complex drop from Ridge. The Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is considered the second wine to the immense Monte Bello. The 2019 is a rich and dark affair. Think black cherry, black tea, black plum, blackberry, black olive, dark chocolate, graphite, leather, roasted meat, vanilla, mint, cedar, blood orange, pomegranate, dried herbs, exotic spices and toasted oak. There’s so much joy to be found by just pouring a glass and slowly picking apart all the flavours and aromas. We recommend decanting this for an hour or so, or tucking it into the cellar for five years.
The wines produced at Ridge Vineyards have transcended their cult following to now rival Bordeaux First Growths and Grand Cru Burgundy in quality and demand. The vineyard at Monte Bello Ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains was first planted in 1885 and changed hands several times before being abandoned. That was until four engineer friends from Stanford Research Institute bought it in 1959. Paul Draper was appointed winemaker at Ridge Vineyards in 1969, despite never being formally trained in either vine growing or winemaking. Paul always had a strong belief in the importance of terroir and a passion for the European way of making wine. Today, he’s one of the best-known and most highly regarded winemakers in the world, proven by him being named ‘Winemaker’s Winemaker’ by the Institute of Masters of Wine.
Ridge Vineyard – found in one of the coldest terroirs in California – shot to fame in 1976 when Monte Bello 1971 outperformed Château Leoville Las Cases 1971 and almost beat Château Haut-Brion 1970 at a blind tasting by French wine experts organised by Stephen Spurrier – known as “The Judgement of Paris”. At the 30th anniversary re-tasting of The Judgement of Paris, Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello 1971 won the competition, proving what incredible longevity the wines have. Ridge vineyard turned to organic farming methods in 1999 and the wines have never been better.
SKU No.: 3513002
Style No.: 900219