Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

In 1886, the first blocks of the Monte Bello Vineyard were planted and 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 a number of those consistently produced a more accessible wine that developed its full complexity earlier and these were combined under the “Santa Cruz Mountains” label. 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.

Made this year from a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Merlot, grown in 18 different plots with elevations varying from 425-600 meters on the Monte Bello ranch. Beneath the limestone rock lies Franciscan greenstone known for its structure, and complexity. As a result, this wine, chief winemaker John Olney explains, is “all about the mouthfeel and the minerality”. In 2020, late spring rains upset the fruit set, with yields down for the Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petite Verdot, so there is more Cabernet Sauvignon than usual in this blend. The grapes are destemmed but left as whole berries for the fermentation to allow for gentler extraction. The wine is then aged for 16 months, with less new American oak than usual, so that the tannins become well integrated. 2020 is a primarily Cabernet wine with aromas of dark plums, cedar, spices, soft black fruit flavours and mouthwatering tannins. This wine is just starting to get going and is a seriously good Cabernet.