Ridge 2023 'Monte Bello' Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mts

96 pts                                                                          
New release of Ridge Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, one of California's classic Cabernets. Limited.

99 Points Robert Parker' Wine Advocate: "The Ridge 2023 Monte Bello is the definition of classicism across every metric, seamlessly fusing a slow-moving, even-keeled profile with an enviable combination of charm, assertion and effortlessness. The nose opens with a perfect melange of red and black berries, framed by classically informed toasted, herbal and graphite flourishes, along with youthful vanilla undertones that meld with floral notes after aeration. The palate is simultaneously seamless, supple, juicy and firm, before moving into a long finish that is expansive yet expertly controlled, riding on a chassis of ultra-refined, chalky tannins. I had one bottle open for multiple days and saw nothing but an upward trajectory, with notable oak integration relative to its first-day showing. Additionally, I retasted the wine out of magnum in the context of a vertical spanning back to 1971, which only solidified my belief that this could prove to be one of the all-time greatest iterations of Monte Bello. It will be worth cellaring for a decade, at minimum, and should drink beautifully for at least the next three after that. The blend is 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot, and the wine achieved 13.2% natural alcohol."

96 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "The tremendously impressive Ridge 2023 Monte Bello blends 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot, assembled together after a cold spring and long hangtime. Bay leaf, cedar, and warm baking spices accent a light-bodied frame of structured tannins and high-toned acidity, blended as usual from highly selected lots and spending nearly two years in barrel. It's still shedding its youthful skin; enjoy best 2033-2045."

97 Points Decanter: "The limestone soils, and the short distance to the Pacific Ocean as well as the seriously high elevation, (ranging from 1600-2700ft) means that the Santa Cruz Mountains, produce a very different Cabernet than much of California. The 2022, drought vintage, a third straight year, meant tannic, tiny fruit on the Montebello estate. The wine was fully destemmed and only pumped over half as often as a typical vintage for Montebello. Its a tightly wound iteration in its youth with 100% new American oak for 20 months. Expressive on the nose, with taut black fruits, fresh pine needles and mineral notes of wet clay and roasted herbs. The palate is fresh and medium weight, (13.8%abv) with so much lively freshness in its youthful exuberance. Salty ocean notes open the palate chasing taut early season blackberries and plum skins. The palate opens overtime revealing dried mint, and alpine meadow herbs that buoy the fruit expression and carry this masterfully made wine toward its zenith, but… don’t touch it for another 10 years for the best result."

Judgment of Paris Winner:  On May 24, 2006, a 30 year re-enactment of the Judgment of Paris was organized, this time with simultaneous tastings in London and in Napa at Copia. Paralleling the 1976 event, nine expert tasters at each location judged the original red wines, now over thirty years old. The winning wine in both the US and UK was the Ridge Monte Bello 1971.

*3-packs available in OWC