2013 Torre Cabernet Sauvignon

Saturated ruby/purple color. Blackcurrant, flint, sweet oak, licorice, chaparral; deep and serious aromas. Saturated blackberry fruit, cassis, significant acidity, polished tannins, crushed rock mineral; lengthy, complex finish. EB (10/16)

This year’s historic vineyard cabernet is from two small parcels on Monte Bello Estate’s Torre ranch. Severe water stress—a result of two years’ drough—intensified ripeness, prompting an early harvest. The grapes were whole-berry fermented, and pressed at nine days. Based on tasting, we combined all of Camp Hill with two barrels from Steep Terrace, and aged the wine for twenty-one months in Appalachian oak. Full-bodied, with deep flavors and firm acidity, it will soften with further bottle age, and be at its most enjoyable within ten to fifteen years. EB (5/15)

In 1903, the Torre family homesteaded the land which comprises our middle vineyard (2300’). They planted vines and built a small winery, but once Prohibition was enacted in 1920, the vineyards were abandoned and the property passed through several owners. William Short acquired the acreage in the 1940s, re-planted cabernet on a number of the old parcels and for the first time, a few acres of chardonnay as well. He sold to the Ridge founding partners in 1959. They made a half-barrel of Monte Bello Cabernet that year. Its exceptional quality convinced them to restore the Torre winery, and to make wine. This year’s historic vineyard cabernet is from two small parcels on Monte Bello Estate’s Torre Ranch; Camp Hill and Steep Terraces, and this wine is named for the original owner. This excellent cabernet sauvignon will develop its full complexity over the next fifteen to twenty years.

Rainfall: 20.5 inches (below average)
Bloom: Mid-June
Weather: Moderate summer and fall, finishing early.

Harvest Dates: 19 September
Grapes: Average brix 24.0˚
Fermentation: Destemmed and whole berry; 100% automated berry sorted; floating cap, daily pump-overs; natural primary and natural secondary (malolactic). Pressed at nine days.
Barrels: 100% new air-dried american oak.
Aging: 21 months in barrel

Hand harvested, estate-grown grapes, destemmed whole berry fermented on the native yeasts; 0.92 g/l calcium carbonate added during primary fermentation; full malolactic on the naturally occurring bacteria; oak from barrel aging; minimum effective sulfur for this wine (30 ppm initially at crush, 101 ppm over the course of aging); pad filtered at bottling. In keeping with our philosophy of minimal intervention, this is the sum of our actions.

Vinous Media (July 2016): 91 Points. “The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Torre shows the lighter side of the vintage of Ridge. There is good precision, but the Torre lacks the body and visceral thrill of the best wines at Ridge in 2013. That is a high bar, I know, but that is the bar Ridge set in 2013. Sweet floral notes, red stone fruits and mint frame the bright, acid-driven finish. ” -Antonio Galloni

Average Rating: 89.6

No. of Tasting Notes: 27

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