Trio of Excellent Scores for Santa Cruz Mountain Cabernets

JebDunnuck.com

March 2026

Virginie Boone has included reviews for three of RIDGE’s Cabernet wines on JebDunnuck.com in her report “Santa Cruz Mountains: Excellence Continues with Fresh 2023s and First-Look 2024s.” Head Winemaker and CEO, John Olney, gives an overview of the vintage:

“The 2023 vintage brought heavy winter rains, ending our three-year drought… With a plentiful base of moisture and nutrition in the soil, the vines responded with a full crop… In many ways, the cool growing season of 2023 was a throwback to the 70s, when the grapes ripened over an extended period while preserving beautiful acidity. Quality across cabernet blocks is excellent.”

2023 Monte Bello

96 Points

“The tremendously impressive 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.”

2023 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

95 Points

“From Monte Bello, with 19% Merlot and small additions of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, harvested in late October and November due to the coolness of the vintage, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate saw extended fermentations and is light-bodied and elegant, made from the most approachable lots of this famous site. Red fruit-dominant, it offers firm, expansive tannins, oak spice, and sharp acidity, dazzling in cranberry, clove, and cedar. This will benefit from further aging and sing for another 15-plus years. Enjoy best 2030-2038.”

2023 Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Sauvignon

92 Points

“From purchased grapes off of Bates Ranch, Fellom Ranch, Vidovich, as well as some estate Monte Bello, the light-bodied 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon is differentiated from the estate, spiced in red and black currant, sage, cedar, and tangy, high-toned acidity. With 15% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot, it shows the coolness of the vintage in supple tannins, generous texture, and balanced intensity. Approachable and drinking well now, it should continue to age well over the next 8-12 years.”