1980 Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet

The Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet is grown on Monte Bello Ridge and, typically, is selected from our estate vineyard and the Jimsomare vineyard. In 1979 and 1980 these vines produced a spicy, somewhat racy character not typical of previous vintages. The warm, steady temperatures of the 1980-growing season resulted in a rich, full wine with firm underlying structure. The tannins will soften considerably over the next five years, and the wine will continue to develop into the 1990’s.

Begun in 1959, Ridge was one of the first of today’s chateau-size California wineries, that is, those that attempt only the highest quality at the quality levels of the classified chateaux (up to 40,000 cases). All the wines are aged in small oak cooperage with the majority receiving no cellar treatment other than racking. Located above 2300 feet on the Monte Bello Ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains, our winery and main vineyards overlook San Francisco Bay.