2023 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Deep ruby red with toasty oak and blackberry fruit on the nose. Full-bodied, structured with firm tannins, bright acid and notes of mint on the finish. JO (1/26)

Heavy winter rains ended our three-year drought. Due to an unusually cool growing season, harvest was late; beginning in October and not finishing until mid-November. We extended fermentations to better extract full color while balancing the tannins and firm acidity. In tasting, we selected the most approachable lots from the Monte Bello vineyard for the Estate. This appealing vintage will be at its best over the next fifteen years. JO (4/25)

In 1886, the first blocks of the Monte Bello vineyard were planted and construction on the winery began. 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 their fruit considered for use in the Monte Bello. A number of those blocks consistently produced a more accessible wine that developed its full complexity earlier and these were combined as the “Santa Cruz Mountains.” 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.

Rainfall: 84 inches (above average)
Bloom: Late June
Weather: A late and prolonged harvest due to consistently cool weather during the growing season.

Harvest Dates: 9 September – 5 October
Grapes: Average Brix 23.4˚
TA: 7.2 g/L
pH: 3.41
Fermentation: Grapes destemmed and sorted; 100% whole berries fermented on the native yeasts.
Barrels: 100% air-dried American oak barrels (55% new, 10% two years old, and 35% four years old).
Aging: Seventeen months in barrel

Hand-harvested, estate-grown grapes; destemmed and sorted; fermented on indigenous yeast; calcium carbonate; full malolactic on the naturally occurring bacteria; minimum effective sulfur (35 ppm at crush, 85 ppm during aging). In keeping with our philosophy of minimal intervention, this is the sum of our actions.

Decanter: 95 Points “Classic mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, it’s a cool vintage in a very cool site, and at Montebello this harvest finished in the middle of November. It has all the timeless notes of California mountain herbals, bay leaf, eucalyptis and manzantia and purple sage. It’s intensely focused, and the tannins are prominent. But elegance is the watchword here. Woodland berries, and sumac with white pepper and a glimpse of lemon zest. Brilliant.” -Clive Pursehouse (February 2026)

JebDunnuck.com: 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.” -Virginie Boone (March 2026)

OwenBargreen.com: 94 Points “All sourced from the famed ‘Monte Bello Vineyard’ this 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon has 19% Merlot blended in with a touch of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Red bell pepper and fresh sage mark the nose alongside dark chocolate shavings, Arabica bean and creme de cassis. The palate is lush and tension-filled with terrific tension and verve with a smooth texture. The combination of weight, length and finesse is seriously good. Drink 2026-2040.” -Owen Bargreen (March 2026)

Wilfred Wong: 92 Points “The 2023 Ridge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is medium-deep ruby with a magenta edge; aromas evoke a morning forest, layered with pomegranate and subtle, complementary oak nuances; medium-bodied and silky smooth on the palate; dry, with balanced acidity and very good harmony; lovely red and dark berry flavors with a touch of oak; finishes firm, layered, and quietly persistent. From the cool, forested slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains, this Cabernet reflects both restraint and refinement, pairing beautifully with grilled lamb chops with rosemary and garlic, where the wine’s forest-floor character and fine structure echo the dish’s savory depth. (Best Served: 2028-2038)” -Wilfred Wong (March 2026)

Average Rating: 92

No. of Tasting Notes: 4

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