Ridge, Monte Bello, Santa Cruz Mountains, California 2019

In 1886, high in the Santa Cruz Mountains, the Monte Bello estate vineyard was planted, and the winery constructed. The first vintage from the young vines followed in 1892. During Prohibition (1920-1933), the vineyard was not fully maintained; by the 1940s it was effectively abandoned. Eight acres of cabernet sauvignon were replanted in 1949. These were the source of the first Ridge Monte Bello (1962). The vineyard is sustainably farmed hand-harvested, estate-grown grapes. The Monte Bello is predominately made up of Cabernet Sauvignon, with A blend of Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. Upon harvesting, the grapes are destemmed and sorted; whole berry fermented on the native yeasts with full malolactic on the naturally occurring bacteria. The wine ages in 100% new oak, of which 95% is American and the remaining 5% is French, for seventeen months.