RIDGE CABERNET SAUVIGNON SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS 2023

Ridge revived this label in 2023 after sourcing from Bates Ranch at 680 feet near Mount Madonna, Fellom Ranch at 2,250 feet off Montebello Road, Vidovich Vineyards at 2,450 feet across from the winery, and Monte Bello estate parcels throughout the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA. The cool 2023 vintage brought 84 inches of rain and prolonged harvest from October 6-November 10, with hand-picked grapes at 23.1° Brix destemmed, sorted as whole berries, then fermented on native yeast. This 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot blend aged seventeen months in 30% new American oak with 35 ppm SO2 at crush and 90 ppm during aging, showing black olive, tobacco leaf, blackberry, and licorice with firm tannins and balanced acidity at 13.2% alcohol.