2022 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Estate
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate delivers an unmistakable Monte Bello stamp. Lavender, black olive, pine forest and cedar tones announce this as what can only be Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet. Layers of forest floor, garrigue and generous black fruit flesh out on the generous mid-palate, nicely offsetting the bright, crunchy acids. This is an exceptional rendition of the Estate Cabernet, especially in this challenging hot vintage. Beautifully balanced and so fresh, the 2022 is fabulously transparent and approachable. Best of all, the gap between this bottling and the Monte Bello is notably narrower than usual. Don't miss it.
Critic scores
Jancis Robinson MW
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Incorporating 9% Petit Verdot and 5% Merlot, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate balances a lovely combination of lush dark fruits and charred, roasted accents, followed by a plush, fluid texture with a succulent core. It concludes with a lifted, pretty finish filled with a compact core of ripe fruits.
Full bottle 1,224 g. 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot, 5% Merlot. Grapes destemmed and sorted; 100% whole berries. Both primary and secondary (malolactic) fermentations are completed by ambient yeasts and bacteria. Aged 17 months in American oak; 52% new, 20% one-year-old, 28% two-year-old barrels; 56% Appalachian, 27% Missouri, 17% Virginia. pH 3.36, TA 7.08 g/l. Minimum effective SO 2 (35 ppm at crush, 120 ppm during ageing). Certified organic. Deep purple with a fuchsia rim. Every time I review Ridge's Estate Cab I think 'can youthful Cab really be more classic and elegant than this?' and then I move on to the Monte Bello and it is – but I haven't moved on yet and once again I am struck by the light, fresh green blackcurrant-leaf notes, the perfectly balanced oak spice and the brooding black fruit. The tannins are smooth but building with fresh mouth-watering acidity and a long, evolving finish. It absolutely demands age but it's hard to imagine a more promising youthful Cab. (SCJ)
Aromas of blackcurrants, licorice, tea leaves, cedar and spices. The palate is full-bodied with firmly framed tannins and bright acidity that leads to a bright, savory finish. There\'s lovely freshness despite the warm vintage. Drink or hold.
About the producer
Best known for its iconic Monte Bello, Ridge Vineyards makes some of California’s finest wines – particularly Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel. Long a pioneer of sustainable farming and minimal-intervention winemaking, Ridge makes an extensive range from Sonoma County and the Santa Cruz Mountains.