2019 Ridge Vineyards, Monte Bello, Santa Cruz Mountains, California, USA

82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc, organically grown. Abundant winter rainfall followed by warm spring weather created ideal growing conditions. Except for Merlot, the vines set a big crop. A long, warm summer fully ripened all varieties in early October. Harvest: 28 September to 20 October. Grapes destemmed, 100% whole-berry fermentation. 15% automated berry sorting. Fermented with indigenous yeasts. Pressed at nine days. Natural malolactic. 17 months in barrel (all new, air-dried oak, 95% American, 5% French). During blind tastings, a record 41 separate lots were assembled to create this vintage of Monte Bello.Firm crimson with a lively rim. Mid intensity sappy, appetising balsam – so different from the Napa Cabs I tasted last night! Lots of acidity and a certain herbal note. You definitely wouldn’t choose to drink this yet. Medium weight and still lean and long but with lots of restrained fruit just waiting to open out. Already great integration. It is impossible to discern the ingredients. Super-clean and fresh.Drink 2026 - 2045jancis_robinson_mw MW, JancisRobinson.com (November 2022)

The nose of this youthful wine has great purity of fruit, with sweet, intense blackcurrant aromas. The attack is fresh, sleek, and bright, leading to a concentrated palate with high acidity and a lively, peppery tone. It's assertive but not aggressive, and the new oak is not yet integrated. Very long.Drink 2023 - 2045Stephen Brook, Decanter.com (October 2022)