{"product_id":"ridge-vineyards-estate-cabernet-sauvignon-2023-santa-cruz-mountains-california","title":"Ridge Vineyards Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 (Santa Cruz Mountains, California) -  [DM 95] [JD 95] [JS 94] [WS 94] [WA 94] [OB 94]","description":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinemaker Notes:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVintage:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eLate spring rains disrupted fruit set in the merlot and yields were likewise down in petit verdot. With less of these two varieties to work with, cabernet sauvignon makes up a larger proportion of this year’s wine. All the grapes were de-stemmed but left as whole berries for slower, gentler extraction during fermentation. After nineteen months of barrel aging, tannins are well integrated. This exemplary mountain-grown cabernet will develop more fully over the next fifteen years. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot\u003cbr\u003eOrganically Grown\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"row\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"wineInfo\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eVineyard: Monte Bello\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eAppellation: Santa Cruz Mountains\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eAlcohol By Volume: 13.4%\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eWinemaking: \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHarvest Dates:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr role=\"presentation\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrapes:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eAverage Brix 25.3˚\u003cbr role=\"presentation\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTA:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e6.72 g\/L\u003cbr role=\"presentation\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003epH:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e3.55\u003cbr role=\"presentation\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFermentation:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eGrapes destemmed, and sorted; 100% whole berries fermented on the native yeasts.\u003cbr role=\"presentation\"\u003eSelection: Eighteen of twenty estate parcels\u003cbr role=\"presentation\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBarrels:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e100% air-dried American oak barrels (55% new, 45% one year old).\u003cbr role=\"presentation\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAging:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eSixteen months in barrel\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eHand-harvested, estate-grown grapes; destemmed and sorted; fermented on the native yeasts; full malolactic on the naturally occurring bacteria; minimum effective sulfur (35 ppm at crush, 138 ppm during aging); four egg whites per barrel for tannin reduction; depth filtration at bottling. In keeping with our philosophy of minimal intervention, this is the sum of our actions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Notes:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDark purple hues with black cherry, dark plum, black olive, soy, dried jerky, lilac, dried rose petals, cedar, juniper berry, and wintergreen mint. Fresh entry with building tannins that coat the entire palate. Gravelly, dusty, and mineral notes give way to layers of red and black fruits. Integrated oak with youthful tannins and acidity. Will prove to be very age-worthy. TG (12\/23)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eRatings \u0026amp; Reviews:\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e95 Points - Decanter:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Classic mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, it's a cool vintage in a very cool site, and at Monte Bello this harvest finished in the middle of November. It has all the timeless notes of California mountain herbals, bay leaf, eucalyptus and manzanita 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)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e95 Points - JebDunnuck.com:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"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)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e94 Points - JamesSuckling.com:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"An elegant year for this medium-bodied wine that's a junior to Ridge Monte Bello cabernet. So poised, flavorful, savory and well-balanced, with fine-grained tannins supporting black-olive, black-cherry, bay-leaf, cocoa and iron flavors. Moderate alcohol at 13.4%. Drink now or hold.\" -Jim Gordon (March 2026)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e94 Points - OwenBargreen.com:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"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)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e94 Points - Wine Advocate:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"The 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate opens with a dark-fruited, slightly dusty and herbal bouquet framed by American oak notes that are already remarkably integrated. The mouthfeel is suave and tense, balancing tensile energy with ample textural breadth. The finish succinctly captures the vintage's characteristics, giving equal weight to vibrant energy, tenacious yet refined tannins and Ridge's classically structured style. This is an exceptional bottling, and while it is somewhat approachable now, a bit more time in the bottle to further integrate its élevage would be beneficial.\" -Matthew Luczy (April 2026)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e94 Points - Wine Spectator:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Offers inviting aromas and flavors of gently warm plum puree and cassis before a solid spine of mesquite, iron and savory starts to emerge. As that clamps down on the finish (for now), sanguine and cedar accents fill in liberally. Shows the textbook chiseled, angular feel of a young mountain Cab; this just needs cellar time. Best from 2028 through 2040.\" -James Molesworth (June 2026)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BREAKTHRU","offers":[{"title":"750 ml","offer_id":53376440795501,"sku":null,"price":89.97,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0481\/8940\/7391\/files\/xb1gb4d4ob7cnvviphmq.jpg?v=1736288585","url":"https:\/\/artisan.wine\/products\/ridge-vineyards-estate-cabernet-sauvignon-2023-santa-cruz-mountains-california","provider":"Artisan W\u0026S","version":"1.0","type":"link"}