2020 Ridge Monte Bello, Santa Cruz, California

84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc Vines originally planted on terraced slopes in limestone in late 1800’s, with Monte Bello site being the first harvest/bottling produced. The winery and production facility is built into a mountainside in three stories, at 2,600 ft. In 1969, Paul Draper joined the team as winemaker and pioneered a “hands off”, strategic approach to winemaking, starting a dynasty for Rhone varietals, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel as the stars. Fully organic and limited intervention vineyards, regenerative farming practices and a plan to be carbon neutral by 2050.  Grapes de-stemmed, 100% whole berry fermentation. Grapes are fermented on the native yeasts seeing natural malolactic in 95% air-dried American oak, 5% French oak (100% new)Aging: Twenty months in barrel. Opaque ruby color with ripe cassis, plum and red currant fruit, toasty oak, vanilla, fennel, juniper berry and bay laurel. Well-integrated velvety tannins, full mid-pal