Ridge Estate Monte Bello MG 2022

The 2022 vintage of this legendary Bordeaux blend from the Santa Cruz Valley is made up of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and 2% each of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Even the third consecutive year of drought, following 2020 and 2021, has done nothing to diminish the exceptional quality of Monte Bello. Critics have awarded Ridge's flagship wine scores ranging from 96 (Wine Advocate, Vinous) to a euphoric 99 points (Owen Bargreen). Black fruit (blackberry, cherry, redcurrant) combined with a bouquet of herbs (mint, wildflowers) forms the aromatic backbone, complemented by tobacco, leather and cedar. A crystal-clear acidity balances the intense aromas; tannins that are already seductively soft yet still show great potential whisper of a bright future.