Ridge Estate Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Ridge Estate Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 showcases the artistry of Winemaker Paul Draper, with consulting winemaker insights not mentioned. This wine presents itself with inky purple hues, heralding a rich and complex bouquet of dark plum, black cherry, cedar, cola, and sweet toasted oak on the nose. As it graces the palate, a full-bodied entrance unveils sumptuous blackberry, cocoa powder, brown spices, and a subtle hint of peppermint. Meticulously crafted from hand-harvested, estate-grown grapes, the native yeast fermentation and minimal intervention underscore the terroir’s authenticity.

Aged for nineteen months in American oak barrels, this Cabernet Sauvignon boasts integrated tannins and a long, satisfying finish. Notably, the 2020 vintage leaned more heavily on Cabernet Sauvignon due to challenges faced by merlot and petit verdot, promising further evolution over the next fifteen years. This wine earned critical acclaim with a rating of 92 points by Wilfred Wong of Wine.com, who lauded its representation of mountain-grown fruit and recommended pairing it with grilled Korean-style short ribs.