Shannon Ridge High Elevation Cabernet Sauvignon

Shannon Ridge High Elevation Cabernet Sauvignon is a Lake County, California Cabernet Sauvignon blend bottled at 13.5–13.9% ABV in a standard 750ml format. The 2021 vintage earned 93 points from Wine Enthusiast, underscoring a consistent track record of critical recognition across multiple vintages for this tri-appellation red.

Quick Facts: ABV: 13.5–13.9%  |  Origin: Lake County, North Coast, California  |  Cabernet Sauvignon Blend  |  Winery: Shannon Ridge (Est. 2001)

Production & Heritage

Shannon Ridge is a family-owned winery founded in 2001 in Lake County, part of California's North Coast AVA. The High Elevation Cabernet Sauvignon draws from three distinct Lake County appellations: High Valley contributes red fruit character and structured tannin, Red Hills delivers lush, ripe fruit, and Big Valley adds layers of complexity and texture. All vineyards are sustainably farmed at elevation, and this tri-appellation blending approach — rather than sourcing from a single site — gives the winemaking team a broader palette to build balance and depth vintage after vintage.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Dark plum and cassis lead, followed by cranberry, dark cherry, and coriander. Underneath, toasty oak mingles with dark chocolate, molasses, and hints of vanilla.

Taste: The entry is rich with boysenberry and blackberry fruit, giving way to a mid-palate of candied apple, star anise, and tobacco. Silky tannins carry the wine through to a spice-driven peak where toasted oak and mocha coffee emerge without overwhelming the fruit core.

Finish: Lengthy and layered, with cedar, ripe dark fruit, and allspice lingering well after each sip. The texture remains smooth, and a final note of pie spice rounds out a polished close.

How to Drink Shannon Ridge High Elevation Cab

This Cabernet drinks well at cellar temperature (60–65°F) poured neat into a large-bowled glass; a brief 20–30 minute decant helps open the aromatics. It also performs well in wine-forward cocktails: a Cabernet Cobbler plays up the berry fruit with muddled seasonal stone fruit; a New York Sour uses the wine's dark color and tannic backbone as a dramatic float over bourbon and lemon; and a Sangria Roja benefits from the wine's rich spice and blackberry character alongside fresh citrus and brandy.

Best For

• Weeknight dinners featuring grilled red meats or hearty pasta
• Gifting a California wine lover exploring beyond Napa Valley
• Building a Lake County vertical collection across vintages
• Hosting a blind tasting of high-elevation California Cabernets

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Shannon Ridge High Elevation Cab taste like? It leads with dark berry fruit — boysenberry, blackberry, and black cherry — layered with tobacco, star anise, and toasted oak. Silky tannins and a cedar-spice finish give the wine a smooth, medium-to-full-bodied profile.

How does Shannon Ridge High Elevation Cab compare to Napa Valley Cabernet? Lake County sits directly north of Napa and shares volcanic soils and warm days, but its higher average elevation and cooler nights tend to preserve acidity and deliver slightly brighter red-fruit notes alongside the typical dark-fruit richness. Shannon Ridge's tri-appellation blend typically comes in at a lower price tier than comparable Napa Cabernets while earning scores in the 89–93 point range from Wine Enthusiast.

Is Shannon Ridge High Elevation Cab good for sipping neat? Yes — the silky tannin structure and layered dark fruit make it a satisfying glass on its own, especially after a short decant to let the toasty oak and spice aromatics fully open up.

Where is Shannon Ridge High Elevation Cab made? It is produced by Shannon Ridge winery in Lake County, which is part of California's broader North Coast AVA. The grapes are sourced from sustainably farmed vineyards across three Lake County appellations: High Valley, Red Hills, and Big Valley.

What foods pair well with Shannon Ridge High Elevation Cab? Grilled ribeye steak complements the wine's bold tannins and dark fruit. Braised lamb shanks echo its tobacco and spice notes. Aged cheddar or Gruyère highlights the toasted oak character. Dark-chocolate desserts mirror the mocha and molasses undertones. Roasted portobello mushrooms with balsamic glaze match the wine's earthy depth.

What sizes does Shannon Ridge High Elevation Cab come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format.

Is Shannon Ridge High Elevation Cab worth the price? It positions as a strong value-tier California Cabernet, routinely earning 89–93 point scores from Wine Enthusiast at a price point well below most Napa Valley Cabernets of similar critical standing. For drinkers seeking serious Lake County red wine without a premium-AVA markup, it delivers above its weight class.

Why Shannon Ridge High Elevation Cab?

The tri-appellation blending strategy is the defining feature here — few California Cabernets at this price tier draw from three distinct growing zones within a single county to achieve complexity. The 93-point Wine Enthusiast score on the 2021 vintage is not an outlier; consecutive vintages have landed between 89 and 93 points, signaling reliable quality rather than a one-off success. Lake County's high-elevation vineyards produce fruit with natural acidity and concentration that rival more famous North Coast regions, and Shannon Ridge's sustainable farming practices preserve that site character in the glass. For anyone building a California Cabernet collection or simply looking for a well-made, food-friendly red with genuine regional identity, this bottle makes a compelling case for Lake County.