Riboli Family Wines

At Highlands 41, we believe the best wines are made in the vineyards. Our wines are crafted from 100% estate-owned fruit grown in the heart of Monterey County. With this amazing fruit, our winemaking focus is the purest expression of Monterey County Pinot Noir. Highlands 41 encourages you to find your adventure, and our pairing advice is no dierent! If you need a guide, we recommend grilled sausages, pasta primavera, baked salmon, and roasted duck.

The 2020 Highlands 41 Black Granite is a fascinating blend of red varietals sourced from our estate vineyards in Paso Robles. Zinfandel and Petite Sirah form the foundation of this wine, grown in our Creston Highlands Vineyard located in the rolling hills of the northeastern section of the Creston District AVA. The soils are derived from calcareous marine deposits as seen by the fossilized shells found on the property, which are unique to this area. 2020 was a relatively cool vintage in Paso Robles, giving the fruit extended time on the vine. We picked the grapes for this wine in several passes in October.

Once the grapes arrived at the winery, we removed the juice from the skins quickly in order to preserve freshness and imbue the wine with a lovely, light pink color. After fermentation the wine rested in tank for several months prior to bottling. Light and bright with a pale pink hue, our 2021 Maddalena Rosé shows notes of fresh strawberry, melon and yellow peach graced with accents of scented rose. With bright acidity and a zesty attack, this is a fresh, well-balanced wine, fruity but pleasantly dry, with a nice spicy finish.

Our Opaque 2018 Darkness brings its characteristic deep, dark red color, a sign of the richly satisfying wine to come. Juicy aromas lift from the glass in waves of black cherry, black plum and dark chocolate and are mirrored on the soft, mouth coating palate. Fifteen months of aging in French and American oak barrels - 73% new – adds a lovely spice note to this concentrated wine, which finishes with mature fruit notes and a touch of brown sugar, mineral and spice.

Maddalena Cabernet Sauvignon shows ripe red fruit, including raspberry, plum, and spicy black cherry. Barrel aging contributes notes of vanilla, caramel, and oak spice. The mouth is round with a rich, silky texture that is framed by soft tannins. Maddalena Cabernet Sauvignon is extremely food friendly, our Cabernet Sauvignon pairs well with a range of dishes. Enjoy with grilled steaks as well as hearty pastas.

All vineyard lots are fermented separately to preserve the individual flavors and terroir of each parcel of land. After fermentation, wines are aged in oak barrels from numerous American coopers. Careful blending creates the greatest degree of complexity and ensures consistency of style from vintage to vintage.