TN: Ridge PinotNoir PetalumaGap '23.....(short/boring)

WINE TALK
1

Tried this at our tasting last night:

  1. Ridge PinotNoir NightwingVnyd/PetalumaGap/SonomaCnty (13.9%; 15 brls; 100% PN; bttld July 2024;
    Drk: 4/24-4/29: TG) 2023    :Fairly dark color; strong cherry/black cherry/PN/rather spicy light pencilly/non-Ridge oak fairly classic RRV PN bit complx nose; lightly tart spicy/PN/cherry/black cherry/classis RRV PN fairly rich/smooth slight c-c/peppery flavor w/ light gentle tannins; long smooth/gentle finish that mimics flavor; quite an attractive smooth/gentle PN but nothing really profound; reminds a lot of a Dehlinger PN w/ less oak. $47.00 (ATP)

More dicklesplot from TheBloodyPulpit:

  1. I’ve heard a number of good things about this Ridge PN. Ridge has made a few SantaCruzMtns PN’s over the last few yrs that I thought were rather unthrilling. This is probably the best Ridge PN made yet, including the legendary Ridge CoastRange PN '71 that Dave Bennion made. That said, there was nothing particularly distinctive about this PN. Spoke quietly of c-c/RRV PN but there are others quite similar out there at a cheaper price.
    Tom
2

Thanks for the note. FYI, Petaluma Gap AVA is south of RRV AVA. Nightwing Vineyard is southeast of Gap’s Crown on the east side of 101.

3

I believe Ridge discontinued the Corralitos Pinots that went 2018-2020(?). I found them average as well although the last one I had was the best a few months ago. Maybe they needed a few years in the cellar.

4

I think Eric Baugher eventually was winemaker down there.

5

He’s at Gali now.

6

Honestly I wish Ridge would stay away from Pinot. I found both the Corralitos and this bottling to be fine but uninspiring. We don’t need any more ok Pinot around here. I don’t necessarily align with the narrative that they should stick to what they’re good at (though they do provide much more value in the Zin and Cab worlds). I think the expansion of their white program has been superb and would like to see more, I just think Pinot is not where it’s at for them.

3 Likes
7

I have found many of their ATP offerings so so last 10+ years. Syrahs are good but take forever to come around, the recent CoCo County wines meh( or not my style). Pinot in an interesting endeavor but perhaps they should “stay in their lane” . I enjoyed their whites from Paso but those seem to have left with Baugher. The Historic Vines Blanc is lovely. The Lytton rosé is hit or miss. I’m guessing many of their old sites ( 80s-90s) are gone or grapes go elsewhere.

8

The idea of Ridge Pinot Noir kinda freaks me out. It’s been a couple of decades almost since I was an ATP member. Visited the Lytton Springs facility like 4-5 years ago. Ridge + Pinot = does not compute.

9

Word is they planted Pinot Noir somewhere on the Montebello ridge, so are learning about making it. Jeffrey Patterson told me a long time ago he’d love to source Pinot from there. I think there’s promise, and it would be a unique expression from a singular subregion of a great Pinot region, not just another Pinot. That’s if they figure out how to make it well.

One of Paul’s favorite stories was when Marcel Guigal visited and recognized how similar the soil was to Cote Rotie. People have nudged for Surah go be planted there, and supposedly ghere is some now.

Paul’s love is Italian wines. He took advice to “stay in his line” and not confuse the public straying from Cab/Zin/Chard. Of course the Lytton estate broadened things. With ATP, why not play around?