Some background and pictures as well as TNs on our Blog
Visit 2 of 4 on my wife and I’s California Extravaganza in August 2014
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2012 Ridge Chardonnay Estate - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains
Definitely leaning to the lighter crisper style. The nose isn’t terribly powerful at this stage, but should open up with a little more bottle age. Nose of lemon oil, custard, almond, buttered pastry, honeydew melon and just a little bit of a tropical edge with hints of pineapple. Palate shows a sweet vanillin entry transitioning to a lovely overripe honeydew melon mid palate and solid, lengthy, creamy finish. Very nice start. (91 pts.) -
2012 Ridge Zinfandel East Bench - USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley
There are a few wines in the Ridge line-up that don’t do much for me. This is one of them. Very fruit forward and really on the candied and medicinal side of things. To me it’s too far down that path. Nose is of licorice, kirsch and sadly even a touch of cough medicine. Palate gives an impression of sweet vanilla, with high tannins and and a medium finish of powdered candy. Not something I would seek out. (84 pts.) -
2012 Ridge Geyserville - USA, California, Sonoma County
This is better. If I’m going to drink a Zin from the Ridge line-up, Geyserville seems to be my best bet. Deep, dense and just a touch tangy style. Nose is of iodine, brambly mixed berry fruit, dark plums and cherry pie filling. The palate reveals a similar sensation to mixed seedy dark berries and an almost coulis sweetness, though the finish comes across a bit short, sadly. Alcohol is noted on the palate as a touch high. (89 pts.) -
2012 Ridge Lytton Springs - USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley
The Lytton Springs in this vintage heads a little too far back a little bit to the candied, ultra-sweet fruit and slightly medicinal side of things. Admittedly I’m quite sensitive to this. The nose is of black licorice, dark berries, baked blueberry dusted with confectioners sugar, graphite and a hint of pepper. Palate is creamy and hides the 14.4% alcohol better than the Geyserville. Palateable, but not a wine I would seek out. Perhaps I just don’t “get” Ridge Zin. (87 pts.) -
2011 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Estate - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains
Interestingly this was showing a little different than when tasted in Toronto earlier this year. In particular this showing was tad more green, which even our tasting room employee noticed. Still enjoyable and tells me this is just settling down and is in need of a bit more time for everything to integrate. Very old school herbaceous style with loads of rosemary, thyme, gravelly soil, graphite and crushed rock on the nose. Also, optimally ripe fruit in background via tart blackberry, cassis, a slight lemon peel note and dark cherry. Palate has a very firm tannic backbone, good acid, but stops a little short on the finish of graphite, herbs and blackberry today. Give it a few more years and it should blossom. (91 pts.) -
2011 Ridge Monte Bello - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains
What a wine! The gorgeous nose is already showing tremendous aromatic complexity with notes of light roast coffee beans, mocha, wet soil, very bright pungent appealing blackberries, perfume, lacquered furniture, hints of leather, violets and spring flowers. Seems never ending, couldn’t get my nose out of the glass. Palate shows solid tartness, relatively high acid and good structure with only moderate perceived tannin levels at the moment. Finish is medium plus and should age out nicely. Didn’t realize this but it is aged in 95% American oak 5% French oak. I thought it was all American, who knew? A great Monte Bello. Prediction: this will be sensational in 10 years, and hopefully hold on for another 10 - 15 after that. I had this noted at 94 - 95, but will give it the benefit of the doubt at 95. My wife and I bought one to have for a future anniversary as we got married in 2011. (95 pts.) -
2012 Ridge Petite Sirah Lytton Estate - USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley
This pours massively, inky, dark and glass staining. Nose is reminiscent of a modern CdP. Very licorice driven nose: red licorice, black licorice, kirsch and just a touch of tar and pepper in the background. Palate is dense, ripe, and has huge drying tannin on the finish. Alcohol is noted as poking out and being a tad high. Interesting, but not really for me. (87 pts.)