Ridge

Santa Cruz Mountains

2013 Ridge Geyserville
FEB 16 Ruby. Scented, dark berries, some spices, vanilla, rich of mulberries and blackberries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, juicy, intense, dark berries and spices, long. 90

2013 Ridge Estate Chardonnay
FEB 16 Pale lemon yellow. Apples, popcorn, butter and vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, rounded, bit oaky, somewhat bitter finish. 85

2012 Ridge Monte Bello

MAR 16 Deep ruby. Intense, fruity, layered, rich and deep nose, complex, exotic spices, somewhat tighter than last bottle. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, rich, intense, layered, complex, nuanced, sublime wine, one of the best ever from Ridge, long. 96

2012 Ridge Monte Bello

FEB 16 64CS 22M 8CF 6PV Deep ruby. Intense, some mint, vanilla, spices, dark fruits, cassis, blueberries, layered and deep. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, intense, layered, fresh, nuanced, beautiful balance, very long. 96

2012 Ridge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
FEB 16 76CS 24M Ruby. Cassis, blueberries, some bell peppers, violets, nuanced nose, layered. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, juicy, detailed, elegant and rounded, long. 92

2012 Ridge Geyserville
AUG 14 Ruby. Rich, ripe, big and powerful nose, dark berries, vanilla and alcohol. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh and fruity, sweet, rich and warm finish, good length. 88

2012 Ridge Monte Bello Chardonnay
FEB 16 Lemon yellow. Butter, popcorn, vanilla, yellow fruits, ripe nose, touch of nuts. Fresh acidity, fruity, rounded, creamy before slightly warm and bitter finish, somewhat woody. 89

2012 Ridge Estate Chardonnay
AUG 14 Pale lemon yellow. Apples, some honey and butter nose, slightly of nuts. Fresh acidity, fresh and fruity, somewhat rich, popcorn, some vanilla, creamy finish. 88

2011 Ridge Montebello
AUG 14 Ruby. Cassis, fruity, rich, vanilla, slight coffee notes, layered and complex nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, lively, layered, rich and fruity, long. 93

2011 Ridge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

JUL 16 Ruby. Rich, cassis, vanilla, spices, jammy nose, intense nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, intense, fruity, jammy, ripe, alcohol notes, vanilla, juicy, long finish. Power over finesse. Yet complex. 93

2011 Ridge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
AUG 14 Ruby. Cassis, cheese, herbs, anise and bay leaf, vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh and fruity, rounded, good length. 89

2011 Ridge Geyserville

SEP 13 Ruby. Fruity, rich, intense nose, nuanced and anise, dark berries. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, deeper palate, good length. 89

2011 Ridge Lytton Springs Zinfandel

OCT 13 Ruby. Intense and fruity nose, dark berries. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, quite intense, fresher palate than nose, good length. 87

2011 Ridge Montebello Chardonnay
AUG 14 Towards lemon yellow. Creamy nose, nuts, butter, popcorn, yellow fruits. Fresh acidity, crisp lemons note, creamy and fruity, long, bit warm finish. 90

2010 Ridge Monte Bello

OCT 13 Deep ruby. Rich, intense, fruity, scented, lots of barrel spices and dark berries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, intense, refreshing, complex, Long finish, bit oaky and biting finish, needs ten years. 94

2010 Ridge Montebello

SEP 13 Deep ruby. Fruity, rich, liquorice, blackberries and vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity palate, refreshing and balanced, fairly nuanced, needs proper decanting or better still, cellar age. Long finish. 93

2010 Ridge Lytton Springs

MAR 13 Ruby. Somewhat sweet cassis and dark berries and licorice. Freshish acidity, ripe tannins, a bit sweet but balanced. 90

2010 Ridge Geyserville
JAN 13 Ruby. Rich and up front nose. Some herbs and rich dark fruits. Rich body and sweet palate, lazy acidity, good length. 86

2010 Ridge Monte Bello Chardonnay

OCT 13 Pale lemon yellow. Rich, intense, fruity and waxy nose, oxidized apples, bananas. Freshish acidity, bit plump and waxy, good length, off bottle.

2010 Ridge Estate Chardonnay
JAN 13 Pale golden. Apples, and butter. Fresh acidity, rounded palate, creamy and rich, but balanced. Good length. 88

2009 Ridge Monte Bello
NOV 13 Deep ruby. Ripe, rich, intense, cassis, floral but also a bit alcoholic. Seems modern on the nose for Ridge, but that thought disappear on the palate. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresher palate, fruity, rounder palate, fairly nuanced, refreshing and long. Almost sexy. 94

2009 Ridge Monte Bello
JAN 13 Deep ruby. Intense, layered nose, complex, licorice and blueberries. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, sweet and ripe feel now, wait ten years plus. 92

2009 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Estate

MAR 13 Ruby. Sweet cassis, vanilla and leather. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, balanced, fruity, long. 90

2008 Ridge Monte Bello

OCT 13 Deep ruby. Scented, fruity, dark berries, layered, slightly interfered with oak on the jose. Complex.fresh acidity, ripe tannins, a bit sweet and fruity, elegant body, young and vibrant, give it five years or proper decanting. 93

2008 Ridge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

OCT 13 Ruby. Intense, cassis, fruity, red berries and vanilla nose. Fairly fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, intense, rich, good length. 89

2008 Ridge Lytton Springs Zinfandel

OCT 13 (Magnum) Ruby. Intense red berries and anise nose, vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, quite lively and elegant, good length. 88

2006 Ridge Santa Cruz Mountain Estate
FEB 11 Ruby, coffee, black tea, cassis, vanilla, dark chocolate, leather, matched neatly with a tiny hint of herbs and meat. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, elegant and balanced, needs a bit of air to open, complex, long length. 88

2006 Ridge Santa Cruz Mountain Estate
NOV 10 Deep ruby, ruby rim. Plums, spices, herbs, eucalyptus, cassis, sweet tobacco, complex and intense. Fresh acidity, high of ripe tannins, oak still up front but seems to integrate nicely, very good texture, good balance, good length. Keep some more years before trying. 88

2004 Ridge Lytton Springs Zinfandel

OCT 13 Ruby. Fruity, red berries, vanilla and strangely enough, bananas. Freshish acidity, ripe tannins, rich, ripe, slightly warm finish. 86

2000 Ridge Monte Bello
JUN 10 Almost opaque, ruby rim, pronounced intensity, cedar, liquorice, coffee, leather, black cherries, blackcurrants, medicinal touch. Very fresh, almost crisp acidity, high and ripe tannins, like powdery snow, some spices, great complexity and balance, great texture, keep another ten years. 91

2000 Ridge Monte Bello
JAN 10 Deep ruby, very elegant, fruit driven at the moment, cassis, leather, blackberries, cigars and coffee, fresh acidity, ripe tannins, some vanilla, balanced, long finish. Keep. 86

1999 Ridge Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Sauvignon
DEC 09 Deep ruby, great cabernet fruit, paprika, cassis, even minerals, pepper, blackcurrants, hints of vanilla, great acidity, lots of ripe tannins, complex, good balance, very long finish. Keep. 90

1999 Ridge Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Sauvignon
SEP 09 Dyp rubin farge, paprika, sedertre, noe vanilje, cassis, noe krydder, lær og lett animalsk. Medium fylde, elegante tanniner, syrene er der men merkes knapt, bløte frukter og noe moreller. Lang finish og fin kompleksitet. 89

1998 Ridge Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Sauvignon

JUL 13 Ruby, garnet rim. Elegant nose, touch of leather and prunes, maturing. Fresh acidity, ripe and few tannins, a bit on the lean side, refreshing, elegant palate, good length. 89

1997 Ridge Monte Bello
JUL 12 Deep ruby, ruby rim. Seductive nose of blackberries, cassis, violets, sweet morellos plums, and something very refined like a faint hint of some John Lobb's and the finest cigars. Almost sweet plums on the attack, quickly absorbed by a playful acidity that brings the flavors all around the mouth in such a magnificent manner, it's difficult not to fall in love. Yes, there are more intense and powerful Montebello's out there, but this bottle is just so up front and giving (after about 30 minutes of decanting). After an hour, pretty much the same. Very together and balanced, long and fruity finish, superb. 95

1995 Ridge Monte Bello
SEP 12 Ruby, garnet rim. Mint, cherry stones, anise, rich cassis, perfumed. More nuanced. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, elegant if rich palate, balanced, nuanced, long. 92

1995 Ridge Lytton Springs

DEC 15 Ruby. Dark berries, spices, peppery, eucalyptus, ripe and rich nose, high alcohol. Freshish acidity, ripe tannins, ripe, alcohol, dark fruits, but too warm for me. Unbalanced alcohol. 85

1994 Ridge Monte Bello
DEC 09 Deep ruby, garnet rim, heavy cabernet nose, cassis, liquorice, paprika, leather, cigars, very complex. Sweetish fruit, great acidity, ripe tannins, very elegant, long finish. 92

1993 Ridge Monte Bello
JAN 14 Ruby, garnet rim. Scented, leather, some cassis, dates, tobacco, quite flirting and mature nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, liquorice, figs, less mature palate than nose, fresh feel, long. 94

1993 Ridge Monte Bello
NOV 13 Ruby, garnet rim. Seductively scented nose, coffee, figs, cassis, tobacco and leather nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, figs, refreshing anise palate, maturing even if young and vigorous, long. 94

1993 Ridge Monte Bello
OCT 13 Ruby, garnet rim. Cassis, leather, anise, sweet plums, vanilla and some tobacco nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, feels younger than it is, refreshing, fruity, ripe, long finish. 93

1992 Ridge Monte Bello
NOV 09 Ruby with ruby rim, mature nose, dried fruits, chocolate, forest floor, leafy hint and liquorice, needed some minutes to open. Lean body, a little surprising, but intense fruit, nice acidity and ripe tannins. Beautiful and elegant, great finish. Drink in the next 5 years. 89

1989 Ridge Monte Bello

NOV 09 Pale ruby with tiny brick rim. Mature nose, fantastic complexity, prunes, liquorice, leather, blackcurrants, cigars and minerality. Great acidity, medium body and fantastic balance, very complex, and fantastic long finish. Very fresh fruit. Perfekt now, but will last. 96

1985 Ridge Monte Bello
NOV 09 Bright ruby with brick rim. Mature nose, some cassis, cedar, cigars, leaves, a bit of warm fruits, some prunes in the back and leather, then coffee and chocolate. Good acidity, mature tannins, starting to wear off, complex and balanced, very long aftertaste. 95

1981 Ridge Monte Bello
DEC 11 Ruby, brick rim. Licorice, cherry stone, cassis, leather, feels more youthful than the last bottle, coffee, but not as expressive and open either. Layered, fresh acidity, ripe tannins, long. 94

1981 Ridge Monte Bello
OCT 11 Ruby, brick rim, licorice, coffee, cassis, leather, fine, ripe, mature and beautiful. Lively acidity, tannins ripe and wearing off, beautiful length. 95

1978 Ridge Monte Bello
NOV 09 Pale ruby, orange rim, very dry, almost austere and raisins. Then some dried fruits and prunes, a bit tired, fresh acidity and tannins gone, hangs on for its bare life. Not too bad finish. 84

1978 Ridge Monte Bello
NOV 09 Ruby with orange rim, great fresh acidity, beautiful structure, tannins gone, very complex, raisins, prunes, some earthy tones, minerals, very elegant and balanced, even some vanilla in the back, coffee and cigars. Very long finish. 95

1975 Ridge Monte Bello
JAN 10 Bright ruby, thin orange rim. Very mature, prunes, cassis, leather, coffee, white chocolate, cherries and some minerals. Lots of very ripe and mature tannins, very elegant at only 11,9% alcohol, complex, balanced, very long. 92