2009 Ridge Monte Bello Component Tasting (and picnic)

Ridge Monte Bello Vineyard
Tasted Sunday, March 7, 2010 by rjonwine@gmail.com with 2,188 views

Introduction

This year's Monte Bello component tasting and first assemblage promise a very lovely '09 Ridge Monte Bello. The Merlot and Petit Verdot components are particularly impressive, and currently make up 25 and 8% of the blend, respectively, with the rest being Cabernet Sauvignon. Paul Draper seemed very pleased with and proud of the Petit Verdot component, and mentioned that Bordeaux producers he knows wish that the grape would ripen more often for them so that more of it could be included in their blends. The Cabernet Franc came in at fairly high acid levels in '09, and doesn't seem at this point as though it would add much to the nose or complexity of the Monte Bello, so they are not currently planning to include it in the final assemblage, which will be decided on in May. We also tasted the '07 Monte Bello, which is drinking surprisingly well already, and is clearly going to be a gorgeous wine, and one that should be accessible sooner than the '06, which they also poured, which has very firm tannins and is likely to take 10 or more years to start its ideal drinking window. In the tasting room, they were pouring a few more wines, and I was particularly impressed by the '04 Grenache.

After the tastings of the '09 Monte Bello and its components, and the Ridge tasting room, we adjourned to the picnic area for some lovely cheeses, pates, gravlax, salads and, of course, more Ridge wines from our cellars. The standouts with our picnic were the very youthful but impressive '98 Petite Sirah Paddock Vines, and a 35-year-old Monte Bello that Wes generously brought along -- the mature and very Bordeaux-like '75. This is always a fun and much anticipated tasting, and this year was no different, although it did get much colder than usual for this time of year up on that beautiful mountain by mid-afternoon, as the clouds descended and fog rolled in.

Paul Draper, answering questions
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Flight 1 - Chard starter (1 Note)

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Flight 2 - Monte Bello components and vertical (3 Notes)

Karen, Alan, Tom and Wes
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  • 2009 Ridge Monte Bello 92 Points

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    Barrel sample, 1st assemblage - dark purple violet color; lovely berry, cassis, dill (American oak) nose; tight but hinting at plushness to come, cassis, tart berry, currant palate with depth; long finish 92-94 pts. (67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot; 13.1% alcohol)
    Components:
    Barrel sample - Cabernet Sauvignon from south slope, La Cuesta - opaque purple violet color; elegant cassis, menthol nose; American oak, tart cassis, cedar palate with firm tannins; medium-plus finish 92-94 pts.
    Barrel sample - Merlot from Avenue Block - dark purple violet color; reduction, rich berry, plum, toasty oak nose; quite lovely, tasty, tart plum, black fruit palate; medium finish 91-93+ pts. (so nice, I'm hopeful they'll bottle some by itself)
    Barrel sample - Petit Verdot from Olivos and Levassuer parcels - opaque purple violet color; lovely, herbaceous, pencil lead, asphalt nose; tight, concentrated, tart currant, red plum, pencil lead palate; medium-plus finish 91-93 pts.
    Barrel sample - Cabernet Franc (not in 1st assemblage for Monte Bello) - opaque dark scarlet color; ripe red berry, herbal, cherry, 80% cocoa dark chocolate nose; tart cassis, herbal palate with medium acidity; medium finish 89-91 pts.

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  • 2007 Ridge Monte Bello 94 Points

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    Very dark red violet color; gorgeous blackberry, cassis, berry, black plum nose; tight but gorgeous, elegant, black fruit, berry, cassis, mineral, tart plum palate, balanced and well structured; long finish 94+ pts.

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  • 2006 Ridge Monte Bello 93 Points

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    Dark red violet color; lovely berry, blackberry, black fruit nose; tight, tasty, blackberry, berry, oak tannins; long finish (needs 7-10 years; 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc)

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Flight 3 - Ridge tasting room wines (3 Notes)

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  • 2004 Ridge Grenache Lytton Estate 92 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

    Medium dark cherry red color; chocolate, berry, caramel nose; very tasty, ripe berry, cherry, raspberry palate; medium finish

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  • 2007 Ridge Lytton Springs 91 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

    Medium dark scarlet color; berry, blackberry, charcoal nose; tasty, boysenberry, berry, charcoal palate; medium-plus finish 91+ pts.

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  • 2004 Ridge Syrah Lytton Estate 92 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

    Very dark red violet color; lovely berry, black fruit, chocolate, floral nose; tasty, tight, black fruit, berry syrup, currant palate with depth; medium-plus finish 92+ pts. (just released)

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Flight 4 - Our picnic wines (4 Notes)

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  • 2007 Ridge Zinfandel Dusi Ranch 92 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

    Dark scarlet red color; ripe berry, spicy nose; ripe berry, black raspberry, spice, rich palate, a touch hot; medium finish

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  • 1998 Ridge Petite Sirah Paddock Vines 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

    Dark red violet color; tar, charcoal, tart black fruit, black plum nose; big, brawny, youthful, charcoal, tart black fruit, tar, pepper palate with firm tannins; long finish 93+ pts. (needs another 5-7 years to peak, will last 25 more years; 91% Petite Sirah, 9% Zinfandel)

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  • 1975 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello 92 Points

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    Slightly bricking dark red violet color; tobacco, leather, mushroom nose; tasty, mature, tart cassis, tobacco palate; medium-plus finish 92+ pts. (96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot; 11.9% alcohol)

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  • 1995 Ridge Zinfandel Jimsomare 87 Points

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    Bricking dark violet color; mature, mushroom, roast beef nose; mature, somewhat pinched, tart plum, tart berry, tobacco palate with firm tannins; medium finish (100% Zin)

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Closing

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