Ridge Vineyards and Monte Bello Masterclass at the Decanter Fine Experience

A Masterclass with Paul Draper and Eric Baugher of Ridge Vineyards.

Formerly just known as Santa Cruz Mountains, the new name used from the 2008 vintage.

• 2009 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Estate 90 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Deep red colour with some hits of purple.
  Nose with ripe blackcurrants, some tar, spice, restrained sweetish impression, hints of vanilla. Good concentration of aromas, a warm but balanced impression.
  Fruity palate, blackcurrants with red berries – including red currants and lingonberries – definitely a good acidity, medium tannins.
  Very fresh and balanced palate for a Californian wine and for a young Cabernet. No alcoholic fire in evidence. Young, but accessible due to the reasonably mild tannins. 89-90 p?, possibly worth a little more.

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• 2008 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Estate 90 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Deep red colour with hints of purple.
  Nose with ripe blackcurrants, some blackberries, some tar, spice with hints of herbs. Slightly darker notes with more tar than the 2009, but a bit less sweet in the impression.
  Medium bodied+, fruity palate, blackcurrants, sour red berries, medium(+) tannins, some spice, fruity aftertaste with sour berries.
  Slightly tougher than the 2009, but very fresh. Young, probably needs a little more time than the 2009 to peak. 90-91 p?

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• 2008 Ridge Monte Bello 93 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Deep red colour, hints of purple.
  Nose with ripe blackcurrants, aromatic notes with violets, tar and liquorice, well integrated oak, hints of vanilla and caramel. Very concentrated nose, slightly more aromatic and impressive than the 2008 Estate.
  Medium bodied++, palate with blackcurrants, sour red berries, noticeable acidity, quite present but well integrated tannins.
  Young, will need time to develop fully, but is actually pleasant now. 92-93+ p?

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• 2006 Ridge Monte Bello 91 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Deep red colour, hints of purple, slightly faded at the edge.
  Nose with ripe dark berries, spice, hints of barnyard aromas, slightly sweetish impression with hints of vanilla, some mint. Not as dark notes as the 2008, but slightly developed.
  Medium bodied+, palate with dark berries with some sour red berries, noticeable acidity, rather noticeable tannins. No quite as concentrated as the 2008, but elegant in style.
  Young, will probably develop well, 90-91+ p?
  
  Could it possibly be in a slightly dumb phase?

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• 2005 Ridge Monte Bello 94 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Deep red colour, hints of purple.
  Nose with ripe dark berries – blackcurrants and some blackberries – slightly flowery with violets, some mint with hints of eucalyptus, hints of sweetness with vanilla. More similar to the 2008 than to the 2006, with less development than the 2006.
  Full bodied, palate with ripe blackcurrants and some blackberries, very noticeable acidity, noticeable tannins, spice, balanced impression.
  Young, fresh due to the acidity, will probably require a long time, 93-94+ p?
  
  No signs here of any "dumb phase".

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• 1997 Ridge Monte Bello 92 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Deep red colour, slightly faded at the edge.
  Nose with blackcurrants, some plum compote, hints of eucalyptus and mint, some barnyard aromas and spice, some tar. More flowery aromas and violets developed with time in the glass. Some developed notes but very young and fruity nose, very nuanced.
  Medium bodied++, palate with dark berries, good acidity, impression of sour berries, noticeable but softened tannins, spice.
  Rather developed, but still slightly young, drinkable but should gain further from some five more years (2016+). 92-93 p

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• 1995 Ridge Monte Bello 91 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Deep red colour, hints of purple. Deeper in colour than the 1997.
  Nose with noticeable barnyard notes, dark berries, noticeable spice with dried mild spices, some smoky notes and some flowery notes. Developed, wonderfully nuanced, Bordeaux-classic nose (of the left bank type).
  Medium bodied++, palate with dark berries and sour red berries, spice, medium(+) tannins that have softened somewhat. Slightly hard aftertaste compared with many other other vintages.
  Ready to drink, nuanced, but still somewhat young and could gain further from some additional cellaring. 91-92 p

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• 1992 Ridge Monte Bello 94 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Deep red colour, slightly faded at the edge.
  Nose with noticeable barnyard notes, ripe fruit with blackcurrants, plum compote, dried spices, sweetish and nuanced. Very similar to the nose of a developed Bordeaux, possibly with some right bank character. Slightly more sweetish nose than the 1995.
  Full bodied -, palate with ripe dark berries, quite noticeable tannins but of a softened character, spicy, quite concentrated aromas.
  Accessible, nuanced, but still rather young! 94-95 p
  
  From half bottle! And it is so great that I awarded my highest score of the tasting here! Wow!

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• 1984 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello 93 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Medium to deep red colour, faded at the edge.
  Nose with noticeable barnyard notes, dark berries, tar, spice, nuansed. Reminds me of a classical developed Bordeaux, mostly of left bank character.
  Medium bodied++, palate with ripe dark berries, some red berries, medium(+) softened tannins wit some dryness and tannic aftertaste.
  Mature, nuanced, with a lot of vigour. 93-94 p

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• 1978 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello 92 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Medium red core, brick colour at the edge.
  Nose with barnyard aromas, very flowery, red berries with some dark berries, some liqueur notes, spice. Developed, classical Bordeaux nose (some right bank character), but with a lot of vigour to it.
  Medium bodied++, palate with ripe dark and red, noticeable spice, medium and softened tannins, very nuanced, slightly tannic aftertaste.
  Fully developed with a tiny hint of bitterness of age and a tannic impression that comes through the fruit. Still has vigour but doesn’t need more time. 92-93 p

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