Our first Ridge (courtesy of Grapes, White Plains)

Landmarc
Tasted Wednesday, April 20, 2016 by MC2 Wines with 334 views

Introduction

It's not often that back to back wine events (especially on school nights) is something that we do, but the opportunity to try some old Monte Bello which had been on my bucket list was too good to pass up. Daniel organized an excellent event with a good showing (about 43 people) including the wine maker of Ridge who gave us some thoughts on the bottles and just the winery in general (he'd started there back in '94 so was well versed).

Also always fun to meet some new wine people and we certainly had a lively table and conversation around wine.

In addition, there was a pre-course of 2014 Ridge Estate Chardonnay which was served with truffle butter braised spring vegetables.

Flight 1 - Second Course (2 Notes)

Served with braised short rib lasagna.

Both interesting daily drinker wines. I preferred the Petite Sirah a bit more but that would generally need a bit more time to settle down.

  • 2013 Ridge Zinfandel Ponzo Vineyard

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    From one of the 40 Zinfandel sites that Ridge has collected over the years (this one located in Paso Robles). The wine is a bit hot and definitely more of a bright fruit. Raspberry, hints of spice, quick finish. The type of wine that was created to be had at a BBQ or something similar. Drank next to a Petit Sirah and I just liked the toughness of that one a bit better although this was very quaffable.

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  • 2013 Ridge Petite Sirah Lytton Estate

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

    Big tannic beast especially being drunk side by side with the Ponzo Zinfandel that was poured. This is dark plum and wood. It opened up a bit in the glass over the course of many hours, but feels like it needs more time to be ready to drink (or a long decant). Bottle was opened about 2.5 hours before drinking so did get some slow ox.

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Flight 2 - Third Course (2 Notes)

Served with mustard crusted lamb chops with olive oil crushed potatoes + sauteed green beans

Preferred the Geyserville which was drinking quite nicely. Interesting to try the field blends which added a bit more character to the wine. Would love to try one of these aged. Seems like they have great potential.

  • 2013 Ridge Lytton Springs

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

    Didn't realize that these wines are more of a field blend - this one having the Zinfandel with the Petite Sirah, Carignon, and some others. Very fruit forward, red currant, a bit on the young side. Wonder if it would mellow down with some age - I think I'd like a bit more in that case. It's got a touch of spice which I like. Overall though less interesting that the Geyersville which was just in a nice spot for the night.

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  • 2014 Ridge Geyserville

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley

    This was in a lovely spot for the night and some folks at our table actually preferred to it to the Monte Bello. Very red fruit, more tannic than the Lytton Springs. This wine is made up of 18 different varietals in the field blend from a vineyard that dates back to the 1800's (has been a Ridge Vineyard for wine since late 60's). Would love to see this in ~10-15 years. Seems to have the backbone for aging.

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Flight 3 - Fourth Course (4 Notes)

Served with robiolo + old amsterdam cheese (honey + walnut raisin crostini)

Easy to see why the Monte Bello is the flagship wine - it's in a different league. And the aged versions are particularly special.

  • 1992 Ridge Monte Bello

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    Definitely definitely WOTN. My first experience with a Monte Bello and my first reaction is 'wow - this is really young' and then I realized it's a 24 year old wine. From a drought year and aging well. Pretty impressive. Could definitely go for another 10 and maybe even 20 years. Clean cherry flavor, some spice. More time and I'm also getting mint and eucalyptus. On the nose there's hints of alcohol, but it doesn't come out on the palette at all. Very nice wine.

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  • 1995 Ridge Monte Bello

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    Seems to be in a bit of a gangly phase. Like the '92 my first impression is just how young it is. The tannins are really strong here. Creates a dusty flavor to the wine. Very mellow. Hints of rocks. Very old work. Unripe red fruit. But overall just a quiet wine that didn't quite find it's feet even drinking over the course of an hour or so.

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  • 2004 Ridge Monte Bello

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    Pretty sure my pour was the last of the bottle as it had quite a bit of sediment in it so that might end up impacting my view. For many at the table this was their number 2 of the Monte Bello's but I'm not sure I didn't prefer the 2012. Interesting year where there was rain in October and harvest went into November. Wine had almost a hint of funk to it when paired with the cheese. Still a fair amount of tannins. There was this odd almost washer fluid like presence which I'm guessing might have been caused by the glass it was served in. Not necessarily offputting, just different.

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  • 2012 Ridge Monte Bello

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    50th Anniversary bottling from a drought year (the first of a number). All four varietals made the cut for this (CS, Merlot, CF, PV). Deep black fruits - with time it's that ripe blackberry that I find a lot in California cabs. Excellent spice, hints of leather, clean. There's good potential here (enough that we put in an order for a few bottles).

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Closing

WOTN I think was clearly the '92 Monte Bello which was very impressive. We were recalibrating palette a bit from the big Rhone night the previous evening (a 14 year vertical of Beaucastel Hommage a Jacques Perrin), but overall I was impressed with the wines. Lots that are very reasonable with great aging potential (esp the Geyersville). A few that have the opportunity to be really special (the Monte Bellos). And clearly a place worth visiting the next time we're in California.

Also met some wonderful other wine folks which is always fun.

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