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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 90.9 pts. and median of 91 pts. in 58 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by pitcrewstrategist on 11/9/2023 & rated 90 points: divine- always my favorites- ridge - in my heavy napa cellar. this ones' been sleeping since i purchased it, wow! I think it is at or near it's absolute peak...Amazing bouquet of rick dark, some floral. Definite mix of red and black fruit. Oak has mellowed out over the years. Definite herbal undertones. Very tasty and enjoyable, but drink it now or near now.... (443 views) | | | Tasted by Joelene on 6/4/2023 & rated 92 points: Great grip and acidity, good freshness, still young, better after 3 hour decant. Hold. (614 views) | | | Tasted by Rich S on 5/27/2023 & rated 90 points: Popped and poured. Mix of red and black fruit with some sweet and sour notes on the palate from the American oak which definitely comes through. Some development of tobacco and herbs. Good acidity but not much in the tannin department. Smooth mouthfeel but getting a little soft. I think this wine is a touch below where it was a few years ago so I would say drink up if holding any. Still, very tasty and enjoyable merlot. (588 views) | | | Tasted by BRR on 1/16/2023: This is in its prime drinking window, in my opinion. The nose was a fresh and complex mix of dark fruit and spice, and the palate followed suit. Dark cherry, coffee grounds, maybe a bit of herb...enjoy while it still has great fruit but isn't too primary or unevolved to provide complexity. I agree with the prior two TNs in that this indeed has some Cabernet-like character. Will hold for quite some time too, I'd imagine. (970 views) | | | Tasted by La Cave d'Argent on 8/19/2022 & rated 94 points: From a well-cellared bottle that had been decanted one hour in advance, this wine (100% Merlot, sourced from the Monte Bello Vineyard) was tasted in double-blind fashion over a two-hour period. Opaque crimson in color, it delivers an intensely aromatic and flavorful package of ripe black currants, Montmorency cherries, baking spices, bittersweet chocolate, dill and tobacco. Medium-to-full-bodied, low in acidity, seamlessly alcoholic (13.5%) and judiciously oaked, it wraps its flavors with plentiful silky-textured tannins and is layered on the mid-palate. Smooth and long on the back end, this is a tremendous Merlot that was misidentified by most tasters as being a Cabernet Sauvignon. Comparably cellared bottles should provide pleasure for another five years or more. Drink now-2027. (1489 views) | | | Tasted by BHRH on 8/19/2022 & rated 93 points: Decanted one hour prior. Very dark crimson - almost opaque. Smoky mocha, tobacco and herbs mix with some coconut and dill aromas from the American oak. Dense black cherries, plum, smoky herbs and cloves on the rich, voluptuous palate. No hard edges on the medium to full-bodied finish that features sweet, well-integrated tannins, more mocha, and a hint of licorice with just enough acidity to be balanced. Seemingly at peak, this has the stuffing to last another 2-4 years.
Interestingly none of the 10 blind tasters correctly identified the varietal - most guessing this was a Napa Cab. A couple were put off by the dill/coconut American Oak influence, but most everyone else really liked this 100% Merlot from the famed Montebello vineyard. (971 views) | | | Tasted by Winiac on 11/1/2021 & rated 89 points: Solid wine with acid plus, and medium body. (1456 views) | | | Tasted by Martin Redmond on 10/7/2021 & rated 92 points: paque crimson color with exuberant black currant, black cherry, violets dried herb, vanilla and creosote aromas. On the palate, it medium-bodied with mouth-watering fresh acidity and well-integrated supple, sweet tannins with black cherry, black currant, plum, leather, mocha and dried herb flavors with a hint of graphite minerality. Long savory finish. 100% Merlot 13.5% abv
Ridge first made Merlot in 1974 from the exposed Point Vineyard on Monte Bello Ridge at an elevation of 2,600' They wanted to see if the quality of Merlot could match the quality of, and be included in their Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. Once satisfied that it could, over the years they planted more and more merlot as space and resources allowed. From 1975 on, it has been part of their top-tier Monte Bello bottling whenever the assemblage tasting so indicated. They subsequently bottled the Merlot in '87, through most of the 90s, and perennially commencing in 2007. (1501 views) | | | Tasted by JS1056 on 9/29/2021 & rated 90 points: Drank over 3 nights.
Took a little while 9n the first night to come together. Initially got the cherry and plum but there was a little sourness/acidity that took away from the wine. After about 1/2 hour in the glass it started to come together with the acidity receding and secondary flavors coming through. Rosemary, thyme etc, maybe clove. Also a silkiness appeared that was missing initially.
By day 2 this was hitting on all cylinders. There was still a little bit left on day 3 and tried to see how it would hold up. No fall off at all from the previous day.
This wine still has a lot of life left. I would definitely give it a quick decant or at least open the bottle an hour or so before. (1364 views) | | | Tasted by mpricher on 9/6/2021 & rated 90 points: Ridge continues to provide a compelling Merlot at a very reasonable price point. Can’t say that I was in a “Merlot” mood, but once I pair this with pesto pasta dinner, I was surprised by the depth of the combo. Solid bottling! (1289 views) | | | Tasted by bjschmitt on 4/12/2021 & rated 91 points: With ribeye steak (1699 views) | | | Tasted by mpricher on 12/13/2020 & rated 91 points: Total depth and lusciously delicious- black and red fruit with some leather and fall herbs. Glad I have one more bottle of this. (1475 views) | | | Tasted by SMHalps on 12/6/2020 & rated 93 points: Part of a blind tasting of 5 different wine types. This was the group favorite. Despite a cork that almost split in half the long way, and some crud under the capsule, the wine was in great shape. Medium plus length finish. Lots of aged secondary flavors. Complex and enjoyable. Purchased years ago, direct from Ridge. (1508 views) | | | Tasted by Rixley on 5/16/2020 & rated 94 points: Wonderful bottle of wine! Complete cherry fruit but mb. So nicely mature. Had ordered from vineyard 5 years ago and enjoyed with a couple of delicious ribe eyes off the grill. Aroma and taste all come together nicely. If you have or can find, enjoy! (1844 views) | | | Tasted by cartey on 3/29/2020: Primary sweet red fruit. Not particularly oaky. The tannin tastes a little "stemmy". For my palate, I'd put this away for at least another 10 years for all those elements to develop into tertiary flavors. Should be nice then. (1978 views) | | | Tasted by Ellen5181 on 1/17/2020 & rated 97 points: This cork broke as well!
Funk on nose. Bottle neck and shoulders have a layer of sediment.
Appearance - clear, medium ruby but a dark more purple ruby than red ruby.
Nose - unpleasant funk blew off fast. It’s lovely. Clean but with earthiness. Youthful. Medium plus intensity, sour cherry, wet leaves, cinnamon,
Palate - I love this wine and I think it is drinking great right now. Wish I had more. It has the combination of ripe flavorful fruit, sour cherry and black fruit, with the earthy, animal funky flavors that for me, give a wine the nuance that makes it interesting. A wine that evolves in the glass. Tannins are soft and emerge after you swallow. Soft powdery tannins vs gritty ones. It’s all balanced now. Alcohol is medium. Medium plus body. Finish is medium plus. Mostly the black fruits.
I can’t imagine how this gets better except aging could be interesting as other notes develop? I also love how the winemakers describe the making process on the label.
I have to buy more!
The only ps note I would add, with air it is losing its umph (2.5 hrs in) so I question the life of this. Drinking fine now. (1957 views) | | | Tasted by westcoastwannabe on 12/18/2019 & rated 90 points: Decanted for an hour. Nice structure with medium depth and tart cherry. Good finish. One of the better merlots I've had. (1812 views) | | | Tasted by Purple Grillz on 10/1/2019 & rated 90 points: Solid, not spectacular. Slightly candied nose. Red Fruit with drying tannins. Opens with an extremely short pomerol like mid palate on entry. It seems like tighter berry selection and a little less oak would help. Very resistant to oxidation, I had a glass worth stored in a ball jar to check in on over a few days and it barely budged, definitely is better with at least a 24 hour decant. (2106 views) | | | Tasted by Ellen5181 on 4/22/2019 & rated 90 points: The cork broke. There was an initial “funk” but it blew off. Bottle has been open approx 2 hrs.
Appearance - clear (except for the occasional piece of wayward cork). Medium plus plus (2 times) ruby.
Nose - youthful, medium plus intensity, fresh, ripe, black and red fruits, baking spices. Some alcohol burn on nose and you can feel it a bit in eyes. Pepper, charred wood.
Palate - bracing acidity. Not bad, but it definitely says “hello.” It’s a powerful wine. Better with food. Flavors linger on palate. Acidity, vibrant fruit, and then the tannins on the finish. They linger after you swallow and hide out af the tops of your gums. The dryness beckons the next taste. Medium plus body. ABV listed as 13.5 but feels like it should be higher.
This is an interesting eye opener for anyone who tells you that Merlot is a blending grape and you wouldn’t want to drink it on its own. I wouldnt guess this in a blind taste. I would assume it was a hybrid new world blend, West coast producer, with the addition of some Italian grapes.
Fresh sweet ripe fruit yet a very dry wine. It’s powerful on the palate and then you feel parched. It’s the tannins. You end thirsty but there is no after feel of sour. Just dry. Enjoy with a glass of water and a meal that has some flavors. I’m enjoying it with a tagine, I suspect this could pair with A Peking duck or BBQ flavors. Asian flavors. (2098 views) | | | Tasted by Keith Cooper on 4/1/2019 & rated 90 points: Tasted at The Wine Society's dinner, Berkshire, UK, with Ridge winemaker Eric Baugher introducing the wines. The first red of the evening, served to accompany duck liver parfait interim course. Dark blackcurrant colour. Beautiful nose of up front, fresh, dark berry fruits. Very approachable now, but most felt still young despite its 7 years since the vintage. (1903 views) | | | Tasted by R Z on 10/27/2018 & rated 94 points: Finesse, balance, ripe fruit, with backbone, acidity and length. Transitioning to maturity, but delicious now. Underrated for what it is, which is Ridge Montebello vineyard merlot from an excellent vintage and legendary winemaker, aged 21 months in barrel, with four-plus years bottle age.
Matched well with filet mignon, garlic scapes and fresh porcini mushrooms. (2142 views) | | | Tasted by arthur05 on 10/25/2018 & rated 90 points: Love the aromatics of rich plum, black cherry, milk chocolate, coffee latte, vanilla, but not as balanced as I'd like on the taste. Acidity is too high, especially for a 2012. I would wait another year or so to see how it develops. (2075 views) | | | Tasted by jgreco on 10/13/2018 & rated 93 points: The 2012 Ridge Estate Merlot is one of those wines that makes me want to drink more merlot. It is a total pleasure to drink. Inky dark purple in color. It features a wonderful bouquet of plums and black cherries. It is incredibly fresh on the palate and then firm and tannic on the long finish. This should drink well for another decade. (1998 views) | | | Tasted by mflesh on 9/11/2018 & rated 91 points: Would have been a nice Merlot in the cab vs Merlot tasting. The good? This is a merlot. The bad? If you're trying to stump someone? Good luck because....this is a classic merlot. From Monte Bello Vineyard. Nose is brambly, yet a bit sweet. Terroir is on the nose in full force. The entry is dark yet a slight bit youthful. Forest floor, plum, black fruit and quite a bit of it. Finishes with some drier tannin. This one is at the top of its game right now, but isn't going to win many awards for WOTN as it just isn't complex on its own. Drank MUCH better with food. Drink or hold another 5 to 10 years. (1956 views) | | | Tasted by Grillgod on 9/1/2018 & rated 90 points: Tannins a bit thin, opens up a bit after decant. Pleasant dark berry flavors with a touch of graphite. Feels a bit past its prime, fades a bit after opening up. Still an outstanding wine overall. (1836 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, Santa Cruz Mountains: Scaling the Heights (Jul 2015) (7/1/2015)
(Ridge Merlot Estate Central Coast) Subscribe to see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous. (manage subscription channels) |
| Ridge Producer website | Wikipedia
Ridge Vineyards is a California winery specializing in premium Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and Chardonnay wines. Ridge produces wine at two winery locations in northern California. The original winery facilities are located at an elevation of 2,300 feet (700 m) on Monte Bello Ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA near Cupertino, California. The other Ridge winery facilities are at Lytton Springs in the Dry Creek Valley AVA of Sonoma County.MerlotMerlot is a dark blue–colored wine grape variety, that is used as both a blending grape and for varietal wines. The name Merlot is thought to be a diminutive of merle, the French name for the blackbird, probably a reference to the color of the grape. Its softness and "fleshiness", combined with its earlier ripening, makes Merlot a popular grape for blending with the sterner, later-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon, which tends to be higher in tannin.EstateIn the United States, "Wines with “estate bottled” designations must: a) also designate an appellation of origin or an AVA, and both the vineyards and the winery must be located there; b) the grapes must come from vineyards owned or controlled by the winery; and c) the wine must have been produced, from crush to bottle, in a continuous process without leaving the winery’s premises."
- WINE LABEL FAQS: A QUICK SUMMARY OF LABEL DESIGNATION RULES" by David E. StollUSAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.California2021 vintage: "Unlike almost all other areas of the state, the Russian River Valley had higher than normal crops in 2021, which has made for a wine of greater generosity and fruit forwardness than some of its stablemates." - Morgan Twain-Peterson Santa Cruz Mountains Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association | Wikipedia
Once referred to by wine writers as the Chaine d'Or -- or "golden chain" -- the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA sits above Silicon Valley, running along the craggy range next to the Pacific on some of the prettiest parts of Northern California. The area supports more than 75 wineries, despite being limited by geography and high land prices.
In 1981 the Santa Cruz Mountains Viticultural Appellation became federally recognized, one of the first American viticultural areas to be defined by geophysical and climatic factors. The appellation encompasses the Santa Cruz Mountain range, from Half Moon Bay in the north, to Mount Madonna in the south. The east and west boundaries are defined by elevation, extending down to 800 feet in the east and 400 feet in the west. |
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