Ridge Montebello Tasting & subsequent drinks
Berry Brothers, London
Tasted Tuesday, March 22, 2011 - Thursday, March 24, 2011 by pjaines with 1,596 views
Introduction
Ridge were in London to show off some of their new releases as well as a vertical of Montebello (1995 to 2000). More notes to follow on the newer wines
Flight 2 - Diner at 28-50 (3 Notes)
Probably the finest burgundy and one of the finest bordeaux wines I have had in a single diner.
Closing
Where previously I had been dismissive of most American wines to age long term, this really showed me that elegant, structured and complex wines are being made in California that very much have a sense of place about them. I will look at the Montebello in another way now.
The zinfandels that were tasted were not really my kind of thing, but even they had excellent balance.
2000 Ridge Monte Bello
USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains
(3/22/2011)
Big, deep and primary - very tight right now and lacks a little bit of freshness and acidity. Needs time - quite a lot of it. Decent but pales compared to the 98 and 96.
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1999 Ridge Monte Bello
USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains
(3/22/2011)
Really just a pup at the moment - packed in tight and needs to stretch its legs a little an unwind. Sweet fruit, opulent but firm. Good but hold for now.
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1998 Ridge Monte Bello
USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains
(3/22/2011)
Incredible wine - oozes quality and class. Wine of the night, alongside the 1996. Fresh, good acidity - depth of fruit but restrained with mint, black fruit - light on the palate but persistent. Opulent and classy. Much lighter and compact than the 1996 but very much a serious serious wine.
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1997 Ridge Monte Bello
USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains
(3/22/2011)
Shy nose - tannic and compact - teeth gripping tannins but the quality of the fruit is peeking out. Young and needs more time. Very good.
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1996 Ridge Monte Bello
USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains
(3/22/2011)
Stunning. Menthol to the fore here - really tasted like an old Cos d'Estournel at times. Deep, complex fruit with leather, more mint, softly woven tannins - smooth but awesome quality with a sweet finish. Ready for action.
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1995 Ridge Monte Bello
USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains
(3/22/2011)
Asian spices, red fruit, mature - bit of a rubbery twang in there - sweet cherry pie, very much a brown, mature Bordeaux palate. Very good.
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2009 Ridge Chardonnay Estate
USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains
(3/22/2011)
Lemon nose with a clean and fresh burst - concentrated finish. Decent juice.
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1999 Ridge Chardonnay Monte Bello
USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains
(3/22/2011)
Burnt butter, lemon, flint, minerals - very powerful nose. Big smokey finish. Decent but half a glass is enough. Lacks freshness.
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2008 Ridge Chardonnay Monte Bello
USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains
(3/22/2011)
Lean nose, oaky palate - some citrus and sherbert on the front of the palate - deep finish. Good depth and complexity. Very good.
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2009 Ridge Lytton Springs
USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley
(3/22/2011)
Caramel nose, confected palate but there is good acidity and freshness on the palate which gives balance. Long finish. Decent, but a little sweet at times.
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2010 Ridge Monte Bello
USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains
(3/22/2011)
Barrel sample. Dark, almost black. Raisin and caramel, smokey and compact palate - very chewy right now with teeth gripping tannins. Tough to love right now, but then this is at least 10 years from being ready.
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2009 Ridge Geyserville
USA, California, Sonoma County
(3/22/2011)
Raisins, liquorice and spices. Serious, deep palate - very sweet fruit though - probably too sweet right now. Milky soft finish - much softer now than the Lytton Springs 2009. Reminds me of an Amarone.
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