Coravin fun - Ridge range

My place, Kent Street
Tasted Wednesday, January 15, 2020 - Friday, January 17, 2020 by chatters with 164 views

Introduction

Pulled out the Ridges to have a little look and check the state of play. Took my time over it rather than rush rush rushing which drew out the enjoyment.

Flight 1 - Older Cabernet (3 Notes)

Well, nom nom nom nom. the 86 is, unsurprisingly, getting a little weary...not that I mind...the 92 is stunning, so that's this years birthday wine... and the 95 is showing sightly less wonderful than I remember it

  • 1986 Ridge Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    (1/15/2020)

    From Coravin. Leather, earth, toasted vanilla, sweet spice, a little blackcurrant, bramble and raspberry lozenge backed by cedar. in the mouth it's sourly juicy, red and blackcurrant, chalky tannins are still very present and, with time, a little rhubarb note is evident. Long with a little alcohol warmth and the merest whisper of vanilla on the finish. This one is defo in the tidy me up phase but yummy none the less...

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  • 1992 Ridge Monte Bello

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    (1/15/2020)

    Magnum. From Coravin. Generous blackcurrant and plums, leather, polished oak, cigar box, slight vanilla and sweet spice., smells serious and almost a little austere despite the fruit generosity, a little biscuit and pepper as well. With time in the glass it gets more leathery but also denser. On the palate it's got juicy acidity, pure Cabernet blackcurrant with Cassis balanced with silky tannins. Preposterously long. Finish just doesn't quit. In a great spot now. Really lovely. Impossible to spit. I got this for a milestone birthday a couple of years ago but it wasn't showing so well...and now it's my birthday in about 2 1/2 weeks...Soooooooo

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  • 1995 Ridge Monte Bello

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    (1/15/2020)

    From Coravin. Aromas of brambles, blackcurrants, plums, earth, leather, tobacco leaf, a little ripe cranberry underpin, sweet spice. Richly generous nose. The cranberry note seems to lend freshness to the palate. Tannins are silky and long and the fruit persists. Nice but not as good as I remember it being.

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Flight 2 - Younger(ish) Cabernet (5 Notes)

This was a promising bracket...the 2004 is (finally) beginning to hit it's straps.

  • 2004 Ridge Monte Bello

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    (1/16/2020)

    From Coravin. Slightly spiritous, porty notes, brambles, blackcurrant, ripe plums, a little fig and, almost, prunes. Sweet spice, vanilla, a smidge of coconut, a little leather and menthol with time in the glass. The fruit is less porty on the palate, fresh and fleshy black currant, brambles and plums. Still a touch of figs but no prunes. Tannins are silky. Long. Yum.

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  • 2005 Ridge Santa Cruz Mountains Estate

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    (1/16/2020)

    From Coravin. Toast, blackcurrant, blueberry, slight raisins, sweet spice, a little plum, cedar, a dusty element here as well, like baked earth. With time a little cream, vanilla and a tiny touch of charcuterie. Juicy, wet, black, fruits married to modestly tight cedar and vanilla. Tannins that persist long with the fruit. Still plenty of gas left in the tank. Good.

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  • 2006 Ridge Monte Bello

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    (1/16/2020)

    From Coravin. Very Christmas cake nose...initially with plenty of sweet baking spices and vanilla, cream, married to figgy, raisiny fruits. Then an impression of black currant and berry compote. This is followed by cedar, clay and woody notes. Lovely nose. Smells polished and expensive. And the palate is very much a reflection of the nose. Tannins are slight cat tongue raspy with an emery paper edge, it's broad across the mid palate and ridiculously long. Wonderful.

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  • 2013 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Estate

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    (1/16/2020)

    From Coravin. Blackcurrant, blackberry, slight toasted plums, sweet spice, cedar, smells like a young left bank Bordeaux from a good vintage. Still quite primary nose. Juicy, medium plus acid, blackcurrant compote with a touch of vanilla and sweet baking spice. Tannins are firm, flour textured and carry the fruit long on the finish. Harmonious and balanced. Very good for me.

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  • 2014 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Estate

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    (1/16/2020)

    From Coravin. Rich, ripe, plummy, quite concentrated, slight baked black berry underpin, slight liquorice, there is also a slight herbaceous underpin oddly enough. Juicy, less overtly ripe on the palate but still has a blackberry jam quality. Feels a bit out of whack at the moment. Tannins are chalky and persistent but the fruit drops away a little. Hmm.

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Flight 3 - Zinfandel (9 Notes)

Ahh, Ridge Zinfandel...The reason I've even got any of these superb wines in my cellar. The revelation back in 2003 of the incredible, to my uneducated palate, 2001 York Creek. But that's enough back story. I struggle with the 2013 vintage but everything else was pleasant. As always, a lot of fun.

  • 2015 Ridge Zinfandel Pagani Ranch

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

    (1/17/2020)

    From Coravin. Medium minus intensity aromas of wet plums, a little cherry, woody spice, alcohol warmth, a touch of cedar. Juicy, fresh acid, plum complete, talc textured tannins, woody spices and alcohol heat (non-intrusive) help carry the finish. totally different to my recollection of this wine. Rather nice.

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  • 2017 Ridge Three Valleys

    USA, California, Sonoma County

    (1/17/2020)

    From Coravin. Red cherries, a slightly hard, herbaceous note, then slightly porty plums and jubey black cherry backed by a little sweet spice and slightly earthy notes. Jammy and jubey plums, black cherries, tannins are cats tongue raspy and carry the fruit whilst drying the gums. Balanced; the acidity sufficient to keep things from being cloying. Nice.

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  • 2013 Ridge Zinfandel East Bench

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

    (1/17/2020)

    From Coravin. Medium minus intensity aromas of warm, spiced plums with a herbaceous, slightly green underpin, slightly dusty notes as well, alcohol heat. The palate is much of a muchness with the nose. Overall it's a touch disappointing. Tannins are leathery and tight, alcohol warmth intrudes slightly on the finish but the wine lacks fruit. This has faded considerably since I last tried it. A good decant may help but otherwise drink up.

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  • 2014 Ridge Zinfandel East Bench

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

    (1/17/2020)

    From Coravin. Ripe plums, slight cream and vanilla, a little toast, red cherry and a confected, candy floss note as well. Pretty nose. And equally pretty on the palate. Fleshy fruit, silky tannins, alcohol heat helps carry all long. Very nice.

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  • 2015 Ridge Zinfandel East Bench

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

    (1/17/2020)

    From Coravin. Ooh, smells quite serious initially. Savoury plums, black cherry, slight earth, spice, a little blood note, polished oak. With time in glass the fruit grows more compote and is joined by some baked strawberry. On the palate it's surprisingly fresh, strawberry joins plums and black cherries, there is some peppery spice, tannins are drying and a little chalky , but by no means dominant. Balanced. Long. Fantastic.

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  • 1993 Ridge Lytton Springs

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

    (1/17/2020)

    From Coravin. Medium minus intensity red cherry, leather, earth, umeboshi, sweet spice, sweet plums, vanilla, dusty. A little toffee, cherry, chalky tannins, slight alcohol warmth. Okay.

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  • 2007 Ridge Lytton Springs

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

    (1/17/2020)

    From Coravin. Black tea, a little flat initially, leather, sweet spice, earth, vanilla, slight cherry, quite tired nose on this wine though there is an underpin of black cherry and plum. Far better on the palate, savoury, plummy, a little black cherry, leather, quite dense and broad, tannins are silky fleshy. Long. Nice.

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  • 2013 Ridge Lytton Springs

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

    (1/17/2020)

    From Coravin. Dusty, plums, sweet spice, earth, cherry, slightly reductive notes, herbaceous elements. with time it starts to show toast and red currant and a little pepper. Hmm, it's juicy and fleshy, floury textured tannins, the fruit is medium minus intensity and in the red spectrum. Medium length. Hmm.

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  • 2015 Ridge Lytton Springs

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

    (1/17/2020)

    From Coravin. Aromas of cream, vanilla, jubey plums and black cherry, sweet spice. A rich and generous nose. And the palate is very much a reflection of the nose from a flavour perspective. The tannins are tight and slightly grainy. All travel long. Young but lovely and approachable now. Yum.

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Closing

the wines of Ridge would be a very good reason to emigrate to the United States...or, at least, plan a little holiday...Pitch a tent at the winery...Buy everything I can that they make...and taste and drink to my hearts content.

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