As others have written, the 2018 Ridge Chardonnay Estate is tropical, with notes of lemon and apricot, well-balanced, and not overly oaked. It might benefit from 1-3 years in cellar, but drinks just fine now with seafood or a light pasta.
My favorite among the three 2018 zinfandels we sampled, the Lytton Springs was dry, acidic, not at all sweet, and clearly built for aging. Cherry, cracked pepper, flowers, and menthol are all present now, but I think they'll really start showing in another 5 years or so as the tannins settle down.
What a weird little wine! Carignane bottlings are rare for a reason: I'm not really sure what you'd serve alongside this other than a fruit or cheese plate. Still, we enjoyed this tart, light-bodied summer sipper. Notes of freeze-dried raspberry, plum pie, and orange zest add up to something that resembles a less-sweet Fruit Roll Up. Drink over the next few years.
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Opened with a tiny bit of funk. Otherwise, the 2018 Ponzo is a predominantly bright red-fruited wine with notes of tart cranberry on its long, pleasantly acidic finish. Drink over the next 5-7 years.
From 130-year old vines, the 2018 Pagani has a massive nose of raspberry, bing cherry, and rosewater. The effect reads as slightly medicinal to me, but the underlying tannic structure and the long, tart finish are nice. Gulp down over the next 5-7 years.
More Cote-Rotie than California, the mid-weight 2015 Lytton Estate Syrah is all brambly fruit, earth, wood, tobacco, coffee, and mint. It has a long, acidic finish and is well-evolved. Great to drink now and over the next decade or so.
Ridge Estate Cabernets pose a dilemma: they're beautiful wines that need several years post-release to drink their best, but we just don't have the cellar space to age $59 bottles. Sigh.
Today, the 2017 is a bit closed, but its ample tannins already offer a velvety texture. Mountain flavors abound: dark purple and red fruits, cocoa, cigar box, spice and oak. I'm really looking forward to revisiting this in 2-5 years and expect it to evolve nicely for another 10-15.
2018 Ridge Chardonnay Estate 91 Points
USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains
As others have written, the 2018 Ridge Chardonnay Estate is tropical, with notes of lemon and apricot, well-balanced, and not overly oaked. It might benefit from 1-3 years in cellar, but drinks just fine now with seafood or a light pasta.
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2018 Ridge Lytton Springs 93 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley
My favorite among the three 2018 zinfandels we sampled, the Lytton Springs was dry, acidic, not at all sweet, and clearly built for aging. Cherry, cracked pepper, flowers, and menthol are all present now, but I think they'll really start showing in another 5 years or so as the tannins settle down.
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2018 Ridge Carignane Buchignani Ranch 89 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County
What a weird little wine! Carignane bottlings are rare for a reason: I'm not really sure what you'd serve alongside this other than a fruit or cheese plate. Still, we enjoyed this tart, light-bodied summer sipper. Notes of freeze-dried raspberry, plum pie, and orange zest add up to something that resembles a less-sweet Fruit Roll Up. Drink over the next few years.
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2018 Ridge Zinfandel Ponzo Vineyard 90 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Opened with a tiny bit of funk. Otherwise, the 2018 Ponzo is a predominantly bright red-fruited wine with notes of tart cranberry on its long, pleasantly acidic finish. Drink over the next 5-7 years.
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2018 Ridge Zinfandel Pagani Ranch 90 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley
From 130-year old vines, the 2018 Pagani has a massive nose of raspberry, bing cherry, and rosewater. The effect reads as slightly medicinal to me, but the underlying tannic structure and the long, tart finish are nice. Gulp down over the next 5-7 years.
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2015 Ridge Syrah Lytton Estate 91 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley
More Cote-Rotie than California, the mid-weight 2015 Lytton Estate Syrah is all brambly fruit, earth, wood, tobacco, coffee, and mint. It has a long, acidic finish and is well-evolved. Great to drink now and over the next decade or so.
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2017 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Estate 93 Points
USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains
Ridge Estate Cabernets pose a dilemma: they're beautiful wines that need several years post-release to drink their best, but we just don't have the cellar space to age $59 bottles. Sigh.
Today, the 2017 is a bit closed, but its ample tannins already offer a velvety texture. Mountain flavors abound: dark purple and red fruits, cocoa, cigar box, spice and oak. I'm really looking forward to revisiting this in 2-5 years and expect it to evolve nicely for another 10-15.
Post a Comment / 5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue