This was decanted and made all the difference. Surprisingly youthful, at times even a bit restrained. Waxy lemon, some stone fruit and a touch of caramel hinting at tropical fruit. Very polished, even lean, on the palate, with a dusty minerality on the mid palate. That caramel finish is quite sublime.
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The oak was more integrated than the last bottle a few years ago. Clean and crisp, this was a solid wine. Nothing spectacular but solid. Not a bad value for the price.
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Green apple on the nose. Probably a little too cold at first sip as the oak was like a 2x4. As it warmed a little bit the fruit came out a bit but was still restrained by the oak. Baked apple with just a touch of spice (cinnamon?), citrus in the background. Decent finish. A crisp, fresh wine with some minerality. Not bad, but just the oak never seemed to intergrate with the wine. Instead of adding nuisanced flavors it was "wood". Not the wine I remembered tasting at the winery.
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Notes of apple, banana and coconut. Rich and heavy with orchard fruit, toasty oak and a nice finish. Feels a little clumsy. Guessed Napa Chardonnay.
I usually enjoy the Ridge Chards quite a bit, but the oak seemed a bit heavy-handed in this particular vintage. Part of me wonders if it will age as nicely as the 2005 had; I suppose time will tell.
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Round and buttery entry, with notes of lemon curd, vanilla, cream and oak spice. While the oak is evident, it is in the background and the acids pick up nicely on the finish. Finishes clean, citric and crisp. Lots of persistence here.
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CT Tasting Group (My House): Complex nose of apples, baking spice, vanilla and yellow fruit roll into a full-bodied, rich mouthfeel. Very layered and complex on the palate showing a warm richness upon delivery that is backed up by spice, chalk and yellow fruit. Very long finish that still shows a distinct butteriness. Very Good – Drink Now.
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Absolutely seamless. Poured blind, this fit in perfectly with a lineup of white Burgundy, and was one of my favorite of the night. Lots of depth here, layers of citrus, riper orchard fruits, chalk, spice, and deft vanilla butter accents coming together, and conveyed on the palate with great elegance and finesse. Outstanding balance and length, just a fantastic wine and a reminder that I really should drink more Ridge.
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Simply outstanding! And I am giving it a "low" score because it has more oak than I like, but even then, all aromas and palate are so balanced, elegant, and structured, I am sure some tasters will find it somehow less than thrilling because it does not scream BIG!
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Nose: Really complex aromas of spiced apple, caramel, fig and pear. Palate: Very evolved but still a good acidity presence with fig flavors, nuts and pineapple showing. Spicy finish is medium to long. This is very balanced and drinking at peak right now IMO. Drink up now and over the next 6-9 months. Solid effort from Ridge.
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This is a parcel selection, and is intended for longevity and complexity. It is more vibrant than the Jimsomore, and has a bright acidity and is refreshingly ful of stone fruit and Meyer lemons, with some tropical influences.
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Wow, what an interesting wine. My first Ridge chard. Nice nose of florals and minerals. Incredible acidity for a chard, which it a bit shocking at first sip, and then becomes a wonderful treat at it sinks in. Lots of complexity going on, with wet stone, hay, apple, pear, peach. Clearly built for the long haul, but feel free to back up the truck.
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really impressed with this bottle -- in the past, i have found the oak overly aggressive. here, it was strong, but well integrated with lemon, tropical fruit, and a nice acidity that kept it fresh. medium finish is outstanding. good value.
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There is so much going on with this one. What a treat! The nose showed a sweetness of vanilla, honeysuckle and caramel. This was balanced by very mild light-colored cigar, wet hay, fresh green leaves. The mouth-feel was incredibly viscous which, combined with the tart acidity, coated the whole palate and gave a very long finish. There were mild flavors of honey, caramel and even roasted marshmallow, but had a much brighter flavor than the smells indicated due to some pear, tart green apple peel and a small amount of citrus.
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Golden appearance. Green apple, molasses on the nose. Buterly, green apple and banana with a long creamy finish. An excellent, balanced well integrated wine. Top knotch
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Wine Festival Tasting Room, quick notes. Tangy nose of lemon peel, red apple, and a touch of oak. Nice fruit on the round palate showing pear, apricot, and some smokey oak. Very dry, with tons of acidity. Very nice.
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Pale glossy lemon yellow. Open, quite expressive nose with aromas of zesty citrus, white flower blossom and a roundness from the touch of buttery hazelnut. Fresh and bright with firm acidity and good minerality, there are full flavours of ripe melon and banana with a lingering nutty finish.
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Perfumed bouquet with candy fruit. On the palate tropical fruits and fresh citrus acidity and a firm dose of oak. Nice freshness and a long finish. Really nice wine.
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Nicely balanced wine of apples, citrus, butter, oak present but unlike other TNs I thought it was in the background, and great acidity. Nice spice in the mid-palate. As a Burgundy fan that usually finds California chardonnay too buttery, too oaky, too fruit forward, I found this wine more fruit forward than I would otherwise like, but still, it was balanced, good stuffing, and although unmistakably Californian, less extracted than most other California chardonnay.
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Sparkling light gold color with a pronounced nose of citrus. Warm apple and pear, cream, lots of butter and oak with a good acidic structure underlying.
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Bright gold but clear. Nice aroma of lemon oil, baked apple & slight honeysuckle & vanilla. Rich & lightly perfumed. Soft entry of baked apple & hard edged wood that flows into a creamy, lush, thick finish. The acidity is overwhelmed by the rich flavors but it's there. OK.
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Golden color. Buttery oak nose. Apple and melon with way too much oak. Tart, acidic finish. Not a fan of these butter bomb type Chardonnay's from California.
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Medium yellow with a subtle citrus nose. Moderate fruit of baked apple and some pear with a tangy citrus -- orange -- on top. Some butter and cream. Lots of backbone with a pronounced acidity. Should evolve for a few more years
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What's nice about this wine is the acid. Too many California Chardonnay's lack the necessary acidity to go with with foods and this is not a problem with this wine. A bit of creamy oak on the nose, but in a good way; and more importantly not that noticeable on the palate. A solid wine, but not great. This would be one to set aside for a few years to let mellow and I think it will gain a little more complexity.
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Ridge Tasting (Farpointe Cellar): Great balance. Nice fruit with a little unsweet honeysuckle. A little creamy oak on the end, but it's not at all intrusive.
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Nose - sweet, light, lovely spiciness, litchi and lemon. Redwood, hint of integrated sulfite, shy, sweet, light fruit, touch of bitter oakiness. Needs 2+ years. 90+ pts
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12/26/2020 - depechemoroder Likes this wine: 91 Points
This was decanted and made all the difference. Surprisingly youthful, at times even a bit restrained. Waxy lemon, some stone fruit and a touch of caramel hinting at tropical fruit. Very polished, even lean, on the palate, with a dusty minerality on the mid palate. That caramel finish is quite sublime.
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6/7/2019 - JS1056 wrote: 89 Points
The oak was more integrated than the last bottle a few years ago. Clean and crisp, this was a solid wine. Nothing spectacular but solid. Not a bad value for the price.
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2/14/2016 - JS1056 wrote: 87 Points
Green apple on the nose.
Probably a little too cold at first sip as the oak was like a 2x4. As it warmed a little bit the fruit came out a bit but was still restrained by the oak.
Baked apple with just a touch of spice (cinnamon?), citrus in the background. Decent finish. A crisp, fresh wine with some minerality.
Not bad, but just the oak never seemed to intergrate with the wine. Instead of adding nuisanced flavors it was "wood".
Not the wine I remembered tasting at the winery.
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12/27/2015 - John McCabe wrote: 91 Points
Pretty rich and buttery but with a bite and some spice. Slightly sharp.
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11/13/2015 - AllRed wrote: 89 Points
Notes of apple, banana and coconut. Rich and heavy with orchard fruit, toasty oak and a nice finish. Feels a little clumsy. Guessed Napa Chardonnay.
I usually enjoy the Ridge Chards quite a bit, but the oak seemed a bit heavy-handed in this particular vintage. Part of me wonders if it will age as nicely as the 2005 had; I suppose time will tell.
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8/10/2014 - mdefreitas wrote: 92 Points
Round and buttery entry, with notes of lemon curd, vanilla, cream and oak spice. While the oak is evident, it is in the background and the acids pick up nicely on the finish. Finishes clean, citric and crisp. Lots of persistence here.
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7/17/2014 - WMWG Likes this wine:
CT Tasting Group (My House): Complex nose of apples, baking spice, vanilla and yellow fruit roll into a full-bodied, rich mouthfeel. Very layered and complex on the palate showing a warm richness upon delivery that is backed up by spice, chalk and yellow fruit. Very long finish that still shows a distinct butteriness. Very Good – Drink Now.
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7/17/2014 - salil wrote: 93 Points
Absolutely seamless. Poured blind, this fit in perfectly with a lineup of white Burgundy, and was one of my favorite of the night. Lots of depth here, layers of citrus, riper orchard fruits, chalk, spice, and deft vanilla butter accents coming together, and conveyed on the palate with great elegance and finesse. Outstanding balance and length, just a fantastic wine and a reminder that I really should drink more Ridge.
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1/18/2014 - jmht wrote: 92 Points
Simply outstanding! And I am giving it a "low" score because it has more oak than I like, but even then, all aromas and palate are so balanced, elegant, and structured, I am sure some tasters will find it somehow less than thrilling because it does not scream BIG!
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8/13/2013 - Mattshank wrote: 92 Points
Nose: Really complex aromas of spiced apple, caramel, fig and pear. Palate: Very evolved but still a good acidity presence with fig flavors, nuts and pineapple showing. Spicy finish is medium to long. This is very balanced and drinking at peak right now IMO. Drink up now and over the next 6-9 months. Solid effort from Ridge.
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4/28/2013 - vine20 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Light yellow color with a soft citrus nose. Some lemon and honey with minerality and a brace of acidity.
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12/8/2012 - patespo1 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Needs time in the bottle, will round out in 5 years. Slight butter now, a little too much acid
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5/30/2012 - winebratsf wrote:
This is a parcel selection, and is intended for longevity and complexity. It is more vibrant than the Jimsomore, and has a bright acidity and is refreshingly ful of stone fruit and Meyer lemons, with some tropical influences.
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2/22/2012 - Scott Butler Likes this wine:
Wow, what an interesting wine. My first Ridge chard. Nice nose of florals and minerals. Incredible acidity for a chard, which it a bit shocking at first sip, and then becomes a wonderful treat at it sinks in. Lots of complexity going on, with wet stone, hay, apple, pear, peach. Clearly built for the long haul, but feel free to back up the truck.
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2/17/2012 - mgstull Likes this wine: 90 Points
Pale gold. Tropical fruits, toasty but well-judged oak and a hint of cinnamon. Nice long finish. Good QPR.
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9/22/2011 - KVM wrote: 89 Points
a real nutty character in the nose. Tasty, some bitterness on the finish.
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8/7/2011 - ews3 wrote: 93 Points
really impressed with this bottle -- in the past, i have found the oak overly aggressive. here, it was strong, but well integrated with lemon, tropical fruit, and a nice acidity that kept it fresh. medium finish is outstanding. good value.
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7/17/2011 - MatthewJEd wrote: 90 Points
My wife likes it too - and so do I.
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7/11/2011 - chefpete wrote: 92 Points
My wife loves this.
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6/18/2011 - bboy wrote: 85 Points
Fresh, quite vibrant with acidity, lemon and honey
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6/13/2011 - Dive Shark wrote: 98 Points
There is so much going on with this one. What a treat! The nose showed a sweetness of vanilla, honeysuckle and caramel. This was balanced by very mild light-colored cigar, wet hay, fresh green leaves. The mouth-feel was incredibly viscous which, combined with the tart acidity, coated the whole palate and gave a very long finish. There were mild flavors of honey, caramel and even roasted marshmallow, but had a much brighter flavor than the smells indicated due to some pear, tart green apple peel and a small amount of citrus.
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5/29/2011 - vine20 wrote: 91 Points
Notes consistent with 3/12/2011.
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5/21/2011 - chefpete wrote: 92 Points
The wife loves it. very clean and wonderful.
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5/6/2011 - dchisholm wrote: 92 Points
Golden appearance. Green apple, molasses on the nose. Buterly, green apple and banana with a long creamy finish. An excellent, balanced well integrated wine. Top knotch
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3/31/2011 - MattTM wrote:
Wine Festival Tasting Room, quick notes. Tangy nose of lemon peel, red apple, and a touch of oak. Nice fruit on the round palate showing pear, apricot, and some smokey oak. Very dry, with tons of acidity. Very nice.
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3/22/2011 - Biggsy wrote: 90 Points
Pale glossy lemon yellow. Open, quite expressive nose with aromas of zesty citrus, white flower blossom and a roundness from the touch of buttery hazelnut. Fresh and bright with firm acidity and good minerality, there are full flavours of ripe melon and banana with a lingering nutty finish.
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3/22/2011 - dustbuddy wrote: 87 Points
Tasted as part of a Sampler tasting. Toast presumably from malo on the nose followed by fresh acidity and then a long finished of buttered toast.
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3/22/2011 - Zweder wrote: 90 Points
Perfumed bouquet with candy fruit. On the palate tropical fruits and fresh citrus acidity and a firm dose of oak. Nice freshness and a long finish. Really nice wine.
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3/14/2011 - jmht wrote: 90 Points
Nicely balanced wine of apples, citrus, butter, oak present but unlike other TNs I thought it was in the background, and great acidity. Nice spice in the mid-palate. As a Burgundy fan that usually finds California chardonnay too buttery, too oaky, too fruit forward, I found this wine more fruit forward than I would otherwise like, but still, it was balanced, good stuffing, and although unmistakably Californian, less extracted than most other California chardonnay.
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3/12/2011 - vine20 wrote: 91 Points
Sparkling light gold color with a pronounced nose of citrus. Warm apple and pear, cream, lots of butter and oak with a good acidic structure underlying.
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3/6/2011 - alxaguiar Likes this wine:
Smooth, no dry after taste
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2/2/2011 - ed-d wrote: 88 Points
Bright gold but clear. Nice aroma of lemon oil, baked apple & slight honeysuckle & vanilla. Rich & lightly perfumed. Soft entry of baked apple & hard edged wood that flows into a creamy, lush, thick finish. The acidity is overwhelmed by the rich flavors but it's there. OK.
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11/23/2010 - kstoddard Does not like this wine:
Golden color. Buttery oak nose. Apple and melon with way too much oak. Tart, acidic finish. Not a fan of these butter bomb type Chardonnay's from California.
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9/14/2010 - vine20 wrote: 91 Points
Medium yellow with a subtle citrus nose. Moderate fruit of baked apple and some pear with a tangy citrus -- orange -- on top. Some butter and cream. Lots of backbone with a pronounced acidity. Should evolve for a few more years
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6/9/2010 - TomTom wrote:
What's nice about this wine is the acid. Too many California Chardonnay's lack the necessary acidity to go with with foods and this is not a problem with this wine. A bit of creamy oak on the nose, but in a good way; and more importantly not that noticeable on the palate. A solid wine, but not great. This would be one to set aside for a few years to let mellow and I think it will gain a little more complexity.
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6/5/2010 - soyhead wrote: 91 Points
nose -lime, pit fruit, floral
mouth - great, refreshing, good acidity, good mouthfeel, light custard. delicious.
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4/13/2010 - RedLoverJim Likes this wine: 93 Points
Ridge Tasting (Farpointe Cellar): Great balance. Nice fruit with a little unsweet honeysuckle. A little creamy oak on the end, but it's not at all intrusive.
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3/18/2010 - yhn wrote: 90 Points
Nose - sweet, light, lovely spiciness, litchi and lemon.
Redwood, hint of integrated sulfite, shy, sweet, light fruit, touch of bitter oakiness. Needs 2+ years. 90+ pts
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