I tasted this on release and thought it was killer, but knew it needed time. This has transformed into something special--this is a Baby Monte Bello. Medium-plus bodied, with dark red fruit balanced with acidity and a silky finish. This is what California Cab should be--totally delicious, but not sweet, not over the top, and a joy with a meal. Make sure you decant this or use one of those filter-spouts because this threw a ton of sediment.
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Did not decant but let air in bottle for an hour before first glass. Much more accessible than our previous tasting 3+ years ago, but still compact and tightly wound with thick tannins on the finish. Dark fruit is definitely anchoring the palate with red fruit highlights and tertiary notes also surfacing. Will be best 2025-2032. Technical score: 91. Enjoyment score: 91.
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Still too soon for this bottle, showing noticeable vanilla-oak aroma and some edgy unresolved tannin. Drinkable with two hours of air but will like this better when more resolved. This used to be a pretty decent value but was thinking how much more I like $40-60 Bordeaux these days while drinking this.
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Superb effort. Dark fruited nose and palate. Tertiary notes emerging on the nose…tobacco leaf, coffee grounds, licorice…suggesting early drinking window. Supple tannins and impressive length. Really love this workhorse wine from this estate. One of my favorites with a little bottle age.
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Coravin fun - Ridge range (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Fresh wild blackcurrant, a little plum, a touch of pyrazine, vanilla, cream, sweet spice, still quite primary. Juicy, wild blackcurrant backed by a little black plum. Sweet spice, slight non-intrusive alcohol warmth on the finishes lends a little peppery note, tannins are quite woody textured and drying. Hmm, time.
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Early in its drinking window yet very impressive. Decanted for an hour then enjoyed over next two. Last hour it was positively singing, open and loads of flavor. Dense like many 2013s, yet ready for long haul.
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I was impressed with this one. Nose of stewed plums, dark fruit and wet stone. Tart berry, hunt if eucalyptus and leather. This wine has some life left to it, barely moved into secondary flavors. Drinking well and easily has another 5 years of vigor.
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Aromatic, complex and long with layers of ripe black fruit, violets, cedar, mocha, and spice. Very fresh with well integrated velvety tannins and a long finish. From magnum. Blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc.13.8% abv
Consumed at a Christmas Party with friends.
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While it is quite good and the standard one can expect from Ridge, I guess I expected more from 2013. Perhaps MB took the very best ones in a difficult vintage and the ones left for the estate cab were just on par with other years. Thus far 2007 remains the best I've had in both youth and age
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Decanted 2hrs. Still has quite a bait of oak to absorb. Developing aromatics, black fruits, flint ,smoke starting to waft easily from the glass. Dry oak austerity competes with the fruit on the palate. Nice fruit but still behind the oak at this point. Needs at least 3yrs I’d guess.
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Had 2 bottles of this at Magdalena in Baltimore. Drinking really well right now, great cab that won't break the bank. Awesome nose and great on the palate as well, long finish. Really a good QPR for a second wine compared to the Monte Bello as their top wine.
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Decanted for 30 minutes and then enjoyed. The oak was integrated enough, the weight and balance was excellent and whole package was an perfect match for our rolled skirt steak stuffed with olives, garlic, and greens with a red wine reduction.
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This is why I love Ridge. What a value. Got this in a vertical tasting pack over the holidays along with a ‘10 (which I drank for Christmas) and a ‘16, which needs to lie down a few more years. Drank this to follow up a 2013 Viader, and honestly may hav preferred the Ridge. As other reviewers have stated, much more Bordeaux-esque than most California cabs, but still has a “freshness” that gives its place of origin away. I don’t drink a ton of Margaux, mainly St Julien and Paulliac. Excellent QPR. Would buy more if it came available. Will hold my remaining bottle for probably at least 5 more years.
Mature, rounded, elegant bordeaux blend, sourced from Ridge Monte Bello vineyard. 75% cab, 20% merlot, the rest petit verdot & cab franc, 13.8% alc. Length, finesse, elegance, nothing overdone or out of proportion. Perfect match with home-cooked creekstone fillet mignon and spinach ravioli. Have been buying and cellaring 2 btls of the Monte Bellos from the winery for more than a dozen years (haven't tried one yet), but the Ridge cabernet sauvignon estate bottlings give a great indication of the quality and style.
With prime beef tenderloin, scallops, twice baked potatoes. Really nice nose, promising a smoothness much to be desired. Agree that this is reminiscent of a nice Margaux. Will hold next bottles for a bit, but it seems to be drinking very nicely right now.
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I haven’t had a california wine that was expressing this close to a bordeaux, until this one. I can only imagine how legendary the 2013 Monte Bello is/will be.
On the nose, was showing pencil lead, earthy aromas, cherries with a bit of pepper, savory undertones. Very margaux-like (having tasted margauxs recently, it shares really similar expressions). Medium to medium plus on the palate, good balance, tannins in the middle, resolving but still firm, not as big as I imagined they were when this was released. Red currants, plum, a nice tart notes with some smoke showing, a nice long finish.
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Opened 2 hours ahead of beef chili stew. Dark, purple-crimson color. The nose is still muted, bringing whiffs of cherry blossoms, dark chocolate, pipe tobacco, and forest floor. The palate is medium, round, compact, and textured, bringing flashes of red currant, cherries, and raspberry intermixed with blackberry, plum, and blackcurrant notes, which flows into a tannic and juicy finish. Drink 2022-2030. Technical score: 93. Enjoyment score: 91.
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Purple hue that opens with violet and red bell pepper aromas. Black currant and blackberry flavors dominate the front palate while graphite and cedar smoke linger on a lasting finish.
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Medium purple. The nose starts out a little tight. After some coaxing you get cassis, Margaux-like florals, pencil lead and toasted coconut. Flavors of blackberry and black plum on a medium-weight palate that finishes a tad lean but nicely textured. Emphatically medium plus acidity. Tannins are fine-grained and slightly sticky. I drank the wine on its own but would have enjoyed it more with a juicy steak.
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Nose of cassis and cherry, well balanced palate with plenty of life and fruit left. Tart cherry, more cassis, not especially complex but straight up Cabernet with a med+ peppery finish. A little tannin still but fine with food and nicely balanced with mouth watering acid to complement almost any food. Not at all heavy - mid+ weight. Opening after an hour to show even more flavor. Very good, well crafted wine.
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Drinking very nicely now, while still having a long life ahead of it. Tannins have softened since release, but are still mouth-coating. Fruit is more forward and still quite primary. Great gastronomical wine.
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Decanted & aired for 30 minutes before tasting. Floral & very light earth aromas. Nice balance and acidity - flavors of dark berries & cassis with a medium/long finish. Drink or Hold
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Black in the glass. Cassis, black currants, sweet tobacco, dill and nice herbal undertones on nose. On palate, more fruit driven - cassis, plum, blackberry. Medium+ acidity, medium tannins and long finish. Very nice. 92+/-
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Excellent Bordeaux blend. Balanced and not over the top. Similar profile to a left bank Bordeaux but definitely sweeter fruit than what you would get from a left bank Bordeaux. Tannins still coat the mouth. Just entering its drinking window. Easily another 10 to 15 years left to go.
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At 7 years, still in the primary phase but drinking very well. Traditional cabernet flavors shine through and perfect structural balance makes this good with food or on its own. I try to drink my Ridge Estate Cabs 6-8 years from vintage date and since the 2008 vintage this is drinking the youngest at this stage, to the degree that I bought an additional one in the secondary market because this needs more time to show all that it has. Enjoyable today but recommend another 3-5 years to let some tertiary notes emerge.
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Coravin fun - Ridge range; 1/15/2020-1/17/2020 (My place, Kent Street): 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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Man what a beautiful nose on this wine! Definitely took some coaxing, coming from the prolific 2013 vintage but boy this is a great wine in the making. Subtle exotic perfume with herbal notes and tobacco as well as dark fruits. Slightly muted but with loads of air it fleshed out a bit. Hold another few years before opening.
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Didn't take good notes. Decanted for 2 hours and paired with bone-in ribeye steaks. Bordeaux type nose - black currants, blackberry, tobacco & coffee grinds/ herbs and touch of menthol.
Fruit primary on palate - blackberry, black cherry & black currants. Medium body, medium+ acids, medium+ tannins and long finish. Very enjoyable. Would guess WA state Cab or left bank Bordeaux (warm year) if tasted blind. 92++
Would buy again.
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Still very nice, but less impressive and structured this time. A bit short and flabby in the mouth - almost like the merlot part was too dominating this time.
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-color:inky purple with light purple edges -body: by appearance, this is a medium plus to full body wine, at 13.5% abv on the bottle -aroma: herby ripe black fruits, blackberry, vanilla, pencil lead & shavings, some thyme and lavender, -palate: black currant flesh on the front of the tongue that quickly slipped into ripe, tannic skins. There's an slight earthiness herbaceous note to this wine as well. Even with an hour of decanting the tannins are medium plus to full, acidity is medium to medium plus. There's a black fruit finish that lingers for ages.
This wine was very tidy and restrained on its own but with a steak & tomato gravy dinner it was singing.
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Dark berries, tobacco and some vanilla in the nose. Rather acidic on the palate. Some tannins. Will probably need time to mature and integrate. Next bottle will be consumed in about 2 years.
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Wow . le vin du salon pour moi toujours eu un faible pour le domaine Ridge des vins qui viennent me chercher des vins sur la retenus mais qui en donnent amplement. une combinaison puissance et élégance digne des grands. le meilleur RQP du salon je regrette de pas en avoir acheté au courrier vinicole. ah que j'adore les cab avec ce côté piment ancho épicé que certain associe au cèdre . Cheers!
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Coravin fun - Ridge range (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Rich, ripe, wild blackcurrant, sweet spice, very slight herbaceous notes. Served blind I'd call Bordeaux but, again, the palate reveals all - there is a little warmth here - juicy, drying taninns, quite flour textured. Long. Pretty good.
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Classic US cabernet blackcurrant and minty freshness. Did very well with red meat now, but evolved siginificantly over time in the glass and will benefit from further cellaring and most likely develop into even higher rating in the future.
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Paired with Filet Mignon. Decanted, cedar, cassis, mild tannins, a little oak, long finish. Drinking well, but this has a lot of life left. Will hold my other magnum for 5+ years.
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Popped and poured at restaurant. Fully opaque ruby color. Dark berry fruit, licorice, lavender, menthol, and some subtle earth are all evident on the nose after it opens up a bit. On the palate, it’s quite structured and tightly wound with an elegant, graceful style somewhat closer to Bordeaux than Napa coming in at 13.8% alcohol. Although long time winemaker Paul Draper has crafted this blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc for the long haul, it’s rewarding drinking now as well. Monte Bello’s 2nd wine puts most Napa cult cab’s 2nd wines to shame at a fraction of the cost.
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Dark, purple, full bodied Peppermint. Dark fruit. Some earthy hints. Hibiscus. Medium finish. Very good wine. Big and bold. Not a lot of finesse but super enjoyable none the less.
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Trenger et par timer i karaffel for å utfolde seg skikkelig. Dufter deilig av lær, krydder, mørke bær, litt røyk og noen parfymerte florale toner. Kraftfull og ung, men ikke uten eleganse. Den drar på det sekundet vinen treffer tunga. En bølge med frukt av den unge virile sorten slår innover. Dette er konsentrert og friskt, men kan godt sitte noen år til på skolebenken før den skal ut i arbeid. Trykket holdes oppe og den strammer seg opp i finish med noen litt kantete tanniner. Ikke noe å si på lengden, den sitter lenge og vel. Flott kjøttvennlig vin med mye frukt og power. Vil dog anbefale en 5 års ventetid.
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Very good, still young. Leather on the nose and other notes that developed with each sniff. Good acidity, tannins still raw and need time to resolve. Will definitely want to pick some up.
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Decanted & consumed over two hours. Strong nose full of dark berry aromas. Black and blueberry, cassis, oak & vanilla flavors. Full bodied & balanced with a long finish. Still quite tannic, so give this one a few years.
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It's funny, when I tasted this at the winery last fall side-by-side with the 2013 Monte Bello, this came across as the more red-fruited, lifted, and finessed wine as compared with the fortress of a wine that Monte Bello was. But drinking the Estate alone today, this came across as a fortress of its own, pitch black with real structure and drive. This may be the second wine, but it's a vin de garde just the same. Not a waste to drink now but likely just a shell of what it may become.
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Drank as part of a blind tasting of CA cabs ranging in price from $7 to $70. For the group as a whole, this was narrowly edged out by the 2013 Conn Valley Estate cab (by a single point). But I preferred this wine, especially at this time point. This has beautiful green/herbal notes to balance the nice fruit and structure. I was surprised at how accessible this was relative to the other wines in the tasting. I think it is pretty elegant already, and will probably get substantially better. Should definitely buy more of this!
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My local shop had this wine available in magnums and half bottles. Picked up one of each, the magnum went to the cellar where it will stay for a few years at least. Drank the half bottle same day I bought it. I decanted it for 1 hour, there was no sediment. Very opaque, deep purple color. Raspberry, dark chocolate, and a hint of spice on the nose. Tart with chalky tannins. Bone dry and not particularly fruit forward. Relatively high pyrazines. The half bottle was a fun sneak peak, but this wine should improve immensely with some age.
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Delicious. Very young still, however after a few hours in the bottle, the wine really started to show its true potential. Looking forward to trying this again in a few years.
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Coravin taste-off: Recent CA acquisitions: Nice nose, a bit candied, with some very subtle forest floor notes; just gorgeous on the palate with lots of tobacco and herb to go with the red fruit; mid-weight, complex, and balanced; really elegant and pretty drinkable now but sure it will get better; tremendous value here
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Great wine. The ripe brambly Cab nose has subtle earthy elements, and the palate, while concentrated and ripe, has a sleek and cool-inflected character that sets Ridge apart. Impeccably balanced with sneaky depth. Yes, this is oaky, but not unbearably so. Really does taste like a baby MB. One to stock up on.
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Wine & Spirits Top 100 Tasting (City Walk @ Metreon, San Francisco, CA): Excellent aromatics with spice, black fruit, wonderful complexity; palate is full bodied, rich texture, approachable tannins, black fruit throughout, medium acidity; medium-plus finish. Always an excellent value and great quality. 92-94
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Checking in on this to see if I should buy more. This wine is not that far off from the '12 Montebello I recently drank. High intensity fruit, with the acid to match, finish is long and grippy. Really good concentration and focus at this young age. This should bode well for the '13 Montebello. Wow.
SLDS September 2016: Blind. Florals with violets and rose, chocolate, ash, mint and vanilla. The palate has opulent fruit, there is a boldness but also plenty of oak based structure. Good length and can certainly use more time before looking at it again.
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Tasted at the winery, decanted hours before we arrived....Opaque garnet with a purple edge. Nose has floral elements like rose petals, black raspberry, menthol and a little earthiness. On the palate there is black plum, black raspberry, cassis, chocolate and a decent amount of tannin. Long rich finish with a great mouth feel. Precise and finely balanced, this is the best Ridge estate Cab I have had. While it doesn't quite have the depth of flavor and complexity of Monte Bello this is the closest I have tasted to a Monte Bello in this bottling. Tightly wound, this will need some time in the cellar to reach its full potential. This puts most 2nd Bottling Napa Cabs to shame at a fraction of the price of most and would be competitive in a blind tasting with some of the "cult" wines at multiples of its price.
Doing a great job of defying Cali Cab stereotypes, the 2013 Ridge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon brings acidity to balance its fruit. Dark fruit and spice on the nose, redder fruit on the palate with massive intensity and acidity to match. The finish is long and complex, with slowly emerging spice notes. You just have to love combination of powerful medium-dark fruit, acidity, and subtle oak. This excellent, tightly wound Cab needs at least 5 years in the cellar.
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This time: a dead ringer for a young Pauillac. Not, y'know, a FG, but something really interesting like GPL. The components are still a jigsaw puzzle, but it's going to sort into something profound. Getting more of this.
Pop and pour. Very approachable immediately out of the bottle. Dark fruits on the nose and palate. Fruit is present but not in your face. Well balanced and a pleasure to drink. 92+
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Tasted at Ridge Vineyards. Young, but more accessible than I would have guessed. Similar to the '12 in quality, just have to wait and see. This needs 5 years minimum.
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Tasted at Ridge. Excellent. Way too young at the moment. Good bones and structure. I would cellar for 8-10 yrs... patience typically pays off big time with this bottling.
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Aroma: cinnamon, chocolate, red currant, some leather. Palate: leather, graphite, green peppers, plums. Considerable green astringent tannins. Lots of potential here but needs age.
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Still so young - oak not at all integrated - but if it lasts, will be a fantastic wine. Far better than other recent vintages, smacks a bit of its bigger brother MonteBello in overall quality
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75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc..13.8%....DARK and inky...wonderful rich nose of blackberry, creme de cassis, bing cherries, graphite powder, potting soil, dusty white pepper/American oak spice......LOTS going on! Just a huge creamy full-bodied mouthfeel...the Merlot smoothness shows....ripe and sweet(but not too sweet) dark berry fruits...liqueured and silky....same flavs as that awesome nose....as well as licorice, menthol, some pipe smoke.......this isn't flabby...good structure with crushed minerality, chalky tannins with big spice kick.....only knock might be a short abrupt finish with some bitters....but it kind of works toning down the sweetness, which I'm sure will integrate nicely with some age. VERY tasty cab here that is accessible now, but should gain even further.
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As with all 2013 California cabs (not just Napa, I'm finding), this needs a serious decant before showing its stuff. On the pnp it was cran-cherry city, tart and not particularly fun. 4 hours later, it was excellent. EDIT: Day two, I wondered for a moment if I'd accidentally picked up a different wine (there was some vintage Bordeaux decanting). It was so well integrated and it had a very faint glimmer of that secondary mushroom thing going on in the finish that surprised me. Really interesting.
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Right at the legal limit for the cabernet on the label. Used to be Santa Cruz mountainestate. So for restaurant lists they upped it. Stylish and powerful. Much more cabernet planted at their rusten property with lots of different clones of cabernet. At the bottom of the hills.
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Ridge Monte Bello Tasting (Ridge Monte Bello, Cupertino): Very nice aromatic nose with earthy aromas, savory, almost seems like early mature aromas, red fruit; palate is full bodied, blackberry fruit, nice richness, balanced approachable tannins; long finish. Very nice and a good value. 92-93
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Opaque ruby in color, the nose is chock full of uplifted dark fruits with some nicely integrated oak and mint. Maybe some dark chocolate and espresso notes as well.
The palate entry is tight with rounded tannins and more espresso fruit character. The finish is long and satisfying.
I think this is a great wine that will reward 7-10 years of cellaring and I very much look forward to tracking its evolution.
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Go West! Tasting (The QEII Centre, Westminster, London): Nice sweet ripe smoky, sweet spice notes, some fresh stalkiness too, the palate is the same, smoke, oak, ripe black fruit and long finish. You can’t go wrong with this one, unmistakable Californian Cab
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4/8/2024 - Michael T. Zoppo Likes this wine:
I tasted this on release and thought it was killer, but knew it needed time. This has transformed into something special--this is a Baby Monte Bello. Medium-plus bodied, with dark red fruit balanced with acidity and a silky finish. This is what California Cab should be--totally delicious, but not sweet, not over the top, and a joy with a meal. Make sure you decant this or use one of those filter-spouts because this threw a ton of sediment.
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3/12/2024 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 91 Points
Did not decant but let air in bottle for an hour before first glass. Much more accessible than our previous tasting 3+ years ago, but still compact and tightly wound with thick tannins on the finish. Dark fruit is definitely anchoring the palate with red fruit highlights and tertiary notes also surfacing. Will be best 2025-2032. Technical score: 91. Enjoyment score: 91.
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3/9/2024 - Force5 wrote:
Still too soon for this bottle, showing noticeable vanilla-oak aroma and some edgy unresolved tannin. Drinkable with two hours of air but will like this better when more resolved. This used to be a pretty decent value but was thinking how much more I like $40-60 Bordeaux these days while drinking this.
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1/29/2024 - Nojomoschwa Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wow. An amazing aged Cab from Ridge. Such a great value when purchases as well.
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1/1/2024 - Shugs_Claret wrote: 93 Points
Superb effort.
Dark fruited nose and palate. Tertiary notes emerging on the nose…tobacco leaf, coffee grounds, licorice…suggesting early drinking window. Supple tannins and impressive length. Really love this workhorse wine from this estate. One of my favorites with a little bottle age.
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11/24/2023 - BigTex22 Likes this wine:
Drank out of magnum for Thanksgiving. Really nice, in a good spot.
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8/1/2023 - Macdog Likes this wine:
Too early. Hold.
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3/13/2023 - chatters wrote:
Coravin fun - Ridge range (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Fresh wild blackcurrant, a little plum, a touch of pyrazine, vanilla, cream, sweet spice, still quite primary. Juicy, wild blackcurrant backed by a little black plum. Sweet spice, slight non-intrusive alcohol warmth on the finishes lends a little peppery note, tannins are quite woody textured and drying. Hmm, time.
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3/12/2023 - pinkhouse Likes this wine: 90 Points
Early in its drinking window yet very impressive. Decanted for an hour then enjoyed over next two. Last hour it was positively singing, open and loads of flavor. Dense like many 2013s, yet ready for long haul.
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1/14/2023 - TRueNOLA Likes this wine: 94 Points
I was impressed with this one. Nose of stewed plums, dark fruit and wet stone. Tart berry, hunt if eucalyptus and leather. This wine has some life left to it, barely moved into secondary flavors. Drinking well and easily has another 5 years of vigor.
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12/17/2022 - Martin Redmond Likes this wine: 92 Points
Aromatic, complex and long with layers of ripe black fruit, violets, cedar, mocha, and spice. Very fresh with well integrated velvety tannins and a long finish. From magnum. Blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc.13.8% abv
Consumed at a Christmas Party with friends.
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11/19/2022 - td1836 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark fruit, sweet oak, still fairly structured. I believe this has several years ahead of it.
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11/6/2022 - RickyBobby62 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Strong herbal and herbaceous tastes with strong fruit, chocolate. After an hour, it became more acidic and started to fade.
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7/29/2022 - Larslatour wrote: 93 Points
The vanilla is gone. Supernice to drink now. Sweet fruit. Balanced. Have to buy more of this wine.
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5/22/2022 - hadukla Likes this wine: 93 Points
While it is quite good and the standard one can expect from Ridge, I guess I expected more from 2013. Perhaps MB took the very best ones in a difficult vintage and the ones left for the estate cab were just on par with other years. Thus far 2007 remains the best I've had in both youth and age
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4/30/2022 - jmoon Likes this wine: 91 Points
Best from first pour, good fruit expression. Stiffened uo and lost fruit abs gained drying edge after an hour. Limited if any upside. Good not great.
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3/25/2022 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted 2hrs. Still has quite a bait of oak to absorb. Developing aromatics, black fruits, flint ,smoke starting to waft easily from the glass. Dry oak austerity competes with the fruit on the palate. Nice fruit but still behind the oak at this point. Needs at least 3yrs I’d guess.
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3/25/2022 - werlbonn Likes this wine: 94 Points
Stunning nose, tannins still quite firm. Not at peak. Pretty sure that this one is going to be brilliant in a couple of years.
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3/18/2022 - drmilkweed Likes this wine: 93 Points
Complex, prominent oak and tannins overtopped by red and black fruit, dark chocolate. Drinks well now, but clearly a lot of development to come.
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2/20/2022 - msf6msf6 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Had 2 bottles of this at Magdalena in Baltimore. Drinking really well right now, great cab that won't break the bank. Awesome nose and great on the palate as well, long finish. Really a good QPR for a second wine compared to the Monte Bello as their top wine.
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10/16/2021 - bjschmitt Likes this wine: 92 Points
Throwing sediment now, but drinking beautifully.
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10/10/2021 - Djfermentation Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for 30 minutes and then enjoyed. The oak was integrated enough, the weight and balance was excellent and whole package was an perfect match for our rolled skirt steak stuffed with olives, garlic, and greens with a red wine reduction.
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9/26/2021 - g-man Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still young with a fair amount of firm tannins. Decanted and drank over 4 hours. Softened slightly but this has another few years to go to maturity.
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8/17/2021 - vancouvermatt wrote: 93 Points
Quite elegant, but with plenty of stuffing to age for a few more years.
Drink now with a decant or hold for a few more years.
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4/3/2021 - Don Roberto Likes this wine: 94 Points
Carried in to our favorite Persian restaurant, Rumi’s kitchen. Beautiful balance. Might be at peak.
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2/28/2021 - AAJR Likes this wine: 93 Points
Similar experience as last time. Enjoyed over 2 days - on day 2 the wine was at its best
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2/17/2021 - thestuer Likes this wine: 91 Points
First of the case. Great wine, will hold another year before opening the next one. Hold till '25 I'm thinking
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2/15/2021 - catowne1 wrote: 93 Points
This is why I love Ridge. What a value. Got this in a vertical tasting pack over the holidays along with a ‘10 (which I drank for Christmas) and a ‘16, which needs to lie down a few more years. Drank this to follow up a 2013 Viader, and honestly may hav preferred the Ridge. As other reviewers have stated, much more Bordeaux-esque than most California cabs, but still has a “freshness” that gives its place of origin away. I don’t drink a ton of Margaux, mainly St Julien and Paulliac. Excellent QPR. Would buy more if it came available. Will hold my remaining bottle for probably at least 5 more years.
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2/12/2021 - R Z Likes this wine: 93 Points
Mature, rounded, elegant bordeaux blend, sourced from Ridge Monte Bello vineyard. 75% cab, 20% merlot, the rest petit verdot & cab franc, 13.8% alc. Length, finesse, elegance, nothing overdone or out of proportion. Perfect match with home-cooked creekstone fillet mignon and spinach ravioli.
Have been buying and cellaring 2 btls of the Monte Bellos from the winery for more than a dozen years (haven't tried one yet), but the Ridge cabernet sauvignon estate bottlings give a great indication of the quality and style.
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2/5/2021 - bjschmitt Likes this wine: 92 Points
With prime beef tenderloin, scallops, twice baked potatoes.
Really nice nose, promising a smoothness much to be desired.
Agree that this is reminiscent of a nice Margaux. Will hold next bottles for a bit, but it seems to be drinking very nicely right now.
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1/15/2021 - Jbond12 Likes this wine: 95 Points
I haven’t had a california wine that was expressing this close to a bordeaux, until this one. I can only imagine how legendary the 2013 Monte Bello is/will be.
On the nose, was showing pencil lead, earthy aromas, cherries with a bit of pepper, savory undertones. Very margaux-like (having tasted margauxs recently, it shares really similar expressions). Medium to medium plus on the palate, good balance, tannins in the middle, resolving but still firm, not as big as I imagined they were when this was released. Red currants, plum, a nice tart notes with some smoke showing, a nice long finish.
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12/18/2020 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opened 2 hours ahead of beef chili stew. Dark, purple-crimson color. The nose is still muted, bringing whiffs of cherry blossoms, dark chocolate, pipe tobacco, and forest floor. The palate is medium, round, compact, and textured, bringing flashes of red currant, cherries, and raspberry intermixed with blackberry, plum, and blackcurrant notes, which flows into a tannic and juicy finish. Drink 2022-2030. Technical score: 93. Enjoyment score: 91.
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11/29/2020 - mark2eye Likes this wine: 92 Points
Big brambly wine. Graphite and blueberry nose. Jam, eucalyptus, and firm tannins on the palate. In a great window right now
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11/24/2020 - iDrum4Wine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Purple hue that opens with violet and red bell pepper aromas. Black currant and blackberry flavors dominate the front palate while graphite and cedar smoke linger on a lasting finish.
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11/19/2020 - DavidWong168 wrote: 91 Points
Medium purple. The nose starts out a little tight. After some coaxing you get cassis, Margaux-like florals, pencil lead and toasted coconut. Flavors of blackberry and black plum on a medium-weight palate that finishes a tad lean but nicely textured. Emphatically medium plus acidity. Tannins are fine-grained and slightly sticky. I drank the wine on its own but would have enjoyed it more with a juicy steak.
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10/27/2020 - Richard P Howden Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nose of cassis and cherry, well balanced palate with plenty of life and fruit left. Tart cherry, more cassis, not especially complex but straight up Cabernet with a med+ peppery finish. A little tannin still but fine with food and nicely balanced with mouth watering acid to complement almost any food. Not at all heavy - mid+ weight. Opening after an hour to show even more flavor. Very good, well crafted wine.
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6/9/2020 - Larslatour wrote: 91 Points
Great producer, great wine. A little to much vanille.....oak....my wife thouht it was a rioja.
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6/8/2020 - derrock Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking very nicely now, while still having a long life ahead of it. Tannins have softened since release, but are still mouth-coating. Fruit is more forward and still quite primary. Great gastronomical wine.
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4/18/2020 - AAJR Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted & aired for 30 minutes before tasting. Floral & very light earth aromas. Nice balance and acidity - flavors of dark berries & cassis with a medium/long finish. Drink or Hold
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4/11/2020 - CWilliam wrote: 92 Points
Pop & pour.
Black in the glass. Cassis, black currants, sweet tobacco, dill and nice herbal undertones on nose. On palate, more fruit driven - cassis, plum, blackberry. Medium+ acidity, medium tannins and long finish.
Very nice. 92+/-
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3/15/2020 - toddmk wrote: 92 Points
Excellent Bordeaux blend. Balanced and not over the top. Similar profile to a left bank Bordeaux but definitely sweeter fruit than what you would get from a left bank Bordeaux. Tannins still coat the mouth. Just entering its drinking window. Easily another 10 to 15 years left to go.
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3/13/2020 - Larslatour Likes this wine: 92 Points
Ridge always deliver good quality and ok price every new vintage.
Typical American sweet fruit version of Bordeaux blend. Great!
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3/10/2020 - jrkennedy37 wrote:
At 7 years, still in the primary phase but drinking very well. Traditional cabernet flavors shine through and perfect structural balance makes this good with food or on its own. I try to drink my Ridge Estate Cabs 6-8 years from vintage date and since the 2008 vintage this is drinking the youngest at this stage, to the degree that I bought an additional one in the secondary market because this needs more time to show all that it has. Enjoyable today but recommend another 3-5 years to let some tertiary notes emerge.
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1/16/2020 - chatters wrote:
Coravin fun - Ridge range; 1/15/2020-1/17/2020 (My place, Kent Street): 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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8/11/2019 - VoteferPedro Likes this wine:
Pop and pour
a delightful cabernet with sweet concentrated blackberry and dark fruit
with a soupçon of oak
was ready from the get go
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6/24/2019 - Winegeek83 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Man what a beautiful nose on this wine! Definitely took some coaxing, coming from the prolific 2013 vintage but boy this is a great wine in the making. Subtle exotic perfume with herbal notes and tobacco as well as dark fruits. Slightly muted but with loads of air it fleshed out a bit. Hold another few years before opening.
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5/4/2019 - Otaku Oenophile Likes this wine: 93 Points
First Ridge Cab.
Smell of flowers and fine black tea and currants is my first impression.
Mouth full of tobacco, currants and black tea.
Someone else mentioned flabby, yes I would say that this wine comes off this way.
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1/26/2019 - Bluethunder wrote: 91 Points
Decanted and drank over several hours. Dark fruit, tobacco, cassis, sweet integrated tannins with a medium finish. Still evolving but very good.
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1/3/2019 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Good now, but a baby.
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12/9/2018 - CWilliam wrote: 92 Points
Didn't take good notes. Decanted for 2 hours and paired with bone-in ribeye steaks. Bordeaux type nose - black currants, blackberry, tobacco & coffee grinds/ herbs and touch of menthol.
Fruit primary on palate - blackberry, black cherry & black currants. Medium body, medium+ acids, medium+ tannins and long finish. Very enjoyable. Would guess WA state Cab or left bank Bordeaux (warm year) if tasted blind. 92++
Would buy again.
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11/18/2018 - casoe Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still very nice, but less impressive and structured this time. A bit short and flabby in the mouth - almost like the merlot part was too dominating this time.
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9/2/2018 - HorstPeak Likes this wine: 92 Points
Impressive, after having the 2011, this was excellent! Can wait another 5 years to have the tannins settle in...
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7/31/2018 - Renton Likes this wine:
CSW Class 10 wine of the week
-decanted for an hour
-color:inky purple with light purple edges
-body: by appearance, this is a medium plus to full body wine, at 13.5% abv on the bottle
-aroma: herby ripe black fruits, blackberry, vanilla, pencil lead & shavings, some thyme and lavender,
-palate: black currant flesh on the front of the tongue that quickly slipped into ripe, tannic skins. There's an slight earthiness herbaceous note to this wine as well. Even with an hour of decanting the tannins are medium plus to full, acidity is medium to medium plus. There's a black fruit finish that lingers for ages.
This wine was very tidy and restrained on its own but with a steak & tomato gravy dinner it was singing.
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7/14/2018 - astomby wrote: 90 Points
Dark berries, tobacco and some vanilla in the nose. Rather acidic on the palate. Some tannins. Will probably need time to mature and integrate. Next bottle will be consumed in about 2 years.
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6/15/2018 - Ceo wrote: 92 Points
When gets a little air it opens and is lovely!! Add cheese and salum and life is good!! Cheers to all!!
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4/19/2018 - Derek Nadon Likes this wine:
Wow . le vin du salon pour moi toujours eu un faible pour le domaine Ridge des vins qui viennent me chercher des vins sur la retenus mais qui en donnent amplement. une combinaison puissance et élégance digne des grands. le meilleur RQP du salon je regrette de pas en avoir acheté au courrier vinicole. ah que j'adore les cab avec ce côté piment ancho épicé que certain associe au cèdre . Cheers!
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4/8/2018 - chatters wrote:
Coravin fun - Ridge range (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Rich, ripe, wild blackcurrant, sweet spice, very slight herbaceous notes. Served blind I'd call Bordeaux but, again, the palate reveals all - there is a little warmth here - juicy, drying taninns, quite flour textured. Long. Pretty good.
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3/18/2018 - casoe Likes this wine: 93 Points
Classic US cabernet blackcurrant and minty freshness. Did very well with red meat now, but evolved siginificantly over time in the glass and will benefit from further cellaring and most likely develop into even higher rating in the future.
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1/27/2018 - BigTex22 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Paired with Filet Mignon. Decanted, cedar, cassis, mild tannins, a little oak, long finish. Drinking well, but this has a lot of life left. Will hold my other magnum for 5+ years.
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1/12/2018 - kelmarleblanc wrote: 95 Points
This was one of the best wines I've had so far this year and what a tremendous value. Great nose and a little Bordeaux like taste. Thoroughly enjoyed
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11/24/2017 - ashikoh Likes this wine: 93 Points
Popped and poured at restaurant. Fully opaque ruby color. Dark berry fruit, licorice, lavender, menthol, and some subtle earth are all evident on the nose after it opens up a bit. On the palate, it’s quite structured and tightly wound with an elegant, graceful style somewhat closer to Bordeaux than Napa coming in at 13.8% alcohol. Although long time winemaker Paul Draper has crafted this blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc for the long haul, it’s rewarding drinking now as well. Monte Bello’s 2nd wine puts most Napa cult cab’s 2nd wines to shame at a fraction of the cost.
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10/6/2017 - Genghis88 Likes this wine: 90 Points
@ Hawksworth with Rob and Mike
Dark, purple, full bodied
Peppermint. Dark fruit. Some earthy hints. Hibiscus.
Medium finish. Very good wine. Big and bold.
Not a lot of finesse but super enjoyable none the less.
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9/23/2017 - hajoha wrote: 91 Points
Trenger et par timer i karaffel for å utfolde seg skikkelig.
Dufter deilig av lær, krydder, mørke bær, litt røyk og noen parfymerte florale toner.
Kraftfull og ung, men ikke uten eleganse.
Den drar på det sekundet vinen treffer tunga.
En bølge med frukt av den unge virile sorten slår innover.
Dette er konsentrert og friskt, men kan godt sitte noen år til på skolebenken før den skal ut i arbeid.
Trykket holdes oppe og den strammer seg opp i finish med noen litt kantete tanniner.
Ikke noe å si på lengden, den sitter lenge og vel.
Flott kjøttvennlig vin med mye frukt og power.
Vil dog anbefale en 5 års ventetid.
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9/5/2017 - Mike Dildine wrote: 92 Points
Varietally correct, rich, deep and balanced. Excellent now, will continue to improve for several years.
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5/26/2017 - nihraguk Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very good, still young. Leather on the nose and other notes that developed with each sniff. Good acidity, tannins still raw and need time to resolve. Will definitely want to pick some up.
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5/11/2017 - gpritsch Likes this wine: 93 Points
Love this wine. Great price/performance at $60 for a US cab
Second bottle today!
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5/10/2017 - gpritsch wrote: 92 Points
shows very nicely.
starts with a well structured nose. nice complex finish.
well done.
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4/29/2017 - AAJR Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted & consumed over two hours. Strong nose full of dark berry aromas. Black and blueberry, cassis, oak & vanilla flavors. Full bodied & balanced with a long finish. Still quite tannic, so give this one a few years.
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3/16/2017 - Ebrim wrote: 91 Points
no proper notes - Plum, bellpepper, medicine locker, cassis, eucalyptus, balanced, concentrated and complex. 91p
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3/14/2017 - "Rhône Rider" Likes this wine: 90 Points
2013 Ridge wineyards, cab sauvignon.
Plommer, seder, tobakk, kaffe, lakris. Dyp, mørk og tettpakket, men ikke alkostikk. Lang. 90
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3/3/2017 - David_K wrote:
It's funny, when I tasted this at the winery last fall side-by-side with the 2013 Monte Bello, this came across as the more red-fruited, lifted, and finessed wine as compared with the fortress of a wine that Monte Bello was. But drinking the Estate alone today, this came across as a fortress of its own, pitch black with real structure and drive. This may be the second wine, but it's a vin de garde just the same. Not a waste to drink now but likely just a shell of what it may become.
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1/29/2017 - SpoochMan Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drank as part of a blind tasting of CA cabs ranging in price from $7 to $70. For the group as a whole, this was narrowly edged out by the 2013 Conn Valley Estate cab (by a single point). But I preferred this wine, especially at this time point. This has beautiful green/herbal notes to balance the nice fruit and structure. I was surprised at how accessible this was relative to the other wines in the tasting. I think it is pretty elegant already, and will probably get substantially better. Should definitely buy more of this!
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1/21/2017 - nisid Likes this wine: 92 Points
My local shop had this wine available in magnums and half bottles. Picked up one of each, the magnum went to the cellar where it will stay for a few years at least. Drank the half bottle same day I bought it. I decanted it for 1 hour, there was no sediment. Very opaque, deep purple color. Raspberry, dark chocolate, and a hint of spice on the nose. Tart with chalky tannins. Bone dry and not particularly fruit forward. Relatively high pyrazines. The half bottle was a fun sneak peak, but this wine should improve immensely with some age.
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12/12/2016 - bordeaux456 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Delicious. Very young still, however after a few hours in the bottle, the wine really started to show its true potential. Looking forward to trying this again in a few years.
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12/4/2016 - derrock Likes this wine: 91 Points
Excellent but needs time
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11/25/2016 - SpoochMan Likes this wine: 94 Points
Coravin taste-off: Recent CA acquisitions: Nice nose, a bit candied, with some very subtle forest floor notes; just gorgeous on the palate with lots of tobacco and herb to go with the red fruit; mid-weight, complex, and balanced; really elegant and pretty drinkable now but sure it will get better; tremendous value here
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11/15/2016 - rc@ughey wrote: 93 Points
Great wine. The ripe brambly Cab nose has subtle earthy elements, and the palate, while concentrated and ripe, has a sleek and cool-inflected character that sets Ridge apart. Impeccably balanced with sneaky depth. Yes, this is oaky, but not unbearably so. Really does taste like a baby MB. One to stock up on.
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10/10/2016 - aagrawal wrote: 92 Points
Wine & Spirits Top 100 Tasting (City Walk @ Metreon, San Francisco, CA): Excellent aromatics with spice, black fruit, wonderful complexity; palate is full bodied, rich texture, approachable tannins, black fruit throughout, medium acidity; medium-plus finish. Always an excellent value and great quality. 92-94
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10/1/2016 - wineotim Likes this wine: 93 Points
Checking in on this to see if I should buy more. This wine is not that far off from the '12 Montebello I recently drank. High intensity fruit, with the acid to match, finish is long and grippy. Really good concentration and focus at this young age. This should bode well for the '13 Montebello. Wow.
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9/21/2016 - Winowhyno Likes this wine: 91 Points
Delicious
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9/16/2016 - Italiana Likes this wine:
Dark ruby, noticeably fresh appearance. Not so expressive aromas. Good heft and balance. Not overwrought.
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9/14/2016 - CamWheeler wrote: 91 Points
SLDS September 2016: Blind. Florals with violets and rose, chocolate, ash, mint and vanilla. The palate has opulent fruit, there is a boldness but also plenty of oak based structure. Good length and can certainly use more time before looking at it again.
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9/12/2016 - oldwines Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tasted at the winery, decanted hours before we arrived....Opaque garnet with a purple edge. Nose has floral elements like rose petals, black raspberry, menthol and a little earthiness. On the palate there is black plum, black raspberry, cassis, chocolate and a decent amount of tannin. Long rich finish with a great mouth feel. Precise and finely balanced, this is the best Ridge estate Cab I have had. While it doesn't quite have the depth of flavor and complexity of Monte Bello this is the closest I have tasted to a Monte Bello in this bottling. Tightly wound, this will need some time in the cellar to reach its full potential. This puts most 2nd Bottling Napa Cabs to shame at a fraction of the price of most and would be competitive in a blind tasting with some of the "cult" wines at multiples of its price.
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9/10/2016 - Not404 wrote: 89 Points
Wonderfull at a great price point
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8/31/2016 - Michael T. Zoppo Likes this wine:
Doing a great job of defying Cali Cab stereotypes, the 2013 Ridge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon brings acidity to balance its fruit. Dark fruit and spice on the nose, redder fruit on the palate with massive intensity and acidity to match. The finish is long and complex, with slowly emerging spice notes. You just have to love combination of powerful medium-dark fruit, acidity, and subtle oak. This excellent, tightly wound Cab needs at least 5 years in the cellar.
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8/23/2016 - ledocq Likes this wine:
This time: a dead ringer for a young Pauillac. Not, y'know, a FG, but something really interesting like GPL. The components are still a jigsaw puzzle, but it's going to sort into something profound. Getting more of this.
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8/22/2016 - thelostverse wrote: 92 Points
Pop and pour. Very approachable immediately out of the bottle. Dark fruits on the nose and palate. Fruit is present but not in your face. Well balanced and a pleasure to drink. 92+
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6/11/2016 - JS199 wrote: 92 Points
Tasted at Ridge Vineyards. Young, but more accessible than I would have guessed. Similar to the '12 in quality, just have to wait and see. This needs 5 years minimum.
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6/11/2016 - bravo.solares Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tasted at Ridge. Excellent. Way too young at the moment. Good bones and structure. I would cellar for 8-10 yrs... patience typically pays off big time with this bottling.
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5/21/2016 - kosinski wrote:
Aroma: cinnamon, chocolate, red currant, some leather.
Palate: leather, graphite, green peppers, plums. Considerable green astringent tannins. Lots of potential here but needs age.
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4/29/2016 - Todd French Likes this wine:
Still so young - oak not at all integrated - but if it lasts, will be a fantastic wine. Far better than other recent vintages, smacks a bit of its bigger brother MonteBello in overall quality
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4/23/2016 - doctornoah wrote: 91 Points
Malpractice to drink this young. "Accessible" but what a waste of something with so much potential. Like LeBron James in high school.
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4/22/2016 - Mrbuzz Likes this wine: 94 Points
75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc..13.8%....DARK and inky...wonderful rich nose of blackberry, creme de cassis, bing cherries, graphite powder, potting soil, dusty white pepper/American oak spice......LOTS going on! Just a huge creamy full-bodied mouthfeel...the Merlot smoothness shows....ripe and sweet(but not too sweet) dark berry fruits...liqueured and silky....same flavs as that awesome nose....as well as licorice, menthol, some pipe smoke.......this isn't flabby...good structure with crushed minerality, chalky tannins with big spice kick.....only knock might be a short abrupt finish with some bitters....but it kind of works toning down the sweetness, which I'm sure will integrate nicely with some age. VERY tasty cab here that is accessible now, but should gain even further.
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4/17/2016 - MRichman wrote:
Tasting at Ridge Lytton Springs: Wish I'd taken better notes on this one. Very nice with good firm fruit. A bit young.
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4/10/2016 - ledocq Likes this wine: 92 Points
As with all 2013 California cabs (not just Napa, I'm finding), this needs a serious decant before showing its stuff. On the pnp it was cran-cherry city, tart and not particularly fun. 4 hours later, it was excellent. EDIT: Day two, I wondered for a moment if I'd accidentally picked up a different wine (there was some vintage Bordeaux decanting). It was so well integrated and it had a very faint glimmer of that secondary mushroom thing going on in the finish that surprised me. Really interesting.
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4/9/2016 - floridawinedrkr Likes this wine: 88 Points
Upon opening its very thin and watery texture. Not much flavor profile. Very light. Tight & closed
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3/22/2016 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Right at the legal limit for the cabernet on the label. Used to be Santa Cruz mountainestate. So for restaurant lists they upped it. Stylish and powerful. Much more cabernet planted at their rusten property with lots of different clones of cabernet. At the bottom of the hills.
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3/20/2016 - RajivAyyangar wrote: 88 Points
Ridge Monte Bello component tasting (and a Meursault!) (Ridge Vineyards, Santa Cruz, CA): 75% cabernet
A bit simpler but still good with some herbaceousness. There’s a bit of a lack of flavor concentration on the midpalate. Nose is great!
m body, m alc, m+ acid, m tannins
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3/20/2016 - aagrawal wrote: 92 Points
Ridge Monte Bello Tasting (Ridge Monte Bello, Cupertino): Very nice aromatic nose with earthy aromas, savory, almost seems like early mature aromas, red fruit; palate is full bodied, blackberry fruit, nice richness, balanced approachable tannins; long finish. Very nice and a good value. 92-93
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3/19/2016 - triplecwine Likes this wine: 94 Points
Opaque ruby in color, the nose is chock full of uplifted dark fruits with some nicely integrated oak and mint. Maybe some dark chocolate and espresso notes as well.
The palate entry is tight with rounded tannins and more espresso fruit character. The finish is long and satisfying.
I think this is a great wine that will reward 7-10 years of cellaring and I very much look forward to tracking its evolution.
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3/10/2016 - kostaslonis Likes this wine: 92 Points
Go West! Tasting (The QEII Centre, Westminster, London): Nice sweet ripe smoky, sweet spice notes, some fresh stalkiness too, the palate is the same, smoke, oak, ripe black fruit and long finish. You can’t go wrong with this one, unmistakable Californian Cab
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