Wine producer profile: Ridge Vineyards, part 3 (05-03-2017 by Robert Jonasson and Nenad Jelisic)
Ridge Vineyards, Monte Bello, 2014, red dry blend wine, Santa Cruz Mountains, 4,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP
The grapes are hand harvested, sorted twice (by machine and by hand), destemmed and fermented on the native yeasts. The wine is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Monte Bello vintage 2014 was a barrel sample (that was tasted during the spring of 2015) that was too young to be fairly rated. Despite its youth, it is clearly that Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello 2014 will become a great wine, but it is very difficult to tell if it will ever be as outstanding as vintage 2012.
Ridge Vineyards, Lytton Springs, 2013, red dry blend wine, Dry Creek Valley, 3,5 NJP of 5,0 NJP
Lytton Springs vintage 2013 is blend of 74% Zinfandel, 16% Petite Sirah, 8% Carignane and 2% Mataró (Mourvèdre). The wine is aged in American oak barrels (20% new oak) for 14 months. Wow, what a nose! Black currant, plum and pepper together with a hint of vanilla on the nose. Ridge Vineyards Lytton Springs 2013 is a concentrated, well balanced and elegant wine. The aftertaste is long. Not a sight of jammy aroma or jammy taste, which one often finds in wines made of Zinfandel.
Ridge Vineyards, Geyserville, 2013, red dry blend wine, Alexander Valley, 3,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP
This wine is a blend of 73% Zinfandel, 17% Carignane, 9% Petite Sirah and 1% Mataró (Mourvèdre). The wine is aged in American oak barrels (20% new oak) for 12 months. This is also a lovely Zinfandel wine. At the time of the tasting, Ridge Vineyards Geyserville 2013 was a little less open then the Ridge Vineyards Lytton Springs 2013. Both plum and a hint of vanilla on the nose. This is a young and concentrated wine with long aftertaste and silky tannins. Ridge Vineyards Geyserville 2013 has a good aging potential, 3 to 5 years.
Ridge Vineyards, East Bench, Zinfandel, 2013, red dry wine, Dry Creek Valley, 2,5 NJP of 5,0 NJP
This wine is made of 100% Zinfandel. The wine is aged in American oak barrels (20% new oak) for 12 months. Ridge Vineyards has produced East Bench Zinfandel as a single vineyard wine since vintage 2006. This is one of few single grape wines that Ridge Vineyards produces. The aroma is red fruity and a little peppery. The aftertaste is long with a clear scent of mint. The wine has a very good tannin structure.
Ridge Vineyards, Lytton Estate, Petite Sirah, 2013, red dry blend wine, North Coast, California, USA, 3,5 NJP of 5,0 NJP
Ridge Vineyards Lytton Estate Petite Sirah 2013 is a blend of 97% Petite Sirah and 3% Zinfandel. The wine includes grapes from vines planted as early as year 1902. The grapes are hand harvested. The wine is aged in American oak barrels (25% new oak) for 16 months. The Petite Sirah-grapes from this estate was earlier included in the wine Lytton Springs. The first official vintage of Ridge Vineyards Lytton Estate Petite Sirah was vintage 2009. The wine is young yet accessible in the current situation, especially if you let it get some air before serving. Dark fruits and berries dominate the big, lovely, peppery nose. Scents of lighter tones of mint and a little vanilla is noted. Ridge Vineyards Lytton Estate Petite Sirah 2013 is flavoursome and has a good tannin structure. It is well-balanced, has a long finish and it can be aged for 3 to 5 years.
