Ridge Vineyards & Winery
Cupertino, California
Newsletter for April 2010
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Greetings!
Ridge Vineyards & Winery recently celebrated its 50th anniversary and the 40th anniversary of winemaker/guru Paul Draper's involvement. Paul is arguably one of the best and most influential winemakers in the history of California, he's been Decanter magazine's 2000 "Man of the Year", the San Francisco Chronicle's 2006 "Winemaker of the Year" and he's recently made a cameo in a "Visit California" t.v. commercial. The guy on the barrels with the salt and pepper goatee and sunglasses, that's Paul Draper. To ice the cake, Wine & Spirits magazine has named Ridge a "Winery of the Year" 14 times and Ridge was included in Robert Parker's most recent book "World's Greatest Wine Estates".
A plethora of magazine articles and websites have been recently written extolling the beauty of Monte Bello, their legendary Cabernet blend, which was a major focus of the anniversary festivities. Eric Asimov's The Pour in the New York Times is a leading insider's column, his March 2nd article is a great read, and Jon Bonne in the San Francisco Chronicle has done a series of great pieces as well. But to me Ridge is foremost about Zinfandel. Then it hit me, "Does any other winery in California have the record for quality and expertise for Cabernet, Zinfandel and Chardonnay as Ridge?" I think the answer is, No.
The Ridge Monte Bello, which hasn't been labeled "Cabernet" since the '70s is a "Californian first growth" by any measure. No list of collectable Californians or historical wines is complete without it. It was the #2 US wine in the 1976 Paris tasting, and in 2006 at the 30th anniversary tasting, the 1971 Monte Bello took first place, a testament to its balance and ability to mature. A wine of pure terroir, balance and grace, it is blended a little differently each vintage, but has always retained its clear sense of place, the legendary limestone ridge high in the mountains above silicon valley. Neal Martin's Ridge profile for www.erobertparker.com states "there are few New World wines that could hold a torch to a great Bordeaux, Burgundy or Rhône. But Ridge Monte Bello is one wine that not only equals the best Bordeaux châteaux, but surpasses them." The average Robert Parker score for Monte Bello across the 2000-2007 vintages is just under 94 points, with the 2008 (still in barrel) awarded 94-96 points.
The Monte Bello vineyard's fractured limestone soil also produces Chardonnays which rivals any from Burgundy. The Monte Bello Chardonnay is a true cellar candidate, while the Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay, deemed the 'second wine' was named #2 Wine of the Year by Wine Spectator in 2007. I think that's pretty good for a 'second wine'.
Ridge's portfolio of field blend red wines is unequaled. Based almost universally on Zinfandel, they usually fall just shy of the 75% Zinfandel in the blend, so technically, they're not Zins, but at this point, I'm just splitting hairs.
The two that Ridge is best known for are Geyserville and Lytton Springs and are two of the most highly regarded Zinfandels in California. Lytton Springs was named one of the "25 Great Vineyards" in 2002 by Wine & Spirits Magazine. Reviewing Robert Parker's critiques for these wines, you won't find anything lower than 90 points since 1997 for either. In Neal Martin's Ridge profile he also states "I probably prefer to drink Geyserville in its youth. This tasting proved that it does mature: the Cabernet-like 1974 would trounce anything produced in Bordeaux that year, ditto the 1984."
We now offer these wines in cases of six in 750ml format and cases of twelve for the half-bottles. This is a great opportunity to buy both and follow their evolution side-by-side over the next 10-15 years.By visiting our website www.rogcowines.com you can read more about Ridge and our other wineries, including our wines of the month and upcoming releases. You will also find the most current version of our pricelist uploaded daily. My prices in this newsletter are per bottle, pre-GST and LCBO bottle deposit.
Please forward this newsletter to anybody you know who might like it.
Sincerely,
Chris. |
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Chardonnay 2007 Santa Cruz Mountains
[750ml/12case] $57.95 (limited availability)
In great years when mother nature provides both top-quality and quantity of fruit on Monte Bello, the team produces two Chardonnays, the Monte Bello and the Santa Cruz Mountains. The Monte Bello is certainly the "senior" wine, designed for cellaring, its one of the state's great whites. The Santa Cruz Mountains is meant for earlier drinking, with lavish oak and sun-drenched tropicality.
"Combines richness with an elegant, delicate mouthfeel, showing deep
layers of ripe fig, honeydew melon, ripe green pear and smoky oak.
Balanced, focused, pure and lingering. Drink now through 2013."
93 points, Wine Spectator, June 2009
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"Three Valleys" 2008 Sonoma County [750ml/12case]
ETA late April estimated $31.95
 While most Ridge wines are from single vineyards, this "Three Valleys" is a blend from seven vineyards each contributing different components and different grapes to the final blend. Seventy percent of the fruit is Zinfandel, with the balance made of Petit Sirah, Carignane, Mataro, Syrah and Grenache. Because
most of the vineyards Ridge sources were originally planted in a "every red vine that grows well and makes full flavoured wines" style by Italian
immigrants at the turn of the century, you'll find many of these complimentary varietals featured prominently in Ridge's "field blends".
Of these contributions, 20% of the wine comes from dry-farmed bush vines 80 to 100 years old!, 50% from vines 35 to 45 years old and the remainder from vines seven to fourteen years old. No wineries in the U.S. can boast the availability of old-vine fruit like Ridge can.
The 2008 is not yet reviewed, but the 2007 received the following praise.
"An absolutely beautiful Zin, and a must-have for restaurant wine lists. It's pure and complex in blackberries, cherries, cola and mocha, with wonderful spices erupting all the way through, and the most elegant, silky texture. What a great job."
92 points and Editor's Choice, Wine Enthusiast, December 2009
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Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot 2006
[750ml/6 case] $48.95
While the Monte Bello is certainly designed for decades of evolution, this bottling is made for more immediate enjoyment. It is not necessarily only younger vines that contribute to this wine, but wines that don't truly 'enhance' the Monte Bello, which varies in its proportion of varietals each year. Some of the best lots of the Monte Bello vineyard contribute to this blend.
This wine is a reference point for honest, solidly built, elegant Santa Cruz red wine. Bright redcurrant fruit and elegant aromatics are followed by a rich, minerally finish. I think this is comparable to a top fourth or fifth growth Bordeaux in complexity and elegance.
"A blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot, the 2006 Santa Cruz Mountains Estate exhibits a similar deep ruby/purple colour as well as less complex aromatics, an attractive, round, rich, full-bodied mouthfeel, sweet tannin, and a long finish. This successful 2006 should drink well for 15 years."
91 points, Robert Parker, February 2010
"Complex red fruit, spice, mineral notes. Plush, sleek, fine. Soft, fresh acids, Lovely style. Classy and elegant. From 2011"
4 of 5 stars, Decanter, February 2010
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"Lytton Springs" 2007 Dry Creek Valley
[750ml/6 case] ETA late April, estimated $47.95
[375ml/12case] ETA late April, estimated $21.95
"The
2007 Lytton Springs Proprietary Red (71% Zinfandel, 22% Petite Sirah,
and 7% Carignan) exhibits a dark ruby/purple hue as well as more black
fruits and spice in the impressive aromatics. It is a fuller-bodied,
richer wine with beautiful texture, purity, and length. Enjoy it over
the next 7-10 years."
92 points, Robert Parker, February 2010
"71%
Zinfandel, 22% Petite Sirah, 7% Carignan. Ripe enough to push its
berryish fruit in the direction of high concentration, this wine pulls
back from the brink with layered notes of pepper and slightly toasty,
never pushy oak. Its solid yet quietly brawny side shows in latter
palate tannins and firming acidity, and what starts out as generous
wine in the nose, turns tighter and quite age demanding in the mouth.
Do not be afraid to put this one aside for three to six years."
91 points, Connoisseur's Guide to California Wines, January 2010
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"Geyserville" 2007 Sonoma County
[750ml/6 case] ETA early April, estimated $47.95
[375ml/12case] $24.95
"The
dark ruby/purple-coloured 2007 Geyserville Proprietary Red (58%
Zinfandel, 22% Carignan, 18% Petite Sirah, and the rest Mourvedre)
offers up attractive aromas of boysenberries, black cherries, earth,
pepper, and spice. Medium to full-bodied, elegant, and pure, this
classy wine should drink well for 7-8 years."
91 points, Robert Parker, February 2010
"Ripe,
exotic, and loaded with personality. Aromas of ripe blackberry,
underbrush and licorice lead to concentrated huckleberry and
cracked-pepper beef flavours that finish with lively tannins.
Zinfandel, Carignane, Petite Sirah and Mataro. Best from 2010 through
2015. 11,000 cases made."
91 points, Wine Spectator, October 2009
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Ridge Monte Bello 2007
next estimated LCBO Classics release is May 2010
 Monte Bello is a legendary limestone vineyard which has been producing magnificent wines since 1892. This is one of the longest-lived, most highly awarded wines in California. No collector's cellar is complete without a few vintages.
This 2007 has been awarded 92 points by Robert Parker in February 2010.
"The 2007 Monte Bello is a blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot,
9% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. Its dense ruby/purple colour is
accompanied by attractive aromas of incense, red and black currants,
spice, and forest floor. Much lighter in the mouth with less
concentration and texture than the 2006, 2005, and 2003, the 2007 is
built along the lines of the 2004. There is a slight lack of intensity
in this offering (yields were almost twice as high in 2007 as they were
in 2005), but it is a very pretty effort made in a lighter, more
elegant, restrained style. It reveals lots of blue, black, and red
fruits, medium body, good acidity, and a fine finish. While it does not represent a great classic, the 2007 will
certainly last 15 or more years."
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Chris McLean
416 961 2294 x 29
c.mclean@rogcowines.com
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