Paul Draper has been the man in charge of the liquid since 1969, and was the subject of this sites '6 Questions with...' in 2008. His wines have always been of outstanding quality, and although I have been fortunate to try numerous of these wines before, I have never got to try them before they were released. Today I got that opportunity and tried the 2011 offering and things are still excellent!
Ridge release an en primeur offering in two ways. The first, with their top wine, Monte Bello, they release as the Bordelais do, two years before shipping. Therefore, it is the 2010 vintage that I got to try. The other wines are shipped in the Autumn of this year, and are wines that already are bottled, and are just six months younger than Ridge would like them to start being drunk. I also tried some of their current release to give me a reference point. These wines are clearly identified in my notes below.
2009 Ridge Estate Chardonnay
A lot of lovely up front sweet oak aromas, some pepper and a lot of mango too. It is quite fragrant with honey coming off too and a little pork fat. The palate has a bit of alcohol up front but then has a lovely, creamy nature. Some pepper comes through, nice balance and beautiful acidity on the finish. A delightful wine, with only the mid palate lacking a touch, but that will develop. 8/10
2008 Ridge Monte Bello Chardonnay
A much more elegant wine, more balanced on the nose with super creamy aromas mixed with some spice, tropical fruit and a little bit of ginger. Lots of freshly cut flowers too. A complex palate with layers evolving with more ginger, mango and some vanilla pod coming off. It has a slightly tart finish that develops into a lovely, rich, woody flavour. Just. Bit of sweet tobacco coming off as well. A super wine. 9/10
2006 Ridge Geyserville (Current release)
72% Zinfandel, 18% Carignane, 10% Petite Syrah
Bright strawberry and chocolate on the nose, a little menthol and some boot polish like aromas. Very well balanced, some cherry jam coming through with some herbs and pineapple. A little bit of red liquorice as well. The palate is well balanced with a little tannin and booze coming to the fore. Darker flavours of twigs, earth and leather mixed with cherry stone, a bit of plum skin and more cinnamon bark. Very well made, but very young. 8/10
2009 Ridge Geyserville
74% Zinfandel, 17% Carignane, 6% Petite Syrah, 2% Alicante Bouschet, 1% Mataro
A bigger wine, lots of meatier aromas with veggies and sweeter berry fruit. Some polish too, but with a herbal note all the way though. Overripe banana skin as well. The plate is coffee at first, with a mocha chocolate note to it. Then you get some lovely dark berries, more coffee beans and a really delicious pomegranate mixed with cocoa on the finish. A super wine, well balanced. 8/10
2007 Ridge Santa Cruz Cabernet Sauvignon (Current release)
58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot
Very chewy berry and sweet bramble mixed with some green pepper. Lovely rich honey elements mixed ith a touch of coffee. The palate is super balanced, again coffee beans and a lot of strawberry jam. Really good tobacco flavours mixed with a bit of wood. Firm tannin, gentle finish and a lot of fruit and cocoa all the way through. 8.5/10
2008 Ridge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (formally known as Santa Cruz Cabernet)
75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc
Very dark, like a very hot Bordeaux year and very lovely. A lot of cassis and tobacco mixed with green pepper. A little bit of twig on the nose, and then some earth, but a gorgeous leather aroma. Dark cassis and cherry, firm tannin and a lot of darker flavours. It needs time as it is very closed. 6/10 at the moment, but I'd see this being just as good as the 2007, if not better.
2009 Ridge Lytton Springs
71% Zinfandel, 23% Petite Syrah, 6% Carignane
A bit of wet dog, some closed berries and a little bit of Brussels sprouts coming through. A lot of dark berries, all under ripe with some cocoa, a touch of leather and a good, rich chunk of vegetal flavours. It is a bit of an older world style with good, raspy flavours. A sleeper 6/10 but with so much potential.
2005 Ridge Monte Bello (Current release)
72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot
Lots of really beautiful sweet berries, ultra ripe and with cassis, strawberry, and bramble. Chocolate comes through with such finesse and then a lovely toffee and coffee aroma just adds to it. There is vanilla infused milk chocolate too and the lightest hint of green peppers. Stunning balance, soft tannins kicking in with lovely cocoa and leather. Cherry stones, some leather. And some pomegranate seeds too. A stunning long end to this winie with leather and bramble leaves all the way through. 8.5/10
2010 Ridge Monte Bello (Tank Sample)
70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc
Dark, intense leather and stewed berries. A lot of boot polish and leather coming through with more earth and just the slightest hint of cherry and strawberry. This wine has a dark flavour, a lot of espresso coffee and bramble leaves with just a tiny amount of bubblegummy sweet fruit, no doubt due to the fact that it is an unfinished wine. The tannins are powerful, yet not blasting you into oblivion and it has lots of liquorice flavours and some bitter chocolate coming through. A light pencil lead element on the finish, but a super wine that I could still taste half an hour after trying it! 9/10
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