These are the spring 2018 national releases from Ridge.
2016 Chardonnay Estate Monte Bello Estate Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains
This wine was barrel-fermented and went through malolactic fermentation. The wine stayed on the gross lees through the finish of malo. The wine was then assembled and bottled four months later. It is medium-weight and salty with malolactic/toasty oak aromas and flavors, but they are not in excess. The wine additionally shows peach and apricot fruit. These wines sometimes can age quite a while, but I see no reason not to enjoy the wine over the next few years. 91/A-
2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Monte Bello Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains
This is the second wine of Ridge’s famed Monte Bello vineyard. It features lead pencil, dark plums, and some chocolatey American oak in a medium-full body. The wine still needs, in my opinion, another 4-5 years to come together. 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc. 13.5% stated alcohol. 89+/B
2016 Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley East Bench
There are various styles of Zinfandel, some I like, some I don’t. This wine falls in the category of those I like. It is bursting over with fresh dark fruits and has a smooth texture with no harshness in a medium-weigh body. John Olney, who made the wine, suggests drinking over the next eight years, and that sounds good to me. Stated alcohol is 14.9%, but there’s no feeling of imbalance here. 100% Zinfandel. 91/A
2016 Zinfandel Paso Robles Benito Dusi Ranch
Typical of Paso Robles, this Zin is richer and grapier with spicy blueberry fruit. There’s a smooth, creamy texture. Although enjoyable now, the wine should continue to develop in bottle and gain complexity over several more years. 14.6% stated alcohol and shows a little heat on the finish. 88(+)/B
2016 Geyserville Alexander Valley
This is a top flight Geyserville, but one that is going to require substantial cellaring and patience (the winemaker’s notes say “it will reach full maturity within fifteen years”). There’s quite a bit of American oak notable when the wine is first opened, although by the second day, it has largely blended with the other elements. The wine has plenty of power and spiced dark fruits (it is 73% Zinfandel, after all), and all seem to come together in a unified whole and there’s excellent depth to the wine. In addition to the Zinfandel, the wine is 17% Carignane, 7% Petite Sirah, and 3% Alicante Bouchet. 14.5% stated alcohol. 93(+)/A