These are ripe wines with quite a bit of alcohol and oak, but they are not over the top.
2018 Chardonnay Estate Santa Cruz Mountains Monte Bello Vineyard
This wine is both steely and rich; it has some austerity yet also intense peach fruit and an oily texture. The wine also has penetration and firmness on the palate. Excellent for current drinking, and Ridge Monte Bello Chardonnays have an excellent record for aging, too, although the winemaker suggests consuming this wine over the next five years. It fits in the category of California Chardonnays of the Burgundian style. 14.3% stated alcohol. 91/A
2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Santa Cruz Mountains Monte Bello Vineyard
This has long been the second wine of Monte Bellow (which does not bear a Cabernet Sauvignon designation) and an outstanding wine in its own right, promising great things for the 2017 Monte Bello to be released later this year. Decant an hour or two in advance to allow the American oak to integrate and then you arrive at a wine that shows all the signatures of Monte Bello with hot bricks, black olive, and minerality. The body is medium-weight and shows finesse. The tannins are round enough that the wine can be drunk, and it should continue to improve for a number of years. 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. 14.0% stated alcohol. 92(+)/A
2018 Sonoma County Three Valleys
This is a pleasant, easy-to-drink blend of 70% Zinfandel, 14% Petite Sirah, 12% Carignane, and 4% Mataro (Mourvèdre). The wine is smooth in texture and has medium density to go with ripe (but not overripe) dark plums and other dark fruits. Drink over the next 3-4 years. 14.5% stated alcohol. 90/A
2017 Syrah/Grenache/Mataro Dry Creek Valley Lytton Estate Vineyard
With good acidity and plenty of dark fruits, this is a nervier wine than the Three Valleys above. It is medium-weight and packs a fair amount of power. Some American oak shows here, but it blends well with the fruit. The tannins are relatively round, making for a wine that should drink at its best over the next 5-6 years. 62% Syrah, 27% Grenache, 11% Mataro. 14.2% stated alcohol. 90/A
2018 Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley East Bench
Don’t let the 14.9% stated alcohol fool you -- this is an elegant Zinfandel, recalling the claret analogies one made in the 1970s and 1980s for Zinfandel. The is light on the palate and smooth in texture with dark berry fruits. Great for pizza, pastas, meats, strong cheese. 100% Zinfandel. 90/A-
2018 Zinfandel Paso Robles Benito Dusi Ranch
This is a rich, powerful, very ripe (14.8% stated alcohol, even with 4.7% water addition) Zinfandel, although it is not heavy on the tongue. The dark, briairy fruit is there along with oak that expresses itself in coffee liqueur and chocolate flavors but not in an overpowering or disturbing manner. The texture is smooth and velvety. The winemaker suggests drinking over the next seven years, and I’d add drink with powerful, possibly spicy, foods -- pizza, pasta, stews, and the like. 100% Zinfandel. 88/B
2018 Geyserville Sonoma County Alexander Valley
Initially strongly showing American oak, but with substantial exposure to air, it begins to blend in. The wine is round and smooth with ripe dark cherry fruit. Tannins are present but not astringent. This is a good Geyserville, but not a great one nor one for long-term cellaring, I think. I’d drink over the next decade. 68% Zinfandel, 20% Carignane, 10% Petite Sirah, 2% Alicante Bouschet. 14.7% stated alcohol. 92/A