New Ratings from Jeb Dunnuck

JebDunnuck.com

August 2024

Now an independent wine critic, Jeb Dunnuck developed a passion for the wines of the Rhône Valley and the Rhône Ranger Movement here in California. He wrote full-time for the Wine Advocate from 2013-2017 until starting his own publication, JebDunnuck.com.

Read his reviews of our recent releases below.

2022 Estate Chardonnay

98 points

Buttered citrus, pineapple, spicy wood, and flower oil notes all emerge from Ridge’s 2022 Chardonnay Estate, which comes all from the Monte Bello Vineyard on the eastern side of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Beautifully pure, medium to full-bodied, and concentrated, it has a Meursault-like oak character, beautiful mid-palate depth, bright acidity, and a gorgeous finish. California Chardonnay doesn’t get much better, and this ripe, opulent, yet flawlessly balanced beauty will evolve for at least a decade.

2021 Monte Bello

96 points

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello is based on 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot that was raised in mostly new American oak. It reminds me of the 2016 with its beautifully balanced, seamless style, and it has a riveting perfume of pure crème de cassis, sweet tobacco, lead pencil shavings, and violet-laced aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied, flawlessly balanced, and absolutely seamless, it’s a gorgeous Mont Bello that’s surprisingly already accessible, yet it won’t hit full maturity for 7-8 years but will have 30+ years of longevity.

2021 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

95+ points

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate comes from a great vintage for Napa Valley and comes all from the Monte Bello Vineyard on the eastern side of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Pure crème de cassis, leafy tobacco, spring flowers, and graphite are just some of its nuances, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a pure, concentrated, layered mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and a great finish. This Saint-Julien-like beauty needs 4-6 years of bottle age but will keep for 30 years. It’s not far off the Monte Bello and should be snatched up

2022 Geyserville

95 points

A normal Zinfandel-dominated blend of 67% Zinfandel, 20% Carignan, 10% Petite Sirah, and the rest Mataro, the 2022 Geyserville sports a healthy ruby/plum hue (it’s semi-opaque) as well as a rocking nose of ripe plums, blackberries, roasted herbs, pepper, and violets. It’s beautifully textured on the palate and has medium to full-bodied richness, a deep, layered mid-palate, and perfectly ripe tannins. It’s a beauty, as well as one of the standouts in the lineup in 2022. Don’t miss it.

2022 Paso Robles Zinfandel

92 points

Blended with 5% Petite Sirah, the 2022 Zinfandel Paso Robles is one of the sweeter fruited, exotic Zinfandels in the lineup. Candied strawberries, red plums, cigar, herbes de Provence, and sandalwood all define the aromatics, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with a terrific core of sweet fruit, supple tannins and outstanding length. I would drink bottles over the coming 5-7 years.