Ridge Vineyards Receives High Marks from Wine Advocate

The Wine Advocate

February 2021

The Wine Advocate recently released new scores, all ranging between 90 and 98 points, for 15 Ridge Vineyards wines. The scores, awarded by Erin Brooks, were published as follows:

98 Points – 2017 Monte Bello

“The 2017 Monte Bello is ultra powerful and concentrated, unfurling over the several days it was open to reveal rich cassis, roast plums, tar, aniseed and exotic spices. What sets the palate apart is its purity: though incredibly layered, it offers a kaleidoscopic journey from blackcurrant to tobacco and dried flowers, offering continual sparks of flavor long after the wine has been swallowed. Structurally, it has the firm but ripe tannins and seamless freshness to dictate a very long life in the cellar. This vintage is a blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc.”

96 Points – 2018 Ridge Geyserville

“The 2018 Geyserville is a blend of 68% Zinfandel, 20% Carignane, 10% Petite Sirah and 2% Alicante Bouschet. It’s incredibly alluring, offering up layers of warm, tricolored fruits and loads of spicy accents on the nose, with a dusty, mineraltinged undercurrent that adds to its appeal. In the mouth, it’s generously fruited and fantastically juicy, its silt-like tannins providing just enough support, and it finishes very long and layered.”

96 Points – 2018 Lytton Springs

“The 2018 Lytton Springs is a blend of 72% Zinfandel, 18% Petite Sirah, 8% Carignane and 2% Mataro. The nose is lush and open, with aromas of aniseed, red and blue berries, blood orange and earth plus touches of tobacco leaf and dried flowers. The medium-bodied palate combines intense, powerful flavors with a more ethereal, silty structure, and it finishes with loads of juicy layers. It’s stunning straight from bottle but will have more to give with time in the cellar.”

95 Points – 2017 Klein Cabernet Sauvignon

“The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Klein Monte Bello Vineyard is incredibly appealing this vintage. The nose offers layers of pure fruits—blackcurrants and crushed cherries—with finely woven accents of graphite, leather, dried roses and exotic spices. The palate is equally compelling, with a fruit intensity that belies its powdery tannins and lifted freshness, and the finish is long and classy. What a gorgeous Cabernet!”

95 Points – 2018 Pagani Ranch Zinfandel

“The 2018 Zinfandel Pagani Ranch, blended with 9% Alicante Bouschet and 7% Petite Sirah, is deeply scented with earthlaced blue and blackberries and notes of licorice and dried herbs. The palate offers concentred fruits knit by grainy tannins and surprising uplift, and it finishes long and layered. This is youthfully wound and will have even more to offer with time in bottle.”

94 Points – 2017 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

“The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Monte Bello Vineyard is blended with 21% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. The nose is still tightly wound, taking plenty of air to reveal deep aromas of cassis, tobacco, licorice and coffee with top notes of violet and graphite. The palate is full-bodied and powerful, with a firm grain and concentrated fruits, and it finishes very long, layered and uplifted. This will require more time in bottle than the Klein Cabernet.”

94 Points – 2018 Estate Chardonnay

“The 2018 Chardonnay Estate Monte Bello Vineyard is a powerhouse on the nose, bursting with baked apples, salted almonds, beeswax, hay and loads of spicy accents. The palate is both silky and pure, concentrated and refreshing, finishing very long with loads of lift and flavor.”

94 Points – 2017 Hooker Creek Zinfandel

“The 2017 Zinfandel Hooker Creek from Sonoma Valley is blended with 4% Petite Sirah and 2% Alicante Bouschet. Its aromas are deep and inviting, tar and earth mingling with dark berry fruit and blood orange. The medium-bodied palate offers intense, earth-laced flavors with a silty grain and integrated freshness that lifts the long finish.”

93 Points – 2018 Paso Robles Zinfandel

“The 2018 Zinfandel Paso Robles, from Benito Dusi Ranch, bursts with layered aromas of orange peel, blue and blackberries, aniseed and floral nuances. In the mouth, it’s soft and approachable, refreshing and spicy and packed with fruit, and it finishes long with an addicting juicy quality.”

93 Points – 2018 Ponzo Zinfandel

“The 2018 Zinfandel Ponzo comes from the Russian River Valley and is blended with a 3% splash of Petite Sirah. The nose is bold and fruit-driven with tricolored berry aromas accented by notes of blood orange, licorice and dried flowers. The palate, though packed with fruit, is soft, approachable and fresh and finishes long and lifted.”

93 Points – 2018 Lytton Estate Petite Sirah

“Containing 3% Zinfandel, the 2018 Petite Sirah Lytton Estate has luscious aromas of cassis and blue fruits, turned earth, coffee and aniseed. The palate is full, concentrated and firm but offers great freshness and fruit detail in the mouth, and it finishes very long and layered. It’s approachable now if you love a big red, but it will also age well in the cellar.”

92 Points – 2019 Halter Ranch Grenache Blanc

“The 2019 Grenache Blanc Halter Ranch, blended with 20% Picpoul, requires some aeration to reveal pure aromas of white blossoms, honeycomb and peaches, fleshing out to generous spicy undertones. The palate is silky, vibrant and lifted with impressive nuance and a long, floral finish. Where the Grenache Blanc from Adelaida vineyard offers the intensity and breadth for a wide range of foods, this Halter Ranch is lacier, its transparent character illuminated most brilliantly on its own.”

92 Points – 2019 Adelaida Grenache Blanc

“The 2019 Grenache Blanc Adelaida Vineyard combines 77% Grenache Blanc with 18% Picpoul and 5% Roussanne. It gives fresh orchard fruits with touches of beeswax dried flowers and spices on the nose, and the light-bodied palate offers intense, earth-laced flavors with a touch of anchoring texture and a long, uplifted finish. This has enough character to drink on its own straight from bottle but will pair well with a wide variety of foods.”

91 Points – 2018 East Bench Zinfandel

“The 2018 Zinfandel East Bench has aromas of spice-laced red and black berries with accents of earth and tar. Medium bodied, the palate is surprisingly juicy, with earth-laced fruits, pleasantly chewy tannins and a lifted finish.”

90 Points – 2018 Evangelho

“The 2018 Evangelho is made up of 57% Carignane, 26% Mataro and 17% Zinfandel. Its tricolored fruits are laced with earthy accents and warm spices, while the palate is medium-bodied with a gently grainy texture, earthy character and just enough freshness.”

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