Very limited - subject to confirmation
2013 Ridge Monte Bello....$89.99 / 375ml
2013 Ridge Monte Bello....$179.99 / 750ml
2013 Ridge Monte Bello....$359.99 / 1.5 liter
Showing even better than last year, the 2013 Monte Bello is a tour de force, and a step up over the 2012. Full-bodied, layered, beautifully concentrated and seamless, it knocks it out of the park with its classic bouquet of plums, vanilla bean, cedary spice, scorched earth and cigar. Made from 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 7% Cabernet Franc and the rest Merlot, aged in 98% new American oak (there’s 2% new French oak), I wish I had bottles in the cellar. It should be at its best from 2023-2043.
Rated 97/100 The Wine Advocate
Rated 98+/100 Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media
2014 Ridge Petite Sirah Lytton Estate...$33.99
The 2014 Petite Sirah Lytton Estate is outstanding. Deep, luscious and intense, but with none of the aggressiveness Petite so often presents, the 2014 is utterly captivating from the very first taste. Dark red and blue-hued stone fruits, mint, spices and licorice are front and center. The purity of the fruit here is simply remarkable. As hard as it may be to believe, the 2014 can be enjoyed on the young side. This is a tremendous wine. Don't miss it!
Rated 95/100 Antonio Galloni Vinous Media
2014 Ridge Lytton Springs...$21.99 / 375ml
2014 Ridge Lytton Springs...$39.99 / 750ml
2014 Ridge Lytton Springs...$79.99 / magnum
The 2014 Lytton Springs is another absolutely gorgeous wine. Perhaps because of its relatively recent bottling, the 2004 feels a bit compressed, but there appears to be plenty of complexity and depth hiding behind the acidity and tannin. Far from an easygoing Zinfandel, the 2014 Lytton is a wine to buy and cellar for at least a handful of years. The wine's richness, persistence and vertical intensity all lead me to believe it will be special in time. Black cherry, pomegranate, mint and sweet spices meld into the resonant finish. A kick of tannin from the Petite adds personality, something the 2014 has in spades.
Rated 94+/100 Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media
2014 Ridge Zinfadel Pagani Ranch...$39.99
The 2014 Pagani Ranch is the most immediate and obvious of the 2014 Zinfandels I tasted at Ridge. Ripe, forward and opulent, the Pagani will please readers who like a more flashy, up-front style. I expect the Pagani will offer most of its charms sooner rather than later, which makes it a terrific choice for drinking on the young side. I don't see the pedigree or complexity of the best Zinfandels in the lineup, but the Pagani is delicious. This site seems to naturally produce a riper style as full flavor development and tannin maturity only take place late in the season.
Rated 92/100 Antonio Galloni Vinous Media
2014 Ridge Zinfandel Ponzo...$31.99
Coming from the Russian River Valley, the 2014 Zinfandel Ponzo Vineyards (96% Zinfandel and 4% Petite Sirah) is another sexy, seamless release from the team at Ridge that offers classic aromatics (bramble, plums, spice and dried flowers), medium-bodied richness and a clean, lengthy finish. Drink it over the coming 5-7 years.
Rated 90/100 The Wine Advocate
2013 Ridge Chardonnay Monte Bello...$66.99
A true gem, the 2013 Chardonnay Monte Bello, which was barrel fermented and aged 17 months in mostly American oak, offers sensational notes of white peach, citrus blossom, mint, ginger and baking spices. It’s a big, rich wine, yet it never puts a foot wrong, is impeccably balanced and stays fresh, pure and focused. Drink it anytime over the coming decade or more.
Rated 95/100 The Wine Advocate
Rated 95/100 Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media
2014 Ridge Chardonnay Santa Cruz...$46.99
Monte Bello Estate
The 2014 Chardonnay Estate opens with inviting aromatics. Bright, floral and nuanced, the 2014 offers striking complexity and energy. There is a hint of reduction, but that is not a negative. Readers who enjoy focused Chardonnays will find much to admire in the 2014. This is a gorgeous wine from Ridge. Lemon, white pepper and mint add the closing layers of nuance. In 2014, Ridge bottled less of their Monte Bello Chardonnay than the norm, which may be one of the reasons the Estate is so expressive.
Rated 93/100 Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media
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