Lorna Hajdini

9.1

At WS - smooth — a month ago

Victor Hsu

9.0

Complex Zinfandel field blend, with nice interplay of flavors and textures—fruit, tannin, acid and earth, that evolves in the mouth. Perfumed and drinkable by itself. Fine example of Sonoma County Zin. Tasted the 2021 vintage at the winery. — 3 months ago

Henry Fuseler

9.0

11/2023. Deep purple, medium nose and nice on the palate. Paired well with the petite filet at Hall’s Chophouse.

I’ve had the. ‘19 & ‘20 vintages and both were good. — 6 months ago

Henry Fuseler

9.0

12/2022. Nicely structured wine. Dark color and good fruit. Paired well with the Pierogies at Gervais and Vine. — a year ago

Jonathan Wall

9.3

I love properly aged Ridge. At 12 years old this shows no bricking but hints at maturity with a slightly carmelized sweetness. 2012 was a cool year and this bottle is more elegant than some other Paganis. 👍👍 — 3 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine is a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with some significant staining of the tears. No signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of plums, dark brambles, cocoa, cedar box, and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The alcohol is medium++. This is big and fancy and tastes, expensive. Initial conclusions: this could be Merlot, Malbec, or Syrah from the USA, Argentina or France. However, the wine wasn’t purple enough for Malbec and I didn’t get any rotundune for me to chose Syrah. The tannins were silky smooth and the fruit was generous, plush and slightly tart which gave me a clue about the vintage. Since I felt like this wine leaned toward its fruit, my final conclusion is that this is Merlot, from the USA, from California, from Napa Valley, 2018 vintage. Boom! I think this is drinking really well right now and it hides its alcohol (15.6%!) remarkably well. Drink now and through 2028. — 6 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Another great Ridge. There is a bit of v/a - brettanomyces on the nose but the palate is solid. 71% Zinfandel, 19% Carignane, 7% Petite Syrah, 2% Mataro & 1% Alicante Bouschet. This blend changes year to year but, the quantity is always solid. Once again, I’ve been at this a long time, but I have never opened a bad bottle of Ridge.

Ripe, juicy; blackberries, black raspberries, plum, dark cherries, boysenberries, raspberries over that hover over the top. Touch a black pepper, dry crushed rocks, volcanic limestone minerals, dark, rich soils, pine tar, melted, dark chocolate, caramel notes, vanillin, some black tar, notes of herbaceousiness, moist clay, violet for days, some lavender, amazing acidity with a well balanced, smooth structure/tension and a beautiful finish that lasts a full minute.

Happy Labor Day weekend! — 9 months ago

Victor Hsu

9.3

Privileged to sample the 2016 Monte Bello at the winery as part of their Library offerings. The bottle is $375 at the winery. Tight and tannic after 8 years (and half an hour of decanting) but promising much more. Josh at the winery concedes that it’s in a dumb phase but should reach its peak in 20-30 years. I could analyze and pick apart this one for hours. — 3 months ago

Melanie Hogan DelBuono

9.9

I have had this in the wine cellar waiting. Just opened it has beautiful chocolate upfront very tannic chewy finish. Love it. I think I could have waited at least another year to open. — 6 months ago

Severn Goodwin

9.4

Capitol Region Wine Collectors Club (WCC), USA West Coast Pinot Noir; 26 October 2023 at Fort Orange Club, Albany, NY

Group scoring, No. 1 bottle of the night.
(My cellar offer.) — 7 months ago