Scott E. Becker

9.3

[Tasted on April 26, 2024 at Tom’s House with Tom]

Wine is Anderson Valley Pinot Noir and is the inaugural release. Beautiful Anderson Valley Pinot. Blue fruit and black cherry with herbal notes. — 9 days ago

Neil Valenzuela

9.3

Pale ruby color. Aromas of black cherry, cola and a hint of baking spices. Elegant, soft and full of flavor. Fantastic cherry and black tea finish. I was told the 17’ RRVs may be peaking so I cracked one open- so amazing. Cheers! — 4 months ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Deep purple in color with a wide purplish rim.

Fruity nose with red and blue fruits and chocolate notes.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with cherries, sweet raspberries, plums, light wood, earth, black pepper, spices, cola and coffee.

Long tangy finish with sour cherries.

This Russian River Pinot Noir is young, but already very tasty. Nicely balanced and elegant.

Good right out of the bottle and better after an hour of airtime.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, and will continue to age nicely in the next 5 years. Would be nice to revisit it in 3 years.

Soft and smooth. Fruit forward and easy drinking. Pleasant and delicious.

I paired it with cheeses and crackers.

Pinot Noir grapes were aged in French oak barrels for 9 months.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$65. — 4 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

A few things; I still have not opened a bad bottle of Ridge, not even a corked bottle & I’ve had a number of them. First time having this bottling. I don’t drink a lot of Zinfandel or Zinfandel blends but when I do, I prefer Ridge’s style.

96% Zinfandel & 4% Petite Sirah. Decanted 40 minutes.

Intense nose of; brambly blackberries, black plum, plum, black raspberries, boysenberries and hints of blueberries, incense, soft black pepper, mid berry cola, black licorice, light barrel shavings, vanilla, melty, dark chocolate, caramel notes, dark spice, some; nutmeg, clove, cinnamon. Liquid violets, lavender and red candid flowers.

The palate shows; round, lush & juicy fruits of; brambly blackberries, black plum, plum, black raspberries, liqueured dark cherries. boysenberries, notes of poached strawberries and hints of blueberries. Incense, soft black pepper, mid berry cola, black licorice, light barrel shavings, vanilla, melty dark chocolate, caramel notes, dark spice with some heat, a little; nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, finely crushed rocks, dry top soil, dry twig, used iron pan notes, powdered minerals, liquid violets, lavender and red candid flowers, excellent round acidity, tall structure & fairly big tension, well balanced and nicely, layered, polished finish that lasts nearly 90 seconds.

Still a bit young to me. Better in 5-7 yrs and will drink well for another 5-7 after that. More new wood use here than I am used to in their Zin & Zin blends.

Paired nicely with my Allen Brothers burger.

Photos of; the drive up entry to Ridge’s tasting room hilltop above Cupertino, cellar barrel, Ponzo Vineyard fruit and their tasting terrace. — a month ago

Steve Messinger

9.0

Black cherry nose w savory component and a hint of vanilla oak. Dense lush black fruit flavors. Wonderful long finish w tannin and alcohol in the finish. Needs another year or two to round out — 4 months ago

Brett Francis

9.2

This wine had notes of strawberry, some black cherry, balanced overall fruit flavors, with undertones of vanilla. Generally this was neither on what can sometimes be a Pinot’s spicy side or inversely a delicate side. This really just was an overall well-balanced, enjoyable wine. Would definitely drink again. — 6 months ago

Steve Messinger

9.3

Classic black cherry nose w hint of spice and oak. Great balance rich long finish — a month ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

So much cassis, black currant and rich sweetness. Very atypical for a Margaret River Cabernet - this is more Barossa or McLaren Vale. Less herbaceous than is usual for Margaret River in this warm vintage. A rich medium to full bodied palate with excellent concentration and smooth persistent tannins. My 2nd of 6 and a vintage that will last well beyond 2025 as one well known expert predicted. Should have the next bottle in 2 to 3 years time. 91% Cabernet Sauvignon; 4% Petit Verdot; 4% Cabernet Franc; 1% Merlot. — 2 months ago

Jake Hajer

9.3

(Guess I’m racking up some vintage reviews of this…) ‘14 in ‘23. white pepper, green pepper, black pepper, black berry, celery salt, black plums wet tobacco. Aging well. — 5 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

My last 2007 Mentelle Cabernet - last of the old white label. Very dense in colour - a dark Ruby. Cassis and blackcurrant. See previous Delectable notes. Not overly herbal like most Margaret Cabernets. Cedar and black olive notes as well. Amazing vitality and concentration for 16 years - in hindsight could have left it for longer. A ripe powerful Cabernet - more like a South Australian Cabernet in structure and fruit ripeness. An excellent vintage in Marg River which hardly ever has a bad one…..2006 comes to mind. Wish I had consumed this when 20 years of age. PS. Nick Stock said one of the greatest Cape Mentelles of all time. Only 800 cases made. — 6 months ago