Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

This is my favorite Zinfindel blend from Ridge. I like it/them more with 8-10 years of bottle age. But this 2023 drank very well young. One of the best current releases I’ve had in a while. Fresh as it was very recently bottled! 93+ in time.

Sirloin Steak was tip top.

Pebble Beach Food & Wine 2025.

The ticket to this event has a pretty big price tag. But when you consider what a Napa etc. tasting or two and lunch would cost you, you are pretty much there and there is so much more than that. It ends up having great value. It’s wine, spirits and food candy land. — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured from magnum; enjoyed over the course of two days. Best on Day 2 as the wine came into better balance. The 2015 “Caravina” pours a deep ruby with a nearly opaque core. Medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. One the nose, the wine is developing with notes of black cherry, brambles, tobacco, violets, herbs, and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine with dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and the acid plays a significant role, giving some real lift to the lush fruit. And while we’re on the topic, I’ll just share an observation that the acid is a significant characteristic for Seavey. In their youth, they are somewhat tough to fully appreciate (Ridge also has this reputation). I’m not suggesting Seavey is an analogue to Monte Bello, rather just stating they seem to be playing the long game…and I’m here for that. That being said, these are good now but will be more pleasurable in another couple years (at least in this format) and should be lovely through 2035. — 3 years ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.7

👍🏼aged Chardonnay
Many have their estate listed as the Montebello, two different wines, the Montebello is top notch — 5 years ago

Ben Christen

9.4

Cool climate cab. Delicious. One bottle became two. — 6 years ago

with Ellen

Jordan Wardlaw

9.3

Drinking again after two more years in bottle. Beautiful right now. Excellent tension between acid and big ripe, fleshy blue fruit. Ferrous, spicy, briary fun but with superb elegance. Loving this wine and very sad it is my last bottle. — 6 years ago

Chris Bensick

9.1

Paul Draper’s notes indicate this was the first vintage of York Creek can to be generally available. I don’t know what that means about the age of the vines but the notes (written in 1979) also say “with two to three years of bottle age this wine should begin to open up, but it will need more time to soften fully.” Well here we are 42 years on: still savory, still has a tannic backbone with good acidity, still has a good cork. Definitely a food wine, but very fine as such. Not a fruit bomb in the last twenty years can compare! 13.1% abv. — 6 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2023 vintage. Tasted with the owner/winemaker. Lighter medium body. Sampled via Coravin. Appropriate oak with plenty of zippy rhubarb, clove and spice festivities throughout. If blind, would have guessed Oregon. Three whole barrels made...then...75 cases or so. Not exactly on every street corner. Preferred the 2021 version (9.4) slightly but this was plenty substantial. Picked up a case. 12.04.24. — 2 years ago

Vino Joe

9.5

Supple and more elegant than muscular. Wonderful on opening and even more pleasant over next two hours. It has a richness and a meandering way. Less focused than some of the more recent vintages from Monte Bello. — 2 years ago

Craig Marino

9.2

Kelly and Craig are both fans — 5 years ago

David Lee

9.0

A year or two past its prime, but still shows the beauty of Ridge. Ripe blueberries, blackberries and spice with surprising balance for 14.8 ABV — 5 years ago

Brendan Baker

9.3

Some funk and reduction on opening, much better on day two. Red and black cherries, mineral, baking spice, silky tannin, long finish 🍒🔥👌 — 6 years ago

Jeff Orlowski

9.8

Dark ruby with a narrow caramel colored edge. Moss and strawberries on nose. Medium body, dry, perfectly balanced. Raspberries, cola, and clove on palate. Spectacular! One of the two or three best Pinot Noirs I’ve had. 98/100. — 6 years ago

with Michael and Joe

Shay A

9.3

Monthly WTF wine group night. Our theme was American oak vs French oak. All wines tasted blind. We started off with two bottles of bubbly and finished with two non-themed reds.

Fun to contrast alongside the ‘12 Ridge Cab. A lot more rich fruit here, but also channeling more tannin. Rich blue and black fruits with currant, baking spices at first, but there is a very nice balance of herbal notes, bayleaf and dusty tannin. Very enjoyable and still getting better. This place has one of the most gorgeous tasting rooms I’ve ever seen, so visiting is a must! Thanks @Bill Makens — 7 years ago

with Will, Ryan and 4 others

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

So, I have confessed to drinking only Ca Chardonnay in the past. In 2001-02, I had the 99 Pine Ridge Stag’s Leap District and it was the first red wine I gravitated. This 97 Andrus is their flagship wine & a better wine & vintage than the 99 Pine Ridge Stags Leap District that I had so long ago.

I decanted half the bottle and reserved the rest. The decanted was very good, but the reserve is better.

Excellent wine tonight that has sentimental meaning.

I bought 2 bottles on the secondary market for a $100 recently, that included fees & tax. It is like stealing candy from a baby at that price point. This was slightly better two-years ago, but excellent tonight w/ Ribcaps.

The palate is rich, ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, dark cherries, sweet me raspberry tones, blue/purple fruit tones, dry, crushed limestone-rock, dry top-soil, some dry herbs, dry tobacco, leather, some black licorice to cola, melted chocolate, some grilled meats, steeped tea to black tea, dry stone, used barrel shavings, withering dark, red, purple flowers round acidity and a well balanced, tensioned, elegant finish that lasts 90 seconds and lands on dry minerality. — 2 years ago

Bobbi Jo Broxson

9.5

Another in between snow storms grilling night. This is one of our favorites. Decanted two hours, typical Rutherford dust. — 3 years ago

with Brian

Rhonely Boy

9.3

Fantastic, fruity, decant two hours or hold for a bit. Personally didn’t decant, and wine was still holding its own on day 3. — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.3

I followed this over two days. It was initially opened alongside a 2016 Maybach Materium, 2013 Kapscandy Roberta’s Reserve, 2002 Colgin Cariad and a 2006 Dalla Valle Maya.

Aside from BV’s Guest Cottage, this is the only wine from them I haven’t had. Sporting almost a 16%ABV, it poured like motor oil in to the glass. Thick, rich and heady aromatics. This has that classic high quality Napa cab smell to it...smells of expensive toasted oak, espresso, fondue dipped dark fruits, and spiced nutmeg. A meal by itself on the palate, this is a 2013 that is unsurprisingly massive and in need of food to cut through the tannins. Dark initially before it turns slightly red fruit forward at the finish...dark cocoa topped black cherries, espresso sweetness, and black currant. I’d hold at this point. Not sure a decant is doing much at this stage. — 6 years ago

Ming L

9.0

I had great experience with their estate Merlot, and this reserve cab is quite impressive as well.
The initially shy nose slowly reveals black and blue berries, cedar, pencil lead, incense, cocoa, and hint of crushed rocks. The slightly ripe palate is round yet delicate, showing its classy with well woven streaking acidity and mellow tannins.
100% Cab from two vineyards from HHH, raised in 100% French oak barrel (45% new) for 20 months. — 6 years ago

Jenks

9.0

I can only taste two of the valleys. — 7 years ago

Manj Gunawardane

9.1

Juicy, delicious fruit and spice. Wonderfully balanced but did well with more air, even a day or two after popping. Drinking great now but would love to try this in 10+ years. — 7 years ago