Ridge Vineyards Wine at Flickinger Wines

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USA Red

Ridge Vineyards

2015

50th Anniversary Geyserville

$59

VM 94 (8/2017): It's hard to believe that Ridge's iconic Zinfandel Geyserville celebrates its fiftieth anniversary in 2015. Today, the wine is quite deep, powerful and unyielding. Of course, the low yields of the vintage have a lot to do with that. I am not surprised winemaker Eric Baugher decided to give the 2015 a few more months in barrel, as there is a lot of stuffing here. The interplay of fruit, aromatics and acidity is compelling. Red cherry jam, pomegranate, rose petal and woodsmoke infuse the finish. The 2015 is going to need time to be at its best, but it is impressive. (Drink between 2022-2035). Antonio Galloni.

JD 92 (8/2017): Another wine from this estate that has a terrific track record for aging beautifully, the 2015 Geyserville checks in as a blend of 70% Zinfandel, 15% Carignan, 12% Petite Sirah, and the balance Alicante Bouschet. It offers elegant, lively notes of spice plums, leather, white pepper and brambly herbs in a medium-bodied, silky, charming, and undeniably elegant style. It stays fresh and lively on the palate, and like most of these 2015 Zinfandel releases, is already a joy to drink. There’s 9,000 cases. Ridge continues to produce a stacked lineup from their estate vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains, as well as numerous sites in Sonoma County. These reviews focus mostly on their 2015s, which was the earliest harvest on record for Ridge. Nevertheless, the wines show terrific purity and elegance, and it’s a rock-solid vintage for the estate. The Bordeaux blends are from the 2014 vintage, which was another hot, dry year. These are big, ripe, sexy releases that have the fruit and depth to drink nicely today, yet are going to age beautifully. (Drink between 2017-2032).

2017

Boatman Ranch Vyd. Zinfandel

$40

JD 90 (5/2020): Coming from the Alexander Valley and 92% Zinfandel and 8% Petite Sirah, the 2017 Zinfandel Boatman offers a big, powerful bouquet of candied violets, plums, sandalwood, and incense. Rich and medium-bodied, it has a light, elegant texture, and good balance. It's another charming, delicious, classic Zinfandel from this terrific estate. Drink it over the coming 7-8 years or so. (Drink between 2020-2028)

2003

Dynamite Hill Petite Sirah

$50

2013

Geyserville

$59

VM 93 (7/2014): The 2012 Zinfandel Geyserville is quite exuberant in this vintage. Savory herbs, tobacco, smoke, menthol and dark red/blackish-toned fruit burst from the glass in an exotic, juicy Zinfandel-based field blend loaded with personality. The tannins could use another year to soften, but readers will have a hard time keeping their hands off this jewel of a wine. The brisk, energetic finish is incredibly appealing. The blend is 71% Zinfandel, 19% Carignane, 7% Petite Sirah, 1% Alicante Bouschet and 1% Mataro (Mourvèdre).

2014

Geyserville

$45

WA 93 (10/2016): A classic 2014, the downright sexy, hedonistic and ready to go 2014 Geyserville Proprietary Red Wine (60% Zinfandel, 24% Carignan, 12% Petite Sirah and 4% Mourvèdre) is medium to full-bodied, perfectly balanced and loaded with notions of blackberries, plums, brambly herbs, licorice and spice. It’s relatively soft and already approachable, but it will nevertheless keep through 2024.

2019

Geyserville

$54

VM 94 (5/2022): The 2019 Geyserville marks a pretty huge step up in this range. What a wine! Black cherry, plum, chocolate, cloves, menthol and licorice blast across the palate. Deep and saturated, with tremendous concentration, the 2019 Geyserville is a wine to cellar for at least a few years. Today, it is positively stunning. (Drink between 2027-2039). Antonio Galloni.

JD 92 (7/2021): The 2019 Zinfandel Geyserville is 71% Zinfandel, 19% Carignan, and the rest Petite Sirah and Alicante Bouschet. This was a cooler vintage yet this wine reveals plenty of ripeness in its black and blue fruits as well as violets, cigar, and toasted spice-like aromas and flavors. Rich, medium to full-bodied, and expansive on the palate, it has some obvious minerality, building tannins, and a great finish. It's not going to match the 2018, but it’s still a complete, nuanced, complex Zinfandel that will keep for 10-15 years. (Drink between 2021-2036).

2008

Lytton Springs

$55

WA 93 (2/2011): Striking, intense black cherry and blackberry fruit with some spice and earth jump from the glass of the 2008 Lytton Springs, a blend of 74% Zinfandel, 21% Petite Sirah, and 5% Carignan. Dark ruby with a nice tannic overlay, the wine was aged 15 months in American oak. Spicy, impressively rich, with good acids and loads of concentration, this is a beauty to drink over the next 5-7 years.

VM 92 (5/2011): Saturated ruby. Dark berries, cherry, sassafras and smoky Indian spices on the nose, with an intense vanilla quality and a hint of dried violet. Opulent, palate-coating blackberry and mulberry flavors show a spicy, oaky quality, with gentle acidity providing lift. Dusty tannins add grip to the vanilla-tinged finish, which clings impressively. I have no doubt that this wine will absorb its oak with a few years or so of bottle age.

2011

Lytton Springs

$55

WA 89 (10/2013): The 2011 Proprietary Red Lytton Springs (82% Zinfandel, 16% Petite Sirah and 2% Carignan; 14.4% alcohol) was harvested near the end of September. A juicy, rich effort, it displays abundant notes of raspberry and black cherry fruit, medium body, excellent purity, and good weight as well as richness. The strongest effort of these Zinfandel-based wines, it should drink well for 5-6 years.

2011

Lytton Springs

Lightly Bin-Soiled Label

$55

1995

Monte Bello (1.5 L)

Lightly Scuffed Label

$649

WA 91 (12/1998): The 1995 Monte Bello is actually a Proprietary Red Wine as the blend is 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc. It was made from an extremely severe selection of only 25% of the harvest. Paul Draper feels it is the biggest, brawniest, and most muscular Monte Bello of the 1990s, and in need of 10-15 more years of cellaring. This saturated ruby/purple-colored effort is still backward, with a closed nose of minerals, oak, and subtle black fruits. In the mouth, it is large-scaled, tannic, rich, and long, but nearly abrasive because of the wine's high tannin level. This youthful, muscular, monster Monte Bello will require significant cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2035.

VM 89+ (6/1998): Saturated dark ruby. Dusty, slightly high-toned nose shows leather and game hints; seems less primary than a sample tasted a year ago. Supple entry, then much drier in the middle palate than the above wine; the fruit is currently cut off by substantial firm tannins. Seems quite oaky, even a bit dry, on the back end. Paul Draper says this is the most tannic Monte Bello of the last several vintages at Ridge, but also potentially the richest. But showing awkwardly today.

2002

Monte Bello (1.5 L)

$859

WA 94 (12/2005): The 2002 Monte Bello exhibits aromas of tar, cedar, damp earth, white chocolate, black cherries, and sweet black currants. This full-bodied, dense, tannic 2002 is even more closed this year than it was last. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2037. This impressive wine is unlikely to win many blind tastings given its current austerity.

VM 94 (8/2004): Deep, full ruby. Explosively perfumed nose combines black raspberry, violet and dark chocolate. Wonderfully layered and penetrating, with expressive flavors of raspberry, currant, bitter chocolate, spices and tobacco. Still an infant, but already offers a rare combination of sweetness and inner-mouth energy. Finishes very fresh and very long, with big, dusty tannins and great lift. This is high in alcohol for Ridge at 13.3%, but a full degree or more lower than virtually any other collectible California cabernet from this vintage.

2008

Monte Bello (1.5 L)

$450

WA 97+ (8/2011): The 2008 Monte Bello is striking. It is a decidedly muscular Monte Bello endowed with layers of dark fruit. Tobacco, mint, asphalt and crushed rocks develop in the glass, adding tons of complexity and finesse. A long, saline finish rounds things out beautifully. In 2008 the cold growing season stretched into October and the wine definitely has the feel of a cool vintage. The spring frost and the second year of drought conditions lowered yields significantly. Yields were just 1.25 tons per acre on average, but some of the older vineyards came in at less than 1 ton per acre. The balance of fruit, tannin and structure is simply extraordinary, but the wine needs time, most likely lots of it. In 2008 the blend is 72% Cabernet Sauvignon and 28% Merlot. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2038.

VM 95+ (11/2011): (72% cabernet sauvignon and 28% merlot; 13.3% alcohol): Glass-staining ruby. Powerful, pungent aromas of cherry-vanilla, cassis, candied licorice and graphite, along with a suave floral oil quality that gains strength with air. Deeply pitched dark berry flavors show a liqueur-like intensity, as well as notes of smoky Indian spices, violet and vanilla. Ripe but quite vibrant, wih superb finishing clarity and persistence. This extremely young wine makes the case that high alcohol isn't a prerequisite for intensity or power in California cabernet. Josh Raynolds.

JS 95 (5/2012): I love the nose to this wine. Aromas of currants, blackberry, flowers and dried flowers. Full-bodied, with super refined tannins and a long gorgeous finish. This is all in finesse and length. Made from 72% Cabernet Sauvignon and 28% Merlot. Drink in 2015, or decant a couple hours before serving.

2009

Monte Bello

$275

VM 98 (8/2012): The 2009 Monte Bello (72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot is simply magnificent. Layers of dark red fruit, flowers, spices and licorice are all woven together in this utterly impeccable wine. The 2009 is an especially huge, intense Monte Bello, yet a sexy, silky core of fruit lies within the imposing frame. Everything comes together in this glorious, radiant wine. Baugher describes 2009 as a year with cold weather early on, followed by heat in early June and July. The fruit was brought in on October 12th, just before an intense downpour swept through the region. There is a purity and silkiness supported by structure in the 2009 that is impossible not to admire. Simply put, this is another utterly magnificent, towering masterpiece from Ridge. Antonio Galloni.

2012

Monte Bello

$225

JS 96 (5/2017): Lead pencil, blackberry and blackcurrant aromas fill the glass. Hints of mints and dried flowers. Full body, soft and round tannins and a sweet-and-sour fruit intensity. Juicy and round-textured wine, culminating in a flavorful finish. Drink in 2020 but already a joy to taste.

WA 94+ (10/2015): Inky colored, the sensational 2012 Monte Bello comes all from the Santa Cruz Mountains and is a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot. It's backwards and tight, with classic black cherry, crushed violets, cassis, espresso roast and crème brulee notes all flowing seamlessly to a full-bodied, concentrated, structured and layered Bordeaux blend that has bright acidity, a stacked mid-palate and firm tannin. It needs 5-6 years of cellaring and will hold for two decades beyond that.

VM 94 (7/2015): Ridge's 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate may very well be the single finest value in California Cabernet Sauvignon in its price range. Rich and explosive, with plenty of vintage 2012 exuberance, the Estate Cabernet hits the palate with masses of dark, concentrated fruit that nearly buries the mountain tannins. There is plenty of tension, beneath although 2012 remains radiant and incredibly appealing today. Shades of tar, graphite and smoke add darkness on the finish. The 2012 could use a few years in bottle to shed some of its baby fat, but it is remarkable by any measure. I don't think there is a finer California Cabernet Sauvignon today at this price, but if there is, I would like to taste it! Antonio Galloni.

2015

Monte Bello

$235

JS 100 (10/2018): Stunning depth, power, purity and elegance. The blackcurrants and plums are fresh and intense on the nose with blueberries and gently herbal notes, too. The palate has a keenly articulated array of vibrant tannins that hold long, fresh and pure. It invokes a sense of wonderment at the finish. So long and so pure. This blend of 77 per cent cabernet sauvignon, 11 per cent merlot, seven per cent petit verdot and five percent cabernet franc, is just at the start of a wonderful journey. Try from 2021.

JD 98+ (2/2019): A blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello is unquestionably going to be one of monumental vintages of this wine. Deep, incredibly concentrated, and powerful, yet also textured and perfectly balanced, this beauty gives up a huge nose of cassis, plums, spice box, graphite, and vanilla bean. With full-bodied richness on the palate, it starts out tight and firm yet blossoms with time in the glass (I followed this bottle for multiple days) and has an awesome mid-palate, building yet perfectly ripe tannins, and a rock star finish. It's about as classic a Monte Bello as they come and will require 4-6 years of bottle age (or more) and shine for three decades or more.

VM 98+ (8/2017): One of the highlights in this tasting, the 2015 Monte Bello will soon take its place among the greatest Monte Bellos ever made. Powerful, deep and explosive, the 2015 possesses magnificent concentration and richness in every dimension. Even with all of its raciness, the 2015 has terrific aromatic presence and regal tannins. The 2015 is a bit less showy than it has been in the past, but it was also just bottled two weeks before this tasting. Readers who own it will be absolutely thrilled. Antonio Galloni.

WA 95+ (7/2018): At this early stage, the 2015 Monte Bello is all about potential. I followed a bottle over several days and only witnessed improvement. The wine unfurls in the glass with a rich bouquet of cassis, ripe plums, espresso roast, black tea and baking chocolate, lavishly framed by minty, spicy new oak—which is often at its most prominent at exactly this stage, when the wine is shutting down after bottling. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with rich, velvety tannins and beautifully succulent, even tangy acidity that lends amazing lift on the finish. The most obvious analogy is the 2005 vintage, though it also evokes a more elegant version of the 1995 Monte Bello. It's a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc that attained 13.5% natural alcohol. Since the wine appears to be shutting down, I'd recommend forgetting it until its tenth birthday. Given its structure and balance, it should enjoy remarkable longevity.

2020

Monte Bello

$150

VM 87 (11/2023): The 2020 Monte Bello opens with a burst of dark red fruit. Leather, tobacco and mocha open nicely in the glass. There's no getting past smoke taint in this wine. That's a shame, as the flavors are nicely delineated and the tannins are well balanced for the year in this small-scaled Monte Bello. The 2020 has signs of taint when I tasted it from barrel, so I can't say I am terribly surprised. (Drink between 2024-2030). Antonio Galloni.

WA 85 (4/2024): Unfortunately, the 2020 Monte Bello is a victim of this harvest's devastating wildfires. Smoke taint is evident from the first pour, after which it receded and then reappeared on and off over the two days I spent with the bottles. The palate tells the same story, with the retronasal signature of campfire smoke and hollowed-out, gritty fruit on the finish. This was only more glaring in the context of a vertical spanning 2021-2015, many of which are banner vintages for Ridge. While an otherwise technically well-made wine is there behind the smoke, albeit with noticeably less depth and concentration than is typical, due to Ridge's decision to bulk out of 90% of the pressed wine, this flaw is unavoidable. In the interest of thoroughness, a sample of the bottled 2020 Monte Bello was submitted to ETS Laboratories in St. Helena, where a series of tests to detect glycosylated smoke markers were carried out (glycosylated tests specifically separate sugar-bound markers from volatile markers that can be imparted by oak élevage). The results confirmed significantly elevated levels of 4-methylguaiacol rutinoside, cresol rutinoside, phenol rutinoside and syringol gentiobioside, all of which correspond to elevated levels of smoke exposure and heightened sensory thresholds by up to a factor of four from the 99th percentile of a non-smoke-affected vintage.'

2022

Monte Bello (1.5 L)

$525

JD 98 (4/2025): Aged in 100% new oak, the 2022 Monte Bello blends 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc, selected from 18 of 21 lots by blind tasting. After assemblage, the wine spent 21 more months in barrel. The vineyard starts at 1,600 feet and goes up to 2,700 feet at top, and is spread out across 4 different ranches, Klein, Rousten, Torre and Perrone, the wines getting more tightknit and ageable as the vines move up the mountain. By the end of harvest, Monte Bello is split into 55 different blocks, which are then picked and fermented separately. Year after year, this is a “wow” wine, herbal, lightly spiced in oak, with a lovely creamy, velvety texture and a backbone of well-resolved tannin supporting a medium-bodied, balanced spirit of mountain garrigue. These wines typically age 20-25 years or more. Virginie Boone.

VM 96 (10/2025): The 2022 Monte Bello feels like a cooler-vintage wine, defying all expectations of the torrid growing season. Juicy, fresh and very old school, the 2022 sashays with true elegance as it unfurls into classic layers of cedar box, tobacco, grilled herbs, tart cherry and crushed rocks. A return to a more typical percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in this vintage can be felt in the wine's upright build and darker aromatic shadings. Winemaker John Olney chose to keep the 2022 in barrel for 21 months, a little longer than usual, in an effort to tame its fierce young tannins. That prescription worked out swimmingly. The 2022 is a very serious, structured wine, but its textural polish is beyond reproach. It's a Monte Bello that whispers rather than shouts. Time is very much on your side. (Drink between 2030-2060). Billy Norris.

2014

Ponzo Vyd. Zinfandel

$45

WA 90 (10/2016): 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.

USA White

Ridge Vineyards

2020

Estate Chardonnay

$55

JD 94 (8/2022): Coming from the estate vineyard on the eastern side of the Santa Cruz Mountains, the 2020 Chardonnay Estate has a beautiful nose of honeyed lemon blossom, crushed stone, toasty oak, and a touch of reductive-like minerality. This carries to a brilliantly balanced, medium-bodied Chardonnay with a round, layered mouthfeel, good acidity, and a focused style that should age gracefully for 7-8 years, if not longer.