This week’s Wine of the Week is a cellar selection that’s been resting peacefully my cellar since 2014.
According the Ridge, 2011 is the first time Ridge bottled Petit Verdot as a mono-varietal wine. (Note: Ridge also bottled Petit Verdot as a mono-varietal wine in 2012, but none since then)
Bottle note: “For twenty-one of the past twenty four years, this wine from the Olivos and LeVasseur parcels of the historic Torre vineyards – has been include in the Monte Bello. Typically petit verdot is quite tannic and contributes firm structure. In blind tasting of the Monte Bello components, it show excellent varietal character, but relatively soft tannins; we decided to keep it apart”
Tasting Note:Deep ruby color with very appealing and dynamic black plum, black cherry, black and red currant, sage, violet, toasted oak, roast coffee and a hint of spice aromas. On the palate, it medium-bodied with and impeccably balanced with vibrant acidity and well-integrated tannins. It shows plum, black cherry black and red currant, crushed violet and a hint of spice flavors with a long finish. Raised for 20 months in new air-dried American oak. 12.5% abv|11 barrels produced|SRP – $55|92pts
I should have decanted the wine, but I didn’t because it was a spur of the moment pull from the cellar. The first night it was pretty tight, and I thought it was very good, but I was concerned it was past its prime because Ridge indicated it would be “most enjoyable over the next 6-8 years” upon its release in 2013. I also noted there were not tasting notes in Cellar Tracker after 2021.
Ah, but on the second night it blossomed into a most memorable, complex and distinguished bottle that brought us much joy!
About Ridge Vineyards
Ridge Vineyards is a California winery with two estates, Monte Bello in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and Lytton Springs in Sonoma County. They are best known for their world-class “Monte Bello” – a single-vineyard premium Bordeaux style Cabernet Sauvignon Blend ), single vineyard Zinfandels, and estate Chardonnay. Ridge was established by three engineers from nearby Stanford Research Institute (SRI). They produced its first commercial wine in 1962 after purchasing the winery in 1960.
Great wines have always been determined by their site – by nature, not by man – Paul Draper
It wasn’t too long after that, that Ridge gained an international rep when the Ridge Monte Bello, under the direction of winemaker Paul Draper , took fifth place in the “Judgment of Paris” in 1976 against nine other French and California wines. Here’s what’s really cool though, the 1976 Monte Bello unanimously took first place in The Judgment of Paris 30th Anniversary when it was tasted against the same wines thirty years later!
Ridge is a member of the International Wineries For Climate Change(ICWA), an organization committed to taking collective action to decarbonize the global wine industry.
They are currently the largest grower of organic grapes in Sonoma County and the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, with nearly 380 acres of organically certified vines. They have a very comprehensive and impressive set of sustainability practices.