Cabernet Sauvignon

Merlot

Cabernet Franc

Petit Verdot

Ridge Vineyards

Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon Santa Cruz Mountains

California

Santa Cruz Mountains

Entirely Cabernet Sauvignon, palest pink, almost translucent at this point, rose petal and white truffle aromatics that have to be captured swiftly then set free. This is the epitome of crushed rose floral notes, white truffle, gentle redcurrant and raspberry fruits that are barely there, almost a meringue sweetness, beguiling and just out of reach. Clearly there is sediment here, but don't carafe for any length of time before drinking, just open the bottle, stand it up for an hour to allow the sediment to drop, and then gentle pour it out. Utterly gorgeous and utterly ephemeral, a lifetime wine, impossible to assign a score to, so take any number that you see here with a pinch of salt. This was five years before Paul Draper arrived at Ridge, and was just two years since Dave Bennion, Howard Ziedler, Hew Crane and Charlie Rosen had begun the restoration of this exceptional vineyard site in the Santa Cruz mountains. A true slice of Californina history. Worth saying that of the four bottles of 1964, only one was deemed a true reflection of the vintage, so be careful of bottle variation, and let it stand rather than carafing as clearly it is fragile at this point.

Inside Bordeaux

Dyp rød farge. Mørke bær, anis, solbær og urter på duft og smak. Flott konsentrasjon og lengde. Elegant og solid håndverk. Noe ungt fatpreg, men noen år i kjelleren vil gjøre vinen godt. 2020 årgangen kommer til Norge medio september. Liten allokering

Sommelier

Solbærsirup med masse florale toner og noe jordlig preg. Først og fremst frukten som skinner i denne alderen. Bør få ligge i kjelleren enda 10 år, men absolutt drikkbar allerede nå. Heftig konsentrasjon. En stor vin uten at den oppfattes tung.

Amatør

Expert

Først litt lukket på duft, men så kommer solbær, bjørnebær, lær og urter.
Saftige mørke bær som allerede viser flere lag. Frisk syre og stramme tanniner. Viser sitt potensiale allerede nå, men bør få 10 år til.

WSET 2

Raske notater - se notat av 2017 for mer utfyllende beskrivelse. Begynt å se mer utviklede aromaer som sedertre, søt pipetobakk og noe urter. (77CS, 11M, 7PV, 5CF). Mer tanninrik og strammere i bittet enn eksempelvis 2017, men vinen er under fin utvikling. Vil nok ikke være av de årgangene som bruker lengst tid på å komme rundt, men har en fin «trajectory». Ridge-smaking med vinmaker Michael Bairdsmith på Britannia. 

Dyp mørk rød på farge. Innbydende på nese, bjørnebær, solbær, plommer, lakris, tre og lær. Høy intensitet. Rik i munnen, konsentrert og balansert, integrert eik, høy syre, delikate tanniner og lang utgang. Deilig vin. Ridge og Monte Bello❤️.

Captures the stunning ability of Ridge to deliver concentration and richly textured but focused blackberry, cassis and bilberry fruits. As it opens, layers of cocoa bean, slate, cigar and liqourice appear, all delivered in a savoury, restrained package laced with sage, bay leaf and white pepper. This was a structured vintage, and the tannins are very much making their presence felt, meaning the wine is just beginning to reveal its depths, but you can feel total confidence that it is going to slowly but surely join the great vintages of Ridge. Paul Draper winemaker, harvest September 21 to October 16. 98.5% American oak, 1.5% French oak barrels for ageing, all new oak. Natural yeasts, only lightly filtered at moment of bottling.

Raske notater - se notat av 2017 for utfyllende beskrivelse. 2010 begynner å vise storform. (74CS, 20M, 4PV, 2CF). Har åpnet seg opp betydelig og utviser stor kompleksitet. Spektret er utvidet og inneholder frisk og fin frukt så vel som herlige utviklede aromaer av grafitt, sedertre, tobakk, lær og jordlige og animalske toner. Fløyelsmyk og rund, velbalansert, voldsom lengde. Bærer 100 % ny eik enkelt som et barneskirenn! En aldeles nydelig vin. Ridge-smaking med vinmaker Michael Bairdsmith på Britannia. 

Rød farge. Nokså tett. 
Ekspressiv på duft med solbær, mynte, lett sedertre, vanilje og hint av kaffe. En vakker vin på alle vis med bra syre, utrolig behagelige tanniner og myk lang utgang. 

Certified Sommelier

WSET 1

Mørke bær, treverk, urter og tobakk. 
Noe kjøligere og lettere i stilen enn andre årganger jeg har smakt. Balansert og delikat i stilen, med strukturerte tanniner og frisk syre.
Frukten har begynt å utvikle seg, men har fremdeles godt av noen år med lagring.

Still plenty of punch on the nose, this has held its form and shape, not quite the soft generosity of the 1985, acidity feels a little higher here, with mandarin peel, mint and bitter almond notes against waves of blueberry and blackberry fruits, with a violet curl. Good quality, still feels young and intact, well structured, the tannins are holding everthing in place, with black pepper spice in evidence on the finish. Enjoyable, a little edgy. Almost entirely new American oak, rest new French oak.

Deep dark fruit expression, wonderfully balanced, this is open with melted tannins and a welcoming structure, and yet incredibly young still at almost 30 years old. Bilberry, loganberry, raspberry, you can almost feel the pips and texture of the fruit even now, softened and offset by smoked earth, saffron, leather and truffle. Paul Draper winemaker. Harvest October 18 to 28. Almost entirely new American oak, rest new French oak.

This still has grip and depth to the colour, vibrant ruby red, velvet tannins, touch of iron filings, earth and blood on the opening notes, along with violet and iris flowers, could almost be an aged Syrah in its earthy seduction. It unrolls slowly to show tobacco, bacon, soy, grilled red peppers, truffle, showcasing a hot vintage that benefitted from the cooler climate of the Santa Cruz mountains. Almost entirely new American oak, rest new French oak. Paul Draper winemaker.

Pale ruby, tawny edging, plenty of vigour through the core of the wine, tobacco notes on the edge. Evening in the rose garden, this is filled with soft melted tar and tobacco notes, still with grip and understated power, gourmet blackcurrant pastille notes with waves of patisserie creme, earth and iron, a delicious wine that is evolved but still delivering. Tasting again after an hour and there is still soft power here. Paul Draper winemaker.

An early vintage after a difficult season, majoring on tobacco, library, earth, rose petals, saffron, still alive but full on tertiary, soy, tar, savoury dried herbs, with a gentle grip, one to savour but to enjoy now and over next decade, revelling in these umami, meaty broth and violet petal flavours. Paul Draper winemaker.

2021	No priceAvailable	Not rated
2020	kr 2 290,00Available	Excellent
2019	kr 1 950,00Available	Outstanding
2018	No priceAvailable	Not rated
2017	No priceAvailable	Outstanding

Category	Red wine
Vinmonopolet no.
Producer	Ridge Vineyards
Vintages	1964
Country	US, California, Santa Cruz Mountains
Bottle	75 cl

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Acid	%
Sugar	g/l

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