Archive for January, 2010

« Older Entries

2009 Harvest Report!

January 29, 2010

For those of you who may be interested (for example, those of you considering joining the Monte Bello Collector Program with the 2009 vintage!), the 2009 Harvest Report is now available for your reading pleasure!

It was certainly quite a growing season. Beginning with the transition from a very long and cold winter,

to a cool spring,

and moving through a fairly mild summer,

into a harvest  especially notable for the debut of a new grape sorting system at Monte Bello,

it’s been a thoroughly riveting cycle, and now that we’ve made it through, I’m very happy to say it looks like all signs are pointing to 2009 being a great vintage!

If you would like to read the Harvest Report, you can find it here.

Enjoy!

Tags:
Posted in Lytton, Monte Bello, Vineyards and Oenology, Winemaking | 1 Comment »

ZAP Map! -or- Tips On What To Taste At Zap!

January 29, 2010

Greetings all!

As the West Coast-based Zin-Obsessed amongst you will already know, this weekend is ZAP weekend.

For this who don’t recognize the acronym, ZAP stands for Zinfandel Producers & Advocates, and every year they put on a Zinfandel Festival, which is truly one of the most oenophillically decadent endeavors one can engage in, should one be zin-curious … this weekend’s event is the 19th Annual, and as usual, there are quite literally hundreds of producers who will be on hand pouring samples of their wares.

This can make for a pretty daunting day (or set of days!), if you don’t know where to go or what to look for. Fortunately, a great many of the attendees are also writers, who pretty rapidly turn their immediate thoughts and perspectives into blogs and other on-line resources, and these can accordingly be great guides for the uninitiated and otherwise lost attendees.

An excellent first destination would be The Gray Market Report. This is the blog of freelance writer W. Blake Gray, and he’s already put up a post with a list of his favorites at ZAP so far; this is as good a place to start as any, and because his list lists Ridge, well, all the better!

You can find his ZAP post here.

So, if you go, enjoy yourselves, but drink responsibly (use a spittoon!), and send me your tasting notes and photographs!

Tags:, , ,
Posted in Events & Photographs, Varietals & Blends, Viticultural Salmagundi, Wine Blogs, Wine Tales, Zinfandel | 1 Comment »

A Belated Jazz Birthday …

January 28, 2010

What with so many other things to write about recently, I inadvertently let slip by a very important anniversary, a sin of omission for which I wish to atone for now; on January 23rd, the world celebrated the hundredth anniversary of the birth of the legendary guitarist Django Reinhardt, and I too would like to join the ranks of those honoring the life and works of this great man, and this great talent.

But first, some justification, as the question may already be in your mind as to why a wine blog would focus on this man and his music.

Given my firm belief that the consumption of wine is a deeply experiential endeavor that fully transcends the boundaries of the simple taste experience, I can confidently assert that I am hard pressed to conjure up reference to any another body of musical work that so flagrantly evokes the experience of drinking wine, or is so suited to it; perhaps it’s simply the French-ness of the music, or the mysterious Gypsy origins of the genius sewn into the code of the compositions;

perhaps it’s something in the curiously addictive dichotomy of hot-cold vibes, the blistering paces matched against the sensuous tones, the melancholic melodies against the buoyant techniques, the sex and the sorrow; or perhaps it’s modern conditioning, endless hours in wine bars spent sipping, sampling, and savoring to the soundtracks that have become now so standard.

Perhaps it’s a timelessness born of a specific time; something about the devil-may-care passions of a post-war Europe trying to rediscover its soul in the fevers of wine and song, the clouds of smoke, the loves and furies of Gypsy Jazz, the poems, the romances, the jazz in the cafés …

this headiness seems to speak through the decades to all of us; who doesn’t find it somehow strangely and spiritually decadent to sit with friends and loved ones over wine and bread and cheese talking deep into the early morning hours about anything and everything, as if everything said mattered more than anything in the world, as if a revolution of emotion were being born.

In the end, I don’t know what it is, I can only say that somehow, the sound of Django Reinhardt is the sound of drinking wine.

Tonight, my missus and I will raise our glasses (Syrah seems most appropriate; perhaps one of our few remaining bottles of the 2005 Lytton West Syrah), and toast to friendship and love, to passion and vision, to the old world and the new, to wine, to Django, and to each other, and we’ll do so as the last flickering rays of the setting sun light the bellies of the bay-cloaking clouds with their epic flares, to the strains of “Nuages.” If you’ve not already done so, I encourage you all to put a little Django on tonight, and have a glass or two of wine. There’s a revolution in the air …

Tags:, , ,
Posted in History, Syrah, Viticultural Salmagundi, Wine and Jazz, Wine Tales | 2 Comments »

Lovely Blog Review Of The 2006 Monte Bello, & The 1992 Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay!

January 27, 2010

Jerry Bullfrog’s Wine Stash. I love it! What a great name for a blog … And what a great idea for a blog! Here’s the tagline from the site:

A review of a different wine/beer/spirit everyday for a year, blended with commentary on random observations.

I love it!

So, if you haven’t checked this blog out yet, I highly recommend it.

(Do note though, that some of the posts are, well, a tad profane. Often wonderfully, artfully, passionately, singularly profane, but profane nonetheless. Just something to know going in …)

Mainly, there are some lovely tasting notes on the current vintage of Monte Bello (2006) as well as commentary on a rare tasting of 1992 Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay to be found there, amidst all the other “commentary on random observations.”

And so I say, cheers Bullfrog! And cheers to your companion “Crotchy” too!

p.s. For those of you keeping score, Ridge is Day 23!

p.p.s The 1992 Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay is no longer “officially” available, but between you and me, well, I just might have a line on a bottle or two … shhhhhh!

Tags:, ,
Posted in Monte Bello, Tasting Notes, Tasting Rooms, Wine Blogs | 3 Comments »

New Wine Quote Of The Week!

January 26, 2010

It’s Tuesday again, and that means it’s wine quote time! Today’s offering is, I believe, somewhat well-known, though it’s such a strange one I’m pleased to present it nonetheless. It comes to us from the mind of the great Pulitzer-Prize-winning humorist Art Buchwald (who sadly left us just over two years ago), and the specific subject of his quote is one of my personal favorite topics; champys! So here we go:

“I like Champagne, because it always tastes as though my foot’s asleep.”

Bravo! We miss you Art!

Tags:, ,
Posted in Wine Quotes | Leave a Comment »

A Sublime Flight Of Fancy: Tasting Notes Below! (2006 Monte Bello Chardonnay, 1999 Lytton Springs, 1995 Monte Bello, 1988 Monte Bello)

January 26, 2010

2006 Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello Chardonnay

Appearance:

Pale gold in the glass, framed by a white gold halo, brilliantly limpid, showing delightfully eccentric leg behaviour unified by a light viscosity …

Aromatics:

Strong tropicality right away, with hints of crème fraîche, orange liqueur and hand-crafted soft caramel …

Front:

Viscous, slightly sweet, deeply concentrated, warm, weighty, and calling up decidedly favorable reminisces of fondues and beurre blancs past …

Mid-Palate:

Wickedly meritorious acidity co-mingling with complex mineral components and yeast characteristics that merge perfectly with integrated barrel notes …

Finish:

Somewhat unexpectedly elegant, almost timid, at least in context of the full-structure-weight implied by the forceful entrance; acidity is certainly present, and the finish is appropriately complex, but it tails off slightly, growing incrementally narrower in scope as it extends …

Summary:

A beautifully built and tremendously complex wine, but definitely a wine that will benefit from some bottle maturation, as it’s still a little top-heavy as regards revealing its full expression …

1999 Ridge Vineyards Lytton Springs

Appearance:

Rich, concentrated burgundy hues throughout, halo’d by a gorgeous red-rubyfruit limn, and evidencing medium-weight legs …

Aromatics:

Sweet fruit, sandalwood and balsa; elegant, playful, buoyant, vibrant fruits; the bouquet literally jumps out of the glass asking to be noticed …

Front:

Ripe notes right on entry, but without being cloying, overly viscous, or weightedly sweet; utterly delicious!

Mid-Palate:

Beautifully resolved tannins and fully integrated acidity join complex and harmonious mid-tone fruits in a seamless blend …

Finish:

Complex, fully intact, and completely pleasing!

Summary:

Quite possibly Best In Show …

1995 Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello

Appearance:

Impenetrably dark plum belly, firm yet graceful legs, pale and dusky ruby limn …

Aromatics:

Muted and subtle wood notes, leather and suede, baked red fruits …

Front:

Exceptionally generous mouthfeel at entry, with very firm tannins and an almost icy acidity; brisk and exhilarating …

Mid-Palate:

A virtual gumbo of concentrated fruit, soulful spice, all braced by a cavalierly buoyant architecture …

Finish:

The revelation of a tannic superstructure that is decidedly young still, but happily offset by acidity and alcohol components that have harmonized to pitch-perfection …

Summary:

Still young, already luscious, potential to spare …

1988 Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello

Appearance:

An interweaving of brighter cranberry hues and warmer burgundy tones, sparkling in the swift yet stylishly controlled legs, and rippling out towards the opaquely bright strawberry highlights in the limn …

Aromatics:

Eucalyptal and minty, with counterbalancing hints of braised meats, sweet barbecue sauce, and mincemeat, all hovered over by the decadence of poached pear …

Front:

Rusticity and earthiness immediately on offer, with some still-blazing campfire woodsiness and smoke …

Mid-Palate:

The emergence of a complex assemblage of singularly fruit-driven characteristics; most notably Michigan cherries, calimyrna fig, dried apricot, and hints of quince …

Finish:

Elegant, unobtrusive, and impeccably gracious …

Summary:

From a structural standpoint, a fully intact wine with years of stability still to come, though the subtle arsenal of fruit traits balanced against the secondary and tertiary spice and herb components does somewhat beg a sooner sampling …

Tags:, , ,
Posted in Bordeaux varietals, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Lytton, Monte Bello, Tasting Notes, Varietals & Blends, Zinfandel | Leave a Comment »

Ridge A to Z: Thank You For Attending, And Check Out The Pics!

January 25, 2010

Thanks to everyone who attended our Ridge A to Z Membership Showcase Event Last Saturday! We loved having you, and hope you all had a wonderful time! Thanks especially to Fatted Calf Charcuterie for providing such wonderful offerings, and for driving down all the way from Napa! And thanks to the Monte Bello Tasting Room Staff for being such great hosts! And a hearty welcome to our new Wine Program Members! And of course, thanks to Ridge for making such tremendous wine!

If you were in attendance, and would like to revisit the glory of the day, check the pics below. And if you weren’t able to attend this time, well, check the pics below! That way, you’ll be good and excited for the next time we have an A to Z event!

Tags:, , , ,
Posted in Events & Photographs, Monte Bello, Tasting Rooms, Viticultural Salmagundi, Wine Clubs | 3 Comments »

Ridge A to Z! This Weekend at Monte Bello!

January 22, 2010

Greetings all!

So, full disclosure, this post is essentially directed at those of you who will be in the vicinity of our Monte Bello Tasting Room this Saturday. Why? Because we’re havin’ a rippin’ good event on the 23rd, right here on the mountain!

Now, that said, some of what will transpire, at least from a content standpoint, is certainly good information for all, but for the purposes of this post, I’ll be speaking specifically about the on-site activities.

What we’ll be doing is debuting a brand-new event, Ridge A to Z! This is essentially a showcase event for our Wine Programs (ATP to Zlist, with the good ol’ Monte Bello Collector in between!); an event for which we’ll be pouring spectacular examples of the wines available through the various memberships. And to support it all culinarily, the marvelous folks from Fatted Calf Charcuterie will be on hand to provide on-site sliced organic salumi! Dig!

Here’s the official storyline, which can also be found on our Events Page:

Discover Ridge Membership and Enjoy Salumi from Fatted Calf
Monte Bello Tasting Room (Cupertino)
January 23, 11 – 4

Please join Ridge Vineyards at our A to Z Membership Event!  Wondering about the ATP program? Ever weighed the benefits of Z list membership? Curious about buying “futures” in the  Monte Bello Collector Program? Let us take the confusion out of the equation by hosting you for a delicious, educational, and program-focused tasting. Sip, swirl, and taste the offerings at each wine program station, and in between tastes, you can take a moment to chat with the staff from Fatted Calf Charcuterie*, who will be on-hand serving up samples of their organic salumi from their onsite slicer! As you visit each membership station you will discover what each program has on offer, and in the process become acquainted with both our single-vineyard wines, and our knowledgeable staff.  

In addition, we will be making available an exclusive short-list pricelist of limited-production and end-of-vintage wines that only members have access to!

This event is complimentary to members of our wine programs, and $10 for the general public. The event price includes a Ridge logo glass.

*The Fatted Calf is an artisanal charcuterie producing a wide range of hand crafted products using high quality, natural ingredients. They use the best available products; organic and hormone free meats, superior seasonings and salts, organic herbs and produce.

Just in case you’re having trouble visualizing what Fatted Calf staffers engaging in on-site slicing might look like, here’s a little assistance; a shot from our Lytton Springs facility, where the Fatted Calfers were very recently doing their thing:

Well, I think that about says it all! But for the ever-more curious amongst ye, you can also check out the event tasting menu by clicking here, and you can find out what wines we’ll be pouring.

Hope to see you on Saturday!

Tags:, , , ,
Posted in Events & Photographs, Food & Wine Pairing, Monte Bello, Tasting Flights, Tasting Rooms, Viticultural Salmagundi, Wine Clubs | 1 Comment »

Early Notice: February Is A Membership Month!

January 20, 2010

February is only a few days away, and here at Ridge, we’re gleefully anticipating the new month’s arrival, as we’ve got quite a few decidedly groovy things in the works. I’ll be letting you know about them all over the next few days, but to start with, I’d like to announce that February will be our first ever Membership Month! Here’s the official storyline:

“Ridge Vineyards is very excited to debut a new Member Benefit in 2010; Membership Months! During the months of February and July, we invite you, the members of our ATP, Monte Bello Collector, and Z List wine programs, to bring your friends and family to our tasting rooms, where each and every one of your guests will enjoy member pricing on all tasting fees! Please join us for these very special opportunities to extend your special member benefits to those that are special to you.”

For more information about Membership Months, as well as other Ridge events, please click here, and if you’re considering membership in one of our wine programs, you can get more information here.

Cheers!

Tags:, , ,
Posted in Events & Photographs | Leave a Comment »

Wine Quote Of The Week: From Our King Curmudgeon W.C. Fields!

January 19, 2010

Well, it’s Tuesday, and on Tuesdays, I’m going to start sharing favorite quotes on wine. My absolute and total favorite collection of quotes, observations, witticisms,  aphorisms, and more, has always been “The Portable Curmudgeon,” and I will draw from it today for our Wine Quote of choice. The line comes from perhaps the True-Crowned King of Crankiness, the Clown Prince of Cynics, the Godfather of Grumps, good ol’ Egbert Souse (pronounced Sue-Say) himself, Mr. W.C. Fields, who rather famously once asked:

“What contemptible scoundrel stole the cork from my lunch?”

And speaking of which (and to borrow a bit of prose from one Winnie the Pooh, the creator of whom was born just yesterday, albeit many years ago, that being A.A. Milne), I must say, “I am so rumbly in my tumbly …”

Tags:, , ,
Posted in Wine Quotes | 1 Comment »

« Older Entries
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 81 other followers