I believe Ridge is the greatest winery in America. My long-form case is at leduwines.com/blogs/connor/ridge 🇺🇸🍷
Full disclosure: they’re my home team! I’ve been hiking on Monte Bello ridge since I was a child, and took every opportunity I could do drive Skyline Boulevard while living in the Bay. It’s no wonder to me that these vines are so happy.
With the retirement of the great Paul Draper in 2016, three men - Eric Baugher, John Olney, and David Gates - have taken up stewardship of the legendary estate. All three have been with Ridge at least twenty years.
There is no doubt: the principles instilled by David Bennion and perfected by Paul Draper are alive and well. If anything, Ridge is entering yet another golden era, and will continue leading American wine toward its most authentic self.
Signature: Eric Baugher — 5 years ago
This was a combination of red fruit that was ready to drink and some oregano and tobacco that kind of clashed just a tiny little bit. The wine itself had great fruit density getting started, but then changed into a herbaceous red fruit with a hint of pipe tobacco that made one wonder if this was just in an interesting place getting STARTED or whether or not this wine was almost completely done. I was perhaps a little cautious about this wine because it just seemed to have a little more jagged lines than the 11 Kosta. I'm not sure if this one was already showing signs of decline. After taking 10 other wines thoughout the night, this one was one of the "last men standing" and I had a lot of personal guilt tossing the remaining 25ml. — 8 years ago
An inadvertently aged bottle. Salmon pink, excellent clarity. Aromas of flowers, black pepper. Cherry and citrus peel flavors, fruity, blessedly dry, good acidity. Drink by itself or with food; it’s held up well.
The city hall across the street is apparently closed, so I’m sheltering in place with the men and women in blue, in terms of my location Foursquare-wise. Everything’s closed here on a Friday evening, no food delivery, no food pickup once the burger drive-in here closes... we socially distance in earnest in Seattle. — 5 years ago
Forgive me for not color coordinating correctly (say those last three words quickly ten times - ha) but that is what happens when two great friends get together for a dinner with wives to celebrate birthdays and we are left to our own decisions so our wives are definitely needed to dress us - man is that picture busy except for the wine
Rick brought a treat - 2007 treat - we only decanted for 40 minutes - when first opening I was worried - it was lacking any smell but it was a terrible restaurant decanter (love the food and atmosphere but not a wine heavy place)
We drank (more line devoured) the first wine (Dyer) while patiently waiting for this bad boy to wake up- when it did - wow 😲- I had a @David L expression experience happen - “I don’t like - I LOVE IT”
So the wine and this vintage and this bottle for me was opulent and silky - it opened so progressively in the glass - like a Lexus LC 500 speed demon (sorry but I do have some preoccupation with this car) - color was a daaaaaark deeeeep puuuuurple (deep purple was a great band but I degress) - smell was full of vanilla and spices and amazingly was very ripe and was made in a flamboyant cult style - It soaked my mouth with melted blackberries, cherries, raspberries, cocoa and sweet oaky favors - the rush from the taste came from the silky tannins which were rich and refined - now it was also really dry - but overall I am totally impressed and the finish was medium long
Word to the wise - in my humble opinion this bad boy needs to be experienced sooner than later - still ripe but the smell is going fast - crazy to say this but the 06s have years left but my 07s are fully matured - Drink up and definitely smile . — 6 years ago
Mjukt, vanilj, syltigt, passligt mustigt, fylligt, kanske int helt prisvärt men nog gott — 4 years ago
Quick! The wise men are coming! This big dog is barreling down the slope of my noodle toward the sterudel. Feels sour in a lot of ways, with a bitters and sarsparilla ‘zing’ but a solidly malty, Belgian core that resonates with its own dark, grainy brown sugar and cola synergy, and a roobios, cinnamon, baked apple, tea leaf, and cedar finish. This is old school depth and breadth, and damnit to hell, height! You never got me down Ben! You never got me down! #beer #bier #biere #birra #cerveza #christmasale #xmasale #stbernarduschristmasale #belgianale — 5 years ago
1️⃣9️⃣8️⃣7️⃣
🗞 🌎 Stock 📉, Kings Cross 🔥, Simpsons, -1 second
🎵 Faith, Livin' On A Prayer, With or Without You, I Just Can't Stop ❤️ You
🎥 Three Men & a Baby, Fatal Attraction, Good Morning Vietnam, Lethal Weapon
🗣 Nobody puts Baby in a corner
🌍 4.98B
Stunning Cos @ £180 - RP83 🤣
🍷 Deep ruby
👃 Gravel, flint, minerals & soggy earth through black berry fruits w/ herbs, soot, smokey oak & mint
👄 Med body of smooth b/berry loaded w/ mocha, liquorice & minerals
🎯 Long linger of ⬆️ w/ black tea — 7 years ago
Adam Gäfvert
USA:s första vingårdsbetecknade merlot. Denna årgång med en liten del Cabernet Sauvignon och Malbec. Fyllig med solmogen mörk frukt. Lätt balsamisk. 75% nya fat i 16 mån ger en rik fatprofil. Blockchoklad, kardemumma, lavendel, mynta, vanilj. Tanninerna är bortsmälta. För att vara ett vingårdsvin är det kanske mer vinmakningen som lyser igenom. Men god nu, en klassiker! — 3 years ago