2017 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 12.5%
pH 3.27
Total Acidity 7.8 g/L
Grape Varieties 100% Merlot
Region Santa Cruz Mountains
Soil Fractured limestone
Orientation Southwest-Facing Slope Exposed To Cool Pacific Ocean Winds
Harvest Dates 23 Oct 2017
Brix at Harvest 22.6°
Estate Grown Yes
Sites Monte Bello vineyard; Perrone West Block Merlot parcel
Indigenous Yeast Yes
Malolactic Fermentation 100%
Maceration 7 days
Oak Details 100% First Fill New Oak
First Fill New Oak100%
Oak Types American oak
Contains Added Sulfites Yes
Production Details Hand-harvested, estate-grown organic Merlot was destemmed and fermented as whole berries after 100% berry sorting, with a floating cap, daily pump-overs and native-yeast primary fermentation. It underwent full natural malolactic fermentation, was pressed after seven days, and aged nineteen months in 100% new air-dried American oak barrels. Ridge reports minimum-effective sulfur additions of 35 ppm initially at crush and 55 ppm over the course of aging—not a finished-wine sulfites analysis—and pad filtration at bottling.
Tasting Notes Opaque purple; blackberry, cherry, flint, black olive and exotic oak spice aromas; ripe black cherry, crushed limestone, firm acidity, rich tannins and a persistent finish.
Sources: www.ridgewine.com ↗ · Compare this vintage
2014 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 13.6%
Grape Varieties 100% Merlot
Region Santa Cruz Mountains
Elevation 792.5 meters
Sites Monte Bello vineyard, West Block
Maceration 7 days
Production Details Organically grown Merlot from Monte Bello's West Block was whole-berry fermented for seven days before pressing. Once natural malolactic fermentation was underway, the wine was transferred to new barrels and racked quarterly for clarification by gravity. The source does not identify the oak species, establish a new-oak percentage, or provide finished-wine pH or total acidity.
Tasting Notes Deep ruby; ripe cherry, currant, barrel spice and dried savory herbs; mountain bramble fruit, mineral character, lively acidity and a long finish.
Sources: www.ridgewine.com ↗ · Compare this vintage
2013 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 13.6%
Grape Varieties 100% Merlot
Region Santa Cruz Mountains
Soil Predominantly fractured limestone
Orientation Southwest-Facing Slope Exposed To Cool Pacific Ocean Winds
Harvest Dates 20 Sep 2013 to 8 Oct 2013
Brix at Harvest 24.1°
Estate Grown Yes
Sites Four barrels from The Point and eight barrels from West Block, Monte Bello vineyard
Indigenous Yeast Yes
Malolactic Fermentation 100%
Maceration 8 days
Oak Details 100% First Fill New Oak
First Fill New Oak100%
Oak Types American oak
Contains Added Sulfites Yes
Production Details Hand-harvested, estate-grown Merlot was destemmed and fermented as whole berries after 100% berry sorting, with a floating cap, daily pump-overs and native-yeast primary fermentation. Ridge added 0.78 g/L calcium carbonate during primary fermentation. The wine underwent full natural malolactic fermentation, was pressed after eight days, and aged twenty-one months in 100% new air-dried American oak. Ridge reports minimum-effective sulfur additions of 30 ppm initially at crush and 84 ppm over the course of aging—not a finished-wine sulfites analysis—and pad filtration at bottling.
Tasting Notes Opaque ruby-purple; black cherry, cola, fennel and pungent barrel spice; dark bramble fruit, firm acidity, full body, velvety tannins and a long finish.
Sources: www.ridgewine.com ↗ · Compare this vintage
Producer Information
Website
Address
17100 Montebello Road, Cupertino, CA 95014-5435, USA
Phone
+1 408.867.3233
Owner
Private ownership (founding families)
Cellarmaster
John Olney (Head Winemaker & CEO)