2019 Ridge Merlot Estate
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Tasting notes
While not bottled on its own in every vintage, the 2019 Merlot Estate offers an informative alternate look into the Monte Bello property. It opens with an engaging, charming nose of grilled plum, potter's clay, burning incense and cedar aromas. The palate is slender and elegant, with an impressively vivacious string of acidity running through the refined, graceful finish. While it is easy to see these blocks' positive contributions to the finished Monte Bello, they are equally beautiful and instructive when enjoyed on their own.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
I loved the 2019 Merlot, which comes from the Monte Bello Vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It sports a deep purple hue as well as lots of ripe plum, blueberry, and blackberry fruits supported by spicy oak, tobacco, and spicy, almost cigar nuances. Textured, medium to full-bodied, plump, and rounded on the palate, it’s ready to go yet should keep for a decade. (These wines always age better than I expect.) While many of these wines fall outside the “Central Coast,” I was able to taste a full lineup from Ridge and am happy to include these wines here. Going forward, the Sonoma releases will be covered by my colleague, Audrey Frick.
The 2019 Merlot Estate is soft, open-knit and quite delicious. Super-ripe dark cherry, plum, mocha, licorice and sweet spice are nicely pushed forward. The 2019 is quite racy and opulent in its flavor profile, yet it retains a very classic sense of mid-weight structure that makes this Merlot such a charmer.
About the producer
Best known for its iconic Monte Bello, Ridge Vineyards makes some of California’s finest wines – particularly Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel. Long a pioneer of sustainable farming and minimal-intervention winemaking, Ridge makes an extensive range from Sonoma County and the Santa Cruz Mountains.