Ridge! (and Preston Family!)

Took a day off, and I happened to be cycling up Lytton Springs Road near Heladsburg (hoping to snag a Petit Sirah, which was LONG sold out )

BUT...had my very first chance to taste some Ridge Montebello! They had the 2011 open for tasting in the winery.
I have to admit even in a casual tasting setting (they were pretty generous in the pour) this was indeed a WOW wine. Even from 2011. Even with American Oak. Even so young. There just seemed to be layers and layers of complexity. Maybe some wines merit their first growth reputation and even their price. Heck, the 2011 Santa Cruz Estate Cabernet was mighty fine as well, for 1/3 the price.

So...no Ridge Petit Sirah. No problem. The Preston Family 2012 Petit Sirah was inky in color and full of blue fruit and black pepper. No alcoholic burn at all. What a lovely wine! As was their "organic" (no sulfur) Syrah. Their GSM I was less certain about....I may give the two bottles some time to see what happens.

Took a day off, and I happened to be cycling up Lytton Springs Road near Heladsburg (hoping to snag a Petit Sirah, which was LONG sold out )
So...no Ridge Petit Sirah. No problem.....

Yeah...I was surprised how fast that LyttonWest PS '12 sold out. I drew a blank as well. Though not that
disappointed...the LyttonWest PS has never been up to the level of the YorkCreek in my estimate.

My sense is that sales of the Ridges is pretty strong right now. A number of their wines have been selling out.

Tom

It was the York Creek, Tom. I should have bought a bottle a few months ago. I could have picked it up later in my car. I often stash bottles in the bushes when tasting on bicycle.