WTN: Ridge PinotNoir PetalumaGap '23....(short/boring)

Tried this at our tasting last night:
1. Ridge PinotNoir NightwingVnyd/PetalumaGap/SonomaCnty (13.9%; 15 brls; 100% PN; bttld July 2024;
Drk: 4/24-4/29: TG) 2023:Fairly dark color; strong cherry/black cherry/PN/rather spicy light pencilly/non-Ridge oak fairly classic RRV PN bit complx nose; lightly tart spicy/PN/cherry/black cherry/classis RRV PN fairly rich/smooth slight c-c/peppery flavor w/ light gentle tannins; long smooth/gentle finish that mimics flavor; quite an attractive smooth/gentle PN but nothing really profound; reminds a lot of a Dehlinger PN w/ less oak. $47.00 (ATP)
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More dicklesplot from TheBloodyPulpit:
1. I've heard a number of good things about this Ridge PN. Ridge has made a few SantaCruzMtns PN's over the last few yrs that I thought were rather unthrilling. This is probably the best Ridge PN made yet, including the legendary Ridge CoastRange PN '71 that Dave Bennion made. That said, there was nothing particularly distinctive about this PN. Spoke quietly of c-c/RRV PN but there are others quite similar out there at a cheaper price.
Tom

I appreciate the frank evaluation, which will certainly help me stick to my resolution to stop buying Ridge.

It really makes you wonder -- if the "best Ridge PN made yet" is nevertheless "nothing particularly distinctive," not to mention overpriced for what it is, why are they bothering? Seems like a recipe for diluting the brand, and amplifies my doubts about whoever's been making the decisions there lately.

[David M. Bueker]

Some of my wine group friends, who are big Ridge buyers (both ATP & MB Club) are huge fans of their Pinot Noirs. I don't see it, but perhaps they have sufficient pull for it that it doesn't matter what the old timers (ha!) think.

I appreciate the frank evaluation, which will certainly help me stick to my resolution to stop buying Ridge.
It really makes you wonder -- if the "best Ridge PN made yet" is nevertheless "nothing particularly distinctive," not to mention overpriced for what it is, why are they bothering? Seems like a recipe for diluting the brand, and amplifies my doubts about whoever's been making the decisions there lately.

Ridge gives their winemakers support to make non-Ridge like wines so they don't get bored doing the same-ole/same-ole. Always in small quantities. This is one of those wines.
They do the same thing w/ Grenache Blanc. And that's an absolutely first-rate GB.
Tom

I see. I thought that stuff was always released as ATP, so I interpreted this wine as signaling some bigger shift in the orientation of their offerings. This makes more sense! Thanks.

(David, as for us being old timers, aren't you retired now? )