Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2014 Chardonnay from Mindego Ridge comes from a tiny 1.5-acre parcel and spent 11 months in mostly neutral French oak. Beautiful notes of white peach, pineapple, exotic flowers and hints of mint all flow from this medium to full-bodied, rich, layered, gorgeous Chardonnay that has excellent freshness and vibrancy. Like all 2014s, its upfront and ready to go, with tons of fruit. Drink it over the coming couple of years.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
Pinot Noir—one of the wine world's most difficult grapes to wrap one's brain around—always presents a challenge to a wine taster. The 2014 Mindego Ridge is no exception. Fresh and enticing this wine exhibits a wealth of wonderful aromas and flavors—sour cherries, tart strawberries, intense minerality, and black licorice. The satisfying and well-balanced palate makes it a beautiful pairing choice with braised meats. (Tasted: January 18, 2017, San Francisco, CA)
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
A rugged and topographically diverse cool-climate appellation with a rich history, the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA stretches from Half Moon Bay, just south of San Francisco, to the northern border of Monterey County. Elevations range from 800 feet to upwards of 3,000 and microclimates vary substantially depending on which side of the mountains the vineyards lie; cool ocean winds and fog play an important role here. This can be a challenging region in which to grow grapes, but it is well worth the effort. Santa Cruz Mountains wines are noted for balanced acidity levels, often showing great aging potential. Wine has been made here since the 1800s, most notably from the legendary Ridge Vineyards, whose Monte Bello vineyard garners international admiration.
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are the stars of this region, while Merlot and Zinfandel also perform quite well. Organic and sustainable vineyard practices are becoming increasingly common.