89+ 2006 Ridge Santa Cruz Mtns Estate Chardonnay 6/19/08 ($42)
14.6% alc
Color: Medium gray gold.. (2.5) Bouquet: Melon and key lime with some fancy oak. Elegant and restrained. (2.5) Body: Solid middleweight with very good fruit and excellent acidity and mineral, with a healthy but balanced dose of oak. (3.0) Flavor: Parallels bouquet, but tart acidity is much more prevalent, which propels the fruit. (3.0) Finish: Parallels flavor with excellent length and forceful intensity, also a little youthfully austere. (3.5)
Overall: Shows elegance combined with restrained power. It has tart, crisp, forceful acidity, which propels the melon, key lime and honeysuckle fruit, but is somewhat restrained and closed at present. A very good, serious CA Chardonnay with excellent potential. On a par with the '01, but not as good as the '02-'05 vintages. The '05 got a score of 95 from WS and was #2 on their Top 100, which has resulted in a price increase, a modest $6. Give it 2-5 years as it should open and improve, just don't expect the '05. (14.5)